We all know how hard it is to eat healthy everyday. But settling for fast food and sweet treats on a daily basis can be very costly.
Busy lives, makes it hard to eat right. Sometimes, it’s easier to just grab food off the shelf, thinking only of the convenience and not of the nutritional value. Processed foods are always on-hand, which is why they make so much money for manufacturers. And they’ve saved us time and energy in the past. But, at what cost?
Many quick meals and treats are staples of our daily diet, from Coke to Twinkies. However, if not eaten in strict moderation (or avoided completely) they can lead to long-term health problems.
Some of these products are clearly harmful, but because they’re lucrative moneymakers they stay on the shelves anyway. Others are less obvious, but when eaten in great quantities can have nasty side effects.
Swinging through the drive-thru or hopping into your favorite fast food restaurant may happen more often than some of us would like to admit. While an occasional fast food meal won’t hurt, a habit of eating out could be doing a number on your health and your wallet.
According to eatpallet.com “As of June 2022, the America’s fast food industry was worth around $331.4 billion, a little over ⅓ of the global fast food market.” On average, Americans spend more than $100 a week on fast food. That’s about $5,200 a year.
I took a look at my Starbucks app and calculated that I was spending an average of $1,200 a year on carmel fraps and white chocolate lattes.
We never pay attention to how much money is spent on things that are really destroying our pallets as well as our wallets.
Diet Coke
Diet cola portrays itself as a healthy alternative to regular cola. After all, it’s sugar-free! And, it has no calories. It’s often been the go-to drink for dieters everywhere. Though Mayo Clinic says that it is okay if consumed in minimal quantities, people who drink more than a can a day could be headed for some serious harm.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are highly processed foods that contain many ingredients other than animal meat. Among them is maltodextrin, which, if consumed in excess, can cause damage to the intestines and stomach.
Additionally, a serving of hot dogs has 33% of the recommended daily sodium intake. As if that were not enough, hot dogs usually list “poultry meat” among their ingredients, an ambiguous term that raises doubts about the true origin of the meat they contain. Considering this, it’s surprising just how many of these are sold at stores like Kroger each year.
Breakfast Sandwiches
It might be tempting to quickly grab a breakfast sandwich from a fast-food restaurant like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Tim Horton’s. And, there’s no denying that these sandwiches are delicious. However, you could be doing your body a real disservice by eating one every day.
Though once in a while isn’t a problem, breakfast sandwiches are high in cholesterol. According to The Nutrition Twins, eating a fast-food breakfast sandwich three times a week can make you gain eight pounds a year, thanks to the three-hundred extra calories from the sandwich that you wouldn’t otherwise get if you stuck to eating at home.
Chewing Gum
Many brands of chewing gum promote themselves by showing off their supposed benefits. Some promise fresh breath and even whiter, cleaner teeth. However, there are several oral problems that are associated with the consumption of this product.
Some gum can cause problems such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and jaw pain, especially if the gum has a high sugar content. Apart from that, there have also been reports of children who have suffered asphyxiation after misusing gum.
Potato Chips
The vast majority of potato chips have petroleum-based colorings, starches, preservatives, and saturated fat. In addition, a serving of just 0.11 pounds of potato chips provides 32% of the recommended daily value for sodium.
To make matters worse, French fries, which are a close cousin to everyone’s favorite snack food, also contain monosodium glutamate, a compound that enhances flavor but will leave you wanting to eat more and more. There’s a reason you can’t eat just one.
