Recent television commercials would suggest that fast food outlets have embraced the consumer’s want for more healthy options on the menu. We see young, vibrant customers selecting tasty, healthy looking meals, and hear menus rich with words such as “light,” “low fat,” and “healthy” lunchtime options. But a recent study suggests that the well-known franchises introducing so-called “healthy” alternatives have barely scratched the surface of the changes needed to make their foods truly healthy.
Fast Food: An American Obsession
With as many as a quarter of the population opting to eat fast food as many as three times per week, there, no wonder there is an obesity epidemic in America. The land of hamburgers and pizza sees a regular diet of excessive fats, sugars and salt as the norm. As a result, diet-related diseases such as heart disease and diabetes are at an all-time high.
The Need for Change
Most adults are aware of the need for change. Fast food giants, desperate to keep their grip on the wallets of the country have begun to introduce healthier options. But few of these options are as healthy as the fast food chains would like us to believe. In fact, avoiding fast food altogether is still the best way to make healthier meal choices.
Studying the Menu
A recent investigation into the nutritional quality of the food available in eight of the country’s most popular fast food restaurants found some interesting facts. They examined the menus dating back as far as 1997 to better understand the healthful changes these companies claimed to have made. Using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Healthy Eating Index (HEI), they measured the nutritional quality of the menu items.
What the Researchers Found
A healthy diet should receive a HEI score of over 60; the higher the number the better the food choice. The menus that came from the eight leading fast food outlets averaged a score of 48, a rather disturbing result. The study found that over the fourteen years examined, each of the eight restaurants did show a slight improvement. In most cases, it was a meager seven-point increase. There was very little increase in vegetables, grains, whole grains and healthy oils. Sadly, when it came to low-fat milk and dairy options, and low-sodium, there was very little change in any of the menus.
New “Healthy” Choices Aren’t Enough
Eating out is a huge part of the American lifestyle. Fast food giants have the power to turn the health of the nation around. It’s not a matter of denying people their favorite foods; it’s more about making better choices available.
Simply by avoiding trans-fats and using better cooking techniques the menu items transform into healthier meals. Downsizing meal deals, incorporating more vegetables and salads in burgers and wraps, reducing the amount of deep-fried foods and halving the amount of salt added to foods is a start.
Providing low-fat, low-sugar options and using more whole grain and fresh foods not only makes a more healthful meal, it actually promises more flavor. Customers should continue to demand healthy options. Ask for more vegetables, less fries and drinks that come with no added sugar. After all, it’s your body and your choice. Don’t be duped by the healthy illusion of what’s on offer.
Have a healthy and productive day!
MJ
GO SHAKLEE!
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