Lawyers going after fast food...

Okay, so I'm watching the news the other day. Turns out, a group of lawyers are starting to claim that fast food is causing health problems in the same way that cigarette manufacturers cause health problems.

I really am speechless. How insane can they get, anyway? Fast food, in and of itself, does no real harm. French fries made at McDonald's are no more or less healthy than ones you make at home. Same for burgers (which aren't unhealthy to begin with). Same for everything! This is beyond stupid . . .

To compare fast food to cigarette manufacturing, and to claim that they are equally adictive, is insulting to any intelligent being and is quite laughable. Nicotine is a truly addicting drug. Fast food, no, that's no addiction, at least not a true addiction. Smokers, they are the ones getting hurt, the ones truly addicted. Fat people, no, apples and oranges. There is no true addiction there. They just gotta stop being lazy and exercise, and demonstrate some self-control.

There is virtually no difference between fast food and home-cooked food. If you go after McDonald's, don't you have to go after every food manufacturer on the planet? There is no difference after all . . . Cigarettes are something that have no positive use and are terribly addicting by chemical nature. Fast food supplies us with something we need (food and drink), and it's not their fault if you overeat. Guess what? Drinking too much milk can kill you too. Why not just outlaw everything and sue everyone?

This is so stupid. I really want to know something now. How does this kind of stupidity happen? Seriously.

How ya doing, buddy?

When I say no difference, I mean if you cook the same product. A cheeseburger is a cheeseburger. Yeah, I can make it healthier by cooking on a George Foreman Grill (love those things, so handy), but at the end of the day, there is no true difference.

Sure, if you eat tons of french fries, you're gonna probably get fat. Well, if you use a Fry Daddy to cook french fries at home, same thing'll happen over the same period of time, assuming the same rate of intake.

Someone also mentioned the important fact that nicotine is a psysical addiction, and that's the primary difference. As for the rest, all I know is that I eat home-cooked about three times a week, out about twice a week, and fast food about twice a week, and I'm not overweight in the least. Perhaps it's because I exercise? Very key thing, there. Whatever you take in, you gotta burn it off. The more you eat, the more you have to exercise. Beyond a certain point, you can't exercise enough, so you need restraint. Craving so much food is purely psychological, and is not the fault of the manufacturers of the food (unlike in the case of cigarettes, where the manufacturer is producing something that is lethal and physically addictive).

Still, at the end of the day, a cheeseburger is a cheeseburger. This just disgusts me that the lawyers are trying to compare fast food with cigarettes. It's beyond ludicrous.

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Originally Posted by a lurker

So a McDonald's salad is the same as a salad of your own concoction?

You are so fat it hurts.

Leave it to someone as dumb as you to call an athletic woman who's 5'11" and about 150 lbs. fat. You're exactly what's wrong with society today. So because I'm not anorexic, I must be fat? You're beyond ignorant. Why don't you go crawl back under the rock from whence you came?

I know I should just ignore you, but you know what, I don't take crap from anyone, especially not retarded juveniles online. So go fuck yourself.

Originally Posted by Devo

Also at fast food places the burgers aren't freshly made, they usually stored on a heater.

I call bullshit, also you don't need a Fry Daddy.

You can call whatever you want, you'll still be wrong. Who cares if they're put under a heater to be kept warm? Heck, I've nuke a leftover burger before at home, no harm. The only thing I have is my personal experience. I listed my average diet and I exercise, and I'm probably in better shape than most others on this web site.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by a lurker

You think that having a country whose majority of its citizens are obese, including very young children, is no big deal.

You know what, I've really had it with you. I never said it's no big deal, and I will not tolerate any further bullshit and lying from you. I know it's a big deal. What I'm saying is that fast food restaurants are not to blame for the problem! So stop lying about what I say and get a clue.

Originally Posted by a lurker

It doesn't matter what your stats are, made up or not, you have a very obese soul.

What kind of dumb bullshit is that? I'm guessing you toss insults so freely because you never have anything intelligent to say.

Originally Posted by Devo

Keep tooting that self-righteous horn Patty. It's funny how yet again you get pissed at lurker for her generalizations, but post this:

No, I get pissed off because of her baselss insults and complete ignorance. I made no generalizations; that statement was not meant as a dis to anyone here. I made that statement because I know it to be true, because