| From 1988-1994 the number of Americans | | | | carrots cost about $2.00. When it was |
| who were over weight or obese was 56%. | | | | all said and done, a healthy home cooked |
| That number rose from 1999-2000 to 64% | | | | dinner for a family of four costs about |
| according to NAASO.org. Oregon is one of | | | | $25.00. This is not including the time |
| the highest with 23% of its population | | | | spent making the dinner and doing dishes |
| being obese. There are many reasons why | | | | afterwards. |
| people become obese or over weight. Many | | | | Lack of health choice at restaurants |
| times it is genetic but that is | | | | makes eating right difficult. According |
| something you can not change. What you | | | | to Foodfacts.info, in 2005 fast food |
| can change is the way you eat, what you | | | | chain, Wendy's, pulled their fruit salad |
| eat and how much you eat. If our society | | | | option after only ten months on the |
| as a whole does not change the way we | | | | menu, sighting low sales. Many fast food |
| eat, we will be at high risk of | | | | chains have started to offer healthier |
| diabetes, hypertension and heart | | | | choices such as Subway which offers |
| attacks. In 2004 obesity related deaths | | | | raisins and yogurt, and Wendy's offers |
| ranked number two, smoking came in | | | | mandarin orange fruit cups in place of |
| first. By 2005 obesity related deaths | | | | fries. Some sit down restaurants have |
| was expected to pass smoking as the | | | | followed suit such as Red Robin which |
| number one cause of death, according to | | | | will allow you to order either a petite |
| The idea of an American family and | | | | hamburger patty or a Boca Burger |
| dinner time has changed. Americans lead | | | | substitute for any of their burgers. |
| busy lives, in a typical family home, | | | | Unfortunately other places do not offer |
| both parents work a forty hour week, | | | | alternatives or the alternatives are not |
| most arriving home late. Most of those | | | | well advertised by the prospective |
| families would rather relax than think | | | | restaurant. Red Robin might offer a Boca |
| about making a well balanced meal for | | | | patty substitution but it is in fine |
| everyone. Usually they will grab what it | | | | print which is barley visible at the |
| closest or easiest such as a microwave | | | | very bottom of their menu. |
| dinner, take out or order a pizza. We | | | | Eating out has taken the control over |
| all want to spend time with our families | | | | serving sizes away. A burger at Red |
| and watch our favorite TV program. The | | | | Robin is normally a one pound patty with |
| last thing anyone wants to think about | | | | unlimited. At McDonalds, a medium fry |
| is cooking after a long day at the | | | | package now has nutritional facts listed |
| office. | | | | on the side. It shows how many calories |
| Eating out was once thought to be | | | | are in that amount of fries along with |
| expensive, now because of places like | | | | the sodium content. What they are not |
| Jack in the Box and McDonalds, it is | | | | taking into account is the amount of |
| affordable. You can go to McDonalds and | | | | salt added to the fries after cooking, |
| feed a family of four for less than | | | | and the person filling the container |
| twenty dollars. It is fast, easy, tasty | | | | usually over fills. Therefore the |
| and most of all cheap. To feed a family | | | | nutritional facts and serving size |
| of four a balanced meal, for example | | | | information provided is inaccurate. |
| chicken with rice and a vegetable, costs | | | | Gastric bypass surgery is the second |
| more in both time and money something we | | | | only to breast augmentation, as the most |
| are all short on. Fred Meyer, a local | | | | common surgery among young adults. The |
| grocery store chain in Oregon, usually | | | | time is now for us to start setting a |
| has pretty good deals, but look at what | | | | good example for all people and start |
| it costs to feed a family of four. I | | | | making smarter choices of food, make the |
| went to Fred Meyer hoping to spend less | | | | effort to cook healthy meals, and |
| than $20.00. Foster Farms offers three | | | | rethink what a serving size is. Sure it |
| chicken breasts in a package for around | | | | might require more effort and more time |
| $9.00, but you would have to buy two in | | | | and sacrifice but when you look at the |
| order to feed a family of four. One | | | | health risks and concerns associated |
| package of Uncle Ben's instant wild rice | | | | with obesity, it just makes sense to |
| only has two to three servings per | | | | spend a few extra dollars, a little more |
| container for $2.50 which means again | | | | time and make a few better choices in |
| you would have to buy two packages. As | | | | order to make a better future for you |
| for a vegetable, a bag of organic baby | | | | and your family. |