A convenience sample of adolescents and adults who regularly eat at fast-food restaurants were recruited to participate in an experimental trial

to examine the effect of nutrition labeling on meal choices. As part of this study, participants were asked to indicate how strongly they agreed or disagreed with 11 statements to assess reasons for eating at fast-food restaurants. Logistic regression was conducted to examine whether responses differed by demographic factors. The most frequently reported reasons for eating at fastfood restaurants were: fast food is quick (92%), restaurants are easy to get to (80%), and food tastes good (69%). The least frequently reported reasons were: eating fast food is a way of socializing with family and friends (33%), restaurants have nutritious foods to offer (21%), and restaurants are fun and entertaining (12%). Some differences were found with respect to the demographic factors examined. It appears that in order to reduce fast-food consumption, food and nutrition professionals need to identify alternative quick and convenient food sources. As motivation for eating at fast-food restaurants appears to differ somewhat by age, sex, education, employment status, and household size, tailored interventions could be considered. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FAST FOODS? Fast food gets blamed for contributing to many of the United States' health problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes and increased risks of heart disease. According to "Fast Food Nation," typical fast food fare is high in saturated fat, calories and cholesterol. Examples of fast food restaurants include hamburger joints like McDonald's and Burger King, pizza places like Pizza Hut and Dominoes, family-style restaurants like KFC and Boston Market, sandwich shops like Subway and Quizno's, as well as any food found in shopping mall food courts. Other sit-down chain restaurants like Applebee's, Azteca, Chili's and Panda Express are also considered fast food restaurants. While fast food often gets a bad rap in the media, it has some advantages. CONVENIENT According to Bill Myers Online, Americans spend more money on fast food than on new cars, college education and software because fast food is so convenient. Fast food restaurants are easy to find in cities and towns across America. They offer quick meals for busy lifestyles that are so quick and convenient, you don't even have to get out of your car to get them. An article in "USA Today" points out the convenience of drive-through windows, stating that many fast food places aim to have customers wait less than a minute. Since the 1970s, fast food drive-through windows have become ubiquitous, and restaurants continually employ new tactics to shorten wait times for their drive-through customers. The article ranked drive-through convenience by testing chains for order accuracy and speed. According to their research, the top ranking drive-throughs are Wendy's, Burger King and Chik-fil-A while the lowest ranking drive-throughs are Jack-in-theBox, Whataburger and Captain D's. CHEAP Another advantage of fast food is that it is very inexpensive, notes MSN Money. It reveals data about how fast food sales stay consistent even in tough economic times in the United States. Brands that are well-known for inexpensive meals like McDonald's and Taco Bell recorded sales growth during the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared to losses at high-end restaurants. MSN Money ranked fast food cost-effectiveness by studying how much certain fast foods cost per calorie. The best bargains were White Castle Cheeseburger Slyders, which cost 41 cents per 100 calories and Taco Bell's Fiesta Taco Salad, which cost 48 cents per 100 calories. SOME HEALTHY OPTIONS According to the American Consumer News website, fast food franchises are responding to consumers' desire for healthier fare. Many fast food chains now offer healthy options including low-fat, low calorie foods; fresh foods; bottled water; and salads made with fruits and vegetables. Some stand-outs in fast food nutrition include low-fat salads and

