In Support of Fast Food

Fast food gets a bad rap, and it's mostly justified. It typically contains high fat, high sodium, and a plethora of ingredients that I can't pronounce and were most likely created in a lab. Fast food is frequently blamed for the obesity epidemic facing America. I'm here argue that fast food has it's place in this world. I'm going to give you permission today to eat that Guacamole Bacon Six-Dollar Burger and fries in the daylight. You no longer have to pull into a seedy alley, hide the wrappers under your car seat, and then spritz yourself with cologne before going home.

I'll start by stating that if you're eating fast food for it's nutritional value then that's what we need to address, nutritional education. No one should eat fried chicken nuggets for the protein, or a quesarito for the calcium. If that's your goal, then you have already failed. I propose a new way of looking at fast food. Think of it as an experience. Most fast food is genetically engineered to reach our pleasure centers for sugar, salt, and fat. That's ok. It's like reading "Fifty Shades of Grey." If you're reading that to expand your vocabulary, or test you literary aptitude, then you're doing it wrong. If you're confused about the fact that fast food is a "sometimes food" as Cookie Monster would say, then you need to do some research. If you hate Taco Bell because it's not authentic Mexican food, then you're missing the fact that they legally have to call it 4th meal, because it's not real food. It's an experience.

I would also recommend avoiding fast food if you're trying to lose weight. It can be done. In fact, if you eat less calories than you burn, it doesn't really matter what you eat. You will lose weight. However, you most likely will be missing the nutrients your body needs, and it is possible to be "skinny," but "fat." That means your BMI matches what your PCP would recommend, but your fat percentage is high, and you're out-of-shape despite appearing to be in good health. I could eat 1,200 calories a day in Twinkies and HoHos and lose weight, but that would make me sick. Obviously.

Life is about balance, everything in moderation. Eat your quinoa, kale, and beet salad. Heck, that sounds great, is there a drive-through where I can get one of those. No! There isn't, but I can go and get a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger that will give me 10 minutes of happiness and a 2-hour tummy-ache. Eating fast food is a personal choice, like watching "The Bachelorette," or playing Candy Crush. It's easy to judge, but even if you're a vegan-diy-free-range-parent type of person, you still have your vices (though they may be slightly boring). Everyone makes choices every day that that aren't the best. It's ok. We're human, and being a human being is hard. My suggestion is that if you want fast food, do it, just don't make it a lifestyle.