Golden arches illuminate the sky and the smell of grease cakes the air. It’s basically calling out “Dinner is ready!” In that case, who would want to slave over a stove for a meal that’ll take more time to prepare than to eat? I’ve grown up with traditions of White Castle every Thursday night and Chinese take-out every weekend. If it wasn’t my parents financing my recreational diet, it was the tiny bit of money I’d manage to earn from weekly chores that did. The right choice isn’t always the easiest choice to make, but when it is the cheapest you don’t take into account healthy and unhealthy eating, as long as you and your family are fed. Believe me I enjoy those processed patties at McDonalds as much as the next guy but even I know when to switch up my diet. Of course, I make that decision after I’ve eaten fast food for a straight three days. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I live off of the fine dining of McDonald’s and Little Caesar’s and Taco Bell. I’m a lazy teenager, but I’m not too lazy. I go to the gym at least four times a week for 2-3 hour sessions. When I’m not trying to take in 145 grams of protein and only drinking milk and water, I become more lenient and eat Hot Pockets and Raisin Bran. I’m well aware that I’m only substituting processed food with more processed food, but hey, I’m making better decisions than some. My point is, processed food is about 70% of my diet, but at least I’m making the effort to eat more whole foods. Yes, indeed, I am one of those who fall victim to the wrath of the western diet (Pollan 434-440). On the contrary though, I’m not letting it consume me as much as I’m consuming It. As a power lifter, I’m supposed to take in thousands of extra calories a day to bulk up. The dieting advice I get is if you’re having trouble finding those calories in whole foods then “eat whatever,” especially because I’m young and can burn calories more easily than some. After a while though even I start to feel like I’m going to keel over just walking up one flight of stairs. I agree with Balko, what we eat is our responsibility. I’m well aware of what’s deemed “good” for me and what would make me another victim of the fast food industry, so let me be responsible for my own health. Ronald McDonald never forcefully, at gun point, took a dollar out of my pocket and placed a cheeseburger in my hand. Yeah there are children who were fed by their parents every ounce of grease these fast food businesses have to offer, but with age, they’ll gain the knowledge to determine right from wrong and healthy from unhealthy. I was one of those children. If I said that one day I just woke up and had to urge to join a gym and attend four