sandwiches from Subway and grilled chicken from KFC. Other small regional chains like Burgerville feature sustainable local ingredients, fresh vegetables and organic grass-fed beef. HOME COOKED MEALS VS. FAST FOOD Since the 1970s, American couples' combined weekly works hours have increased nearly 20 percent, according to a 2004 study appearing in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition." Busy lives often cause good nutrition to fall down on the priority list, as evidenced by the substantial consumption of fast food in this country. Work and other obligations can make cooking seem like just another chore, but trading in some of those fast food meals for home-cooked dishes will pay off in the long run. LACK OF NUTRITIONAL VARIETY One key advantage that home-cooked meals have over fast food is nutritional variety. When you prepare meals at home, you're more likely to include foods from different groups, such as a protein source, vegetable and carb source. While fast food restaurants have improved their offerings to include veggies, fruits and dairy, many people still choose burgers, fried chicken and fries, providing little nutritional benefits. A 2004 study in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" found that survey respondents who ate fast food had lower consumptions of healthy picks, including milk and fruits. SODIUM INTAKE You are in control of what goes into your food when you cook meals from scratch -- and watching your salt intake is important. Meals from fast food restaurants, however, are often loaded with sodium. In fact, 57 percent of meals contain more than 1,500 mg of salt, according to a study of major fast food chains published in 2010 in the "Archives of Internal Medicine." In addition, 20 percent of these meals surpassed 2,300 mg, which is the recommended maximum of daily salt consumption. Excessive sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure, kidney problems and cardiovascular conditions. WEIGHT GAIN Building home-cooked meals around lean sources of protein, whole grains and veggies provide fiber; a host of vitamins and minerals; and keep you feeling full longer. The highcalorie meals at fast food restaurants, often high in saturated fat, can contribute to weight gain. The University of Vermont's Center for Rural Studies found in a 2004 poll that respondents who ate fast food were significantly more likely to be overweight. In fact, 70 percent of those who ate fast food were overweight. CONVENIENCE FACTOR Despite the health benefits of home-cooked meals, you may still turn to fast food out of sheer convenience. If so, approach the menu options as if you were planning a meal made from scratch. Order foods that can provide nutrition from multiple food groups. Salads with light dressing, low-fast cheese and grilled chicken are an option. Break the fry habit and go for healthier sides, such as a small baked potato or fresh fruit. Know where you can find restaurants' nutrition information to help guide your choices. Fast Food: Convenient and Healthy When you are on the go, you need to get things done and get them done now. Unfortunately, for some people, this means everything is done on the go. However, just because you live your life in the fast lane doesnt mean that your eating habits have to stay there, too. Today more than ever, fast food restaurants are trying to jump on the bandwagon of societys push to live a healthier lifestyles by advertising low-fat and healthier options on their menus. Take advantage of this! Obviously, the best and most effective ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle are by exercising and maintaining a nutritious diet, but

everybody knows there are those times when you are forced to grab your grub from the drive-thru. So the question is, how can you eat fast and healthy? The first of two ways you can cut down on your fat and calorie intake is by ordering salads or grilled, not fried, sandwiches. Fast food chains McDonalds and Wendys both offer a variety of healthy and tasty salads on their menus, all under $4. If you are not in the mood for crisp veggies, then try McDonalds grilled chicken sandwich with only 10 grams of fat and 230 calories or the Jr. Hamburger from Wendys with only 9 grams of fat and 270 calories, both under $2. There is always the fresh and fast option of Subway, which has 6 sub sandwiches under 6 grams of fat, all under $5. Even though we are all familiar with Jared and his love for Subway, his ability to have the discipline to limit the type of fast food he put into his body helped his weight loss more than anything. So come on! Its simple and you can do it! Eat to fill your nutritional needs, not just to curb your hunger. You can eat healthy while still getting the treat of eating out if you practice these simple ideas: Ask or look for the nutritional information available for restaurants. Be mindful of what you are eating. Go easy on the condiments and extras, i.e. cheese, sauces, super-sizing. Eat in moderation. Eating fast food here and there wont hurt, but dont make it habitual. Substitute grilled for fried. Drink ice water or milk instead of soda. Beware of fat filled salad dressing. Chicken is often less fatty than beef. If you splurge on fast food for lunch, make extra sure that your dinner is healthy and nutritious. Healthy options at fast food restaurants With busy lifestyles, eating fast food may be unavoidable. But don't be fooled by 'healthy' options at fast food places. Here's what you need to know so that your kids' well-being is not sacrificed for convenience. Statistics show that one in every three schoolchildren eats fast food daily. Due to this, more and more children are overweight and are at an increased risk for obesity and developing diseases such as diabetes. This issue is causing parents and health professionals to be alarmed. While fast food consumption is not the only cause of obesity in children, it is considered a major threat because of the rising number of fast food outlets in every community. Although fast food joints do not reveal the calorie content of their products, everyone is probably aware that each fast food meal is packed with more calories than our children needs in a day. Not to mention that they are also high in fat, sugar, and sodium which could all be harmful to our body. Convenience and speed Sadly, many busy parents see fast-food as a solution rather than a problem. In this day and age where speed and convenience are highly important, fast food outlets are gaining more popularity because these are exactly the things that they offer. Parents with very hectic schedules will have no time to prepare meals for their kids. So fast food becomes a very convenient way to feeding our kids. Although many people know the evil lurking in each fast food product, they dont seem to mind eating them. These foods offer so much convenience that it really doesnt matter if theyre totally unhealthy. So fast food restaurants are doing fine, while their loyal customers may already be suffering from some disease.

