Archive for July, 2008

Fast food is big in USA

Recently I’ve traveled to New York and Houston (I live in Sofia, Bulgaria) and was shocked by the number of people who eat in the fast food shops. I was amazed why people prefer to eat in fast food restaurants than in other restaurants. A friend of mine (She is Bulgarian, like me, but lives in New York from 8 years) told me that fast food is cheaper. She gave me an example that a 4 member family could have a dinner in a fast food restaurant for under $30 and if they go to “normal” restaurant they have to pay at least $100.

I can agree that fast food restaurants are cheaper than other (healthier) restaurants, bit I can not agree that you can not eat healthy without spending a fortune.

Prices of food in the big chain shops are very reasonable and you can shop a tone of healthy food and this will not cost more than $300-$400 per month for 4 member family.

Here is a good article how to buy healthy food on a budget.

Probably the problem is not in the price of food but in laziness. If you cook at home you need to devote from 30 to 60 minutes per day in the kitchen and people don’t like this. Probably if you look at this time like an investment in your health and at the same time you save money in your bank account (because you don’t spent for restaurants) this could raise your motivation.

On 29th of July 2008, Los Angeles City Council agreed to ban the launching of new fast food shops in South Los Angeles for a year. The reason for this decision is the hope that for this one year the other (non fast food) restaurants will have time to grow and pull the clients from the part of the city where child obesity is 30%. Read the whole story.

I like this, although it is not democratic, sometimes such steps are necessary.