Pg. 38 Exercise 2

In his article "Don't Blame the Eater," David Zinzenko stresses more than once that fast-food restaurants are the only affordable option for teenagers in America. He says, "Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you'll see one of our country's more than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants. Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit." Though I agree that fast-food restaurants are in abundance in this country, I feel it is absurd to claim that there are no affordable, convenient and healthy alternatives. There are healthy food stores such as Wild Oats which are opening all across the country. On top of that, there is some form of a grocery store in every town in America, and healthy meals can be bought there at affordable prices if picked out correctly. So even though it might take a little longer than pulling up to a window, there are healthy affordable meals for teenagers in America, if they only take the extra time and responsibility to choose them.

David Zinczenko mentions an alarming fact in his article "Don't Blame the Eater," that Type 2 diabetes has increased since 1994 from 5 percent to 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in the United States. Then there is the fact that McDonalds and Burger King spend $1 billion each year on advertising; a large portion of that aimed directly at kids such as Ronald McDonald, happy meals and the playgrounds that accompany the restaurants. There are many other examples along this line and when added up it is clear that fast-food restaurants play a substantial role in youthful obesity. Though I agree with David Zinczenko on that part of his argument, where we disagree is on his belief that bringing lawsuits against the companies is a legitimate response to the problem. He believes parents of the obese children suing the companies will be a useful tool in bringing awareness to the unhealthiness of fast-food. I disagree. I see that as merely people looking for personal gain without any intention of changing the fast-food companies. The way to combat these corporations is by joining together to force them to put the nutritional information on their products, spreading awareness of the health risks in eating their food, and by educating children much more on what food is good for them to put in their bodies.