Its also a favour towards these fast food joints that kids just love them. Well, who wouldnt want to eat something that comes with a toy, in a place that looks like Disneyland? Lets face it, these companies spend a lot of money to launch marketing tactics that are targeted on kids. They know that it would be very beneficial to sell products that are very appealing to kids because children have this amazing power to persuade their parents to give them what they want. You cant really blame kids if they love Happy Meals at McDonalds. Eating healthy at fast food outlets Okay, I dont really want to sound so tough and say that kids shouldnt eat any fast food at all. Fast food is fine just as long as it doesnt become a staple in your childrens diet. Health experts say that a maximum of two visits a month to your favourite fast food joint wont really hurt a childs diet. As a parent, you can influence the amount and type of food that your children eat. So on your next visit to a fast food outlet, make sure that you make smart choices. Here are a few tips on how you can maintain your kids healthy diet even when you bring them to a fast food joint: 1. Limit the amount of food that your children eat by ordering kid-size meals only. Never give in to the temptation of getting an upgrade even if they say that you can save more money by doing so. 2. It would be good if you could talk your children out of ordering foods that are breaded and fried such as chicken nuggets, fried chicken, French fries, chicken fillet sandwich and onion rings. Persuade them to eat foods that are boiled, steamed or roasted. 3. Give them side dishes such as baked potato or fresh garden salad because they are healthier than the usual sides that are offered in fast food joints. 4. Before ordering a meal, explain to your children that soda is not healthy. Give them water, juice or milk instead. 5. Bring some healthy snacks such as carrot sticks or fruit slices which your kids can eat on your way to the fast food outlet. 6. Of course, set a good example by ordering a healthy meal yourself. Below is list that will give you an idea of the calorie content of some of your favourite fast food products: McDonalds Large Fries (170g) 570 calories Cheeseburger (121g) 320 calories Big Mac (214g) 540 calories Hot Fudge Sundae (179g) 340 calories Fried Chicken (223g) 500 calories Fillet-O-Fish Sandwich (156g) 470 calories 4 pc. Chicken Nuggets (71g) 190 calories Burger King King Size Onion Rings (150g) 500 calories Regular Hamburger (121g) 290 calories Whopper (290g) 670 calories Bacon Cheeseburger (140g) 400 calories KFC Twister (252g) 550 calories Fried Chicken Original Recipe (59g) 140 calories Fried Chicken Original Recipe (120g) 360 calories Extra Crispy Chicken Drumstick (60g) 160 calories Chicken Popcorn (71g) 270 calories Wendys 4 pc. Chicken Nuggets (60g) 170 calories Cheeseburger (123g) 320 calories

Breaded Chicken Sandwich (208g) 440 calories Pizza Hut Cheese Pan Pizza (111g) 361 calories Cheese Stuffed Crust (162g) 445 calories Meat Lovers Pan Pizza (130g) 344 calories Meat Lovers Stuffed Crust (196g) 543 calories Super Supreme Pan Pizza (136g) 401 calories Super Supreme Stuffed Crust (198g) 505 calories Be Creative If your children really like fast food, then maybe you can prepare some of their favourite fast food products right at your own home. But of course, you have to prepare them the healthier way. For example, you can bake potato slices and tell your kids that theyre French fries or you can make hamburgers using wheat buns. There are actually a lot of ways to make your kids eat the food that you prepare for them. Just make them look very attractive and appealing, just like the way fast food restaurants do. Caloras diarias necesarias para el organismo Cuntas caloras necesitan una persona al da? El ser humano solo necesita 2500 caloras para vivir y funcionar adecuadamente. No obstante usted no engorda por exceso de caloras, sino por acumulacin de grasas que produce su cuerpo, aparte de los azcares y las harinas en exceso refinadas. El ser humano necesita para mantener su calor corporal normal de 37 grados C, cierta cantidad de caloras, como antes dijimos un promedio de 2500. Las caloras son energa necesaria para mantenernos de pie, movernos, hablar y que todos nuestros rganos funcionen (corazn, pulmones, sistema gstrico, etc.) Las caloras en el cuerpo:

Sin embargo, el cuerpo se adapta de manera constante a este gasto negndose a sacar el energtico de las reservas, por ello aunque usted reduzca drsticamente su consumo de energticos calricos, el cuerpo no reducir de volumen con la rapidez que se quisiera, pero es difcil desechar de nuestra mente esta teora (la de la baja de caloras) porque durante dcadas se dijo que las matemticas no engaaban: 1. Si alguien come 4000 C. y gasta solo 2500 hay un excedente de 1000 que pasan a la reserva. Lgico! 2. Pero en sentido contrario, si usted come 1000 C., el organismo tendra que sacar de las reservas las otras 1500 C. para compensar y... as se reduce de peso. Falso!