It is to state for a fact that one of the most popular conveniences in these present times is FAST-FOOD. Why? I will say because it is mostly convenient, easily sourced, available in cases of emergency, not necessarily expensive to buy, comes in amazing variety and is deliciously yummy!
At the mere mention of FAST-FOOD, some people will erroneously think about foods cooked in a matter of 5 to 10 minutes but the reality is that these foods comes in almost any form. All foods are fast, depending on how they are being sourced for. Ultimately, a meal is classified a fast food when;
- It is not cooked by you.
- You are not a part of the cooking process.
- It is majorly commercially manufactured.
- The food is pre-made and you just need to heat it up for a few minutes
Fast food according to Wikipedia is a type of mass-produced food designed for commercial resale, with a strong priority placed on speed of service. It is a commercial term, limited to food sold in a restaurant or store with frozen, preheated or precooked ingredients and served in packaging for take-out/take-away.
Eric Schlosser, an American investigative journalist and author said “fast food is popular because it’s convenient, it’s cheap, and it tastes good. But the real cost of eating fast food never appears on the menu.” Mr Schlosser is definitely right about the real cost not being on the menu because, the actual cost of fast food is the end result of what it does to our body systems and health.
It is said that people naturally get addicted to the things that come easy and cheap to them but several health practitioners have immensely warned against the irreparable effects of fast food consumption. Fast foods have increasingly contributed to over 90% of obesity cases and promoted cardiovascular diseases. This is due to the introduction of excesses- excess oils, excess sugar, excess salt, excess seasoning, and excess portions, attached to the fast food culture and processing.
Fast foods are mostly high in calories, fat, saturated and Trans fat, sugar, simple carbohydrates and sodium (salt). Common fast foods include Burgers, hot dogs, fries, pizza, noodles, sodas; the list is endless. As it is, the scope and delimitations of fast foods are wide.
Fast food was initially created as a commercial strategy to accommodate large numbers of busy commuters, travelers and wage workers, according to Wikipedia.
Data by the United States Department of Agriculture states that currently, Nigeria’s organized fast-food industry according to the Association of Fast-Food Confectioners of Nigeria (AFFCON) is estimated at N250 billion ($602.5million) – growing at 10% annual rate in recent years. Nigeria also relies on imported processed food and agricultural products estimated at $10billion and as of 2020 the value of consumer-oriented food exports to Nigeria is estimated about $480 million and the US contributed $48 million (10%). Also in 2018, the fast food industry was worth an estimated $570 billion globally.
The Nigerian Food Service Industry is worth over $7 billion with its Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) subsector growing at annual average of 25%. Snacks and fast-food consumption are estimated at more than $250m and grows about 20% per year.
This data not only shows the growth of the FAST FOOD industry but the growth of the perilous state these foods are and will leave the health of the populace.
Commercially manufactured foods tend to be cheaper not only because their ingredients are purchased in bulk, but because in manufacturing the meals, they adopt the process of using alternative ingredients that are cheaper than the actual ingredients needed for that meal.
As stated earlier, fast food ingredients often include lots of sugar, sodium, and processed chemicals that have been linked to diabetes, obesity, cancer and many known and unknown cardiovascular diseases. Outrageous amount of sugar is added to most fast foods, carbonated drinks being the major example. Trans-fat is widely used to make food last and is also linked to heart disease, Sodium is used to enhance food taste, in fact, one fast food meal can include upwards of 1,300 milligrams of sodium — more than half of your daily recommended intake! Surprised? Let’s not even delve into the hygiene conditions of the place these foods are manufactured/processed.
Fast food might be cheaper and easier to eat, but is it worth exposing your body to such health implications? Eating right doesn’t have to cost so much, it doesn’t have to take up so much of your time. Start by cooking simple balanced meals. A plate of rice with vegetable sauce and fish/chicken topped up with plenty of water is a good place to start. Snacking on inexpensive fruits/vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, oranges, nuts, etc is also a very good place to start.
It is as simple as Michael Pollan said it is. “Simply by starting to cook again, you declare your independence from the culture of fast food. As soon as you cook, you start thinking about ingredients. You start thinking about plants and animals and not the microwave. And you will find that your diet, just by that one simple act, that is greatly improved.”
