Fast Food

Healthy or Horrible?

Project Sponsors

• School District of Philadelphia

• Nutrition Center, Department of Bioscience & Biotechnology Drexel University

• USDA project funded through the Food Stamp Program

Funded by the PENNSYLVANIA NUTRITION EDUCATION TRACKS, a part of USDA’s Food Stamp Program. To find out how the Food Stamp Program can help you buy healthy foods,

contact the PA Department of Public Welfare’s tool-free helpline at 800-692-7462. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Pop Quiz: Which meal has the least amount of fat?

#1 Quarter pound burger with cheese, large fries and diet soda

#2 Crispy chicken salad with 2 oz of creamy Caesar dressing and regular soda

#3 Taco Salad and bottled water

54 grams

34 grams

48 grams

What are today’s topics ??

Fast Food Healthy choices

Energy balance Portion size

vs

Survey:

• How many of you eat fast food?• What are your favorite fast food

restaurants?• How often do you eat fast food?• What is your favorite fast food choice?• Do you think fast food is healthy or

unhealthy?– Why???

Fast Food Facts

• Americans spend a lot of money on fast food (and that amount is increasing)!– On French fries:

• 1970: $6 billion• 2000: $110 billion

• We eat out often!– Average American

dines out 198 times a year• How many times a

week is this??• Do you dine out

more often or less often than this?

20 Years Ago

Today

How many calories are in today’s order of fries?

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

Fast Food Facts: Portion Sizes

210 Calories

2.4 ounces

French Fries

20 Years Ago

Today

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

610 Calories

6.9 ounces

Calorie Difference: 400 Calories

210 Calories

2.4 ounces

more than 200

calories per day

weight gain

weight gain

increase in per capita consumptionSource:Nestle, 2002

Americans are eating more

You do the math

• On average, Americans are eating an extra 200 calories every day

200 calories x days in 1 year = extra calories per year

• 1 pound = 3500 calories

73,000 calories per year 3500 calories per pound =

pounds of weight gain in 1 year

• Be more physically active– If you eat the extra 200 calories each day,

burn them off!

• Control your food intake– Cut out some things in your daily diet– Eat smaller portions

Avoiding the 20 pound gain

• 1 chocolate cream filled

cupcake

• 20 peanut M&Ms

• 5 chicken nuggets

• 1 large chocolate chip cookie

• Fast food medium soda

How long will you have to walk leisurely in order to burn those extra 400

calories?*

*Based on 160-pound person

Maintaining a Healthy Weight is a Balancing ActCalories In = Calories Out

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

*Based on 160-pound person

If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes

you will burn approximately 400 calories.*

Calories In = Calories Out

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

So…what is the problem with eating too much fast food?

Think about your future health!

– Fast food contains a lot of fat, calories, and

sodium− Can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure– These health problems can lead to chronic diseases

• Diabetes• Heart Disease• Stroke• Some cancers

“To eat or not to eat”…that is the question!

• It is possible to enjoy fast foods and stay healthy

- Eat them less often

- Make wiser choices

• What are the best choices??

Activity: Where’s the Fat?

Remember the Healthy Hints:

• Choose vegetable topped pizza - skip fatty meat toppings

• Choose grilled chicken - skip fried foods

• Choose smaller portions - skip “super size”

• Other good choices: baked potato, side salads, bean burritos, frozen yogurt

•What other Healthy Hints can you think of?

Fast Food

Before:

What you might choose:

• Quarter Pound Burger w/Cheese

• Large Fries• Large Milkshake

0

10

20

30

40

Quarter

Pounder

w/cheese

Large Fries 21oz.

Milkshake

Grams of Fat

Totals:

1770

Grams of Fat =

68

Calories =

Grams of Fat

Fast Food Make-Over:

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Q. Pounder vs.

Chx McGrill

L. Fries vs.

S. Fries

Milkshake vs.

Water

Before

After

After: Grilled Chicken Sandwich,Small Fries and Water

Totals:

Calories = Grams of Fat =

630

27

Grams of Fat

CHICKEN STIR FRY

20 Years Ago Today

435 calories 2 cups

How many calories are in today’s chicken stir fry?

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

CHICKEN STIR FRY

20 Years Ago Today

435 calories 2 cups

865 calories4 ½ cups

Calorie Difference: 430 calories

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

20 Years Ago

Today

333 calories How many calories are in today’s cheeseburger?

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

CHEESEBURGER

Calorie Difference: 257 calories

590 calories

CHEESEBURGER20 Years

AgoToday

333 calories

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm