The ingredients in a McDonald's Big Mac sandwich are as follows (McDonald's Website, 2005): Is the McDonald's Big Mac sandwich, the icon of fast food eating, ôbad for youö when compared to the typical American meal? The following nutritional information, taken from the McDonald's website and from product labels at a local supermarket, will help shed light on this question. For this argument, it is logical to compare a fast food sandwich to a similar sandwich that the average American might make at home using standard ingredients from national leading food brands and distributors. In order to assess the health value of fast food or, for that matter, any type of food, it is necessary to establish a basis for comparison.
The term ôhealthy,ö rather than being concrete, is relative and descriptive. However, a careful examination of facts supports the argument that not only is fast food not unhealthy when compared to the typical American home-cooked meal, but that it can actually promote weight-loss and health by helping people control their portions. Why Fast Food Is Not Bad for You When Compared toĪmerican culture currently stereotypes fast food as being intrinsically unhealthy, giving the average person ôfood for thoughtö about the risks versus benefits of eating a fast food meal.
