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Healthy food VS. Junk food
Why do people resort to eating at fast food joints rather than enjoying a nutritious healthy meal? "Because eating healthy is expensive." However, based on research examined by Harvard - eating healthy costs a mere $1.50 more per day.
eat healthy.
LIVE BETTER.
THE $20 CHALLENGE
All too often we as individuals seem to favor convenience and time over preparation and steadiness, and in most cases this is seen as a positive and beneficial preference, but what about when it comes to our diet? Sadly, most Americans have a preconceived notion that it a financial burden to consume healthy foods, as opposed to eating fast food and take out, however, this actually is not the case. According to the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, or STFM, “The average cost of the convenient-food-diet model was more than twice that of the healthy-food-model, at $10,298 per year.”( Clay McNight) This research into the costs of eating healthy actually demonstrates that one could save an incredible amount of money by shopping healthy instead of eating out. With this information in mind, most Americans could actually lose weight while not breaking the bank in the process!
EATING HEALTHY CAN ACTUALLY SAVE YOU MONEY
More and more studies are beginning to demonstrate that in America, a healthy eating alternative can actually save consumers money, but, what about in other countries? In a study published in the United States National Library of Medicine, a survey was taken from ten different countries regarding healthy options, versus unhealthy take out. The results from this study were profound in demonstrating that not only In America was eating healthy cheaper, but all around the world! According to the study, the biggest price difference was that of meats and proteins, and the smallest difference was among grains and oats. This is because most times, proteins and meats will cost less to fill one up, as opposed to paying more for an unhealthy take out dinner to fill one up. At the end of the study, the conclusion was that on average it cost twice as much to get the same amount of food in a fast food option, as it did to go out and buy healthy groceries.
Do healthier food options cost more?
Eating healthy leads to better mindfulness
According to National Alliance on mental illness, diet and mental health seem to have a relatively high correlation to one another. “Research linking diet and mental health shows that food—along with other factors—plays an important contributing role in the development, management and prevention of specific mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease. (Natalia Rawls | Jul. 20, 2015)”
Limit fast-food for
children to prevent bad habits as adults
Most Americans can understand that fast food is not something that adults should not eat every day, but what about children? According to an article in CBS News.com, “About one-third of U.S. children and teens eat pizza or other fast food every day, a new government report shows. Researchers say that figure is about the same as it was in the 1990s” (CBS News, September 16th, 2015) Some researches pointed out that this is not a terrible thing because it hasn’t significantly risen, but is this a good thing? The caloric intake from fast food per day for children has remained around 295 calories for the day from fast food. This number may seem small, but is it hurting children’s conception of daily eating? CBS researchers believe that the more daily fast food enters the home that this can lead to a possible unhealthy lifestyle as they mature into adults!
CITATIONS
Natalia Rawis. "NAMI." NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness, 20 July 2015. Web. 02 May 2017.
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Writer, Leaf Group. "The Price Difference Between Healthy Food & Fast Food." Healthy Eating | SF Gate. SF Gate, 07 Oct. 2016. Web. 02 May 2017.
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Rao, Mayuree, Ashkan Afshin, and Gitanjali Singh. "Do Healthier Foods and Diet Patterns Cost More than Less Healthy Options? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." Do Healthier Foods and Diet Patterns Cost More than Less Healthy Options? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2013): n. pag. US National Library of Medicine. Web. 1 May 2017.
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CBS/AP. "Many U.S. Kids Eat Fast Food Every Day." CBS News. CBS Interactive, 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 02 May 2017.
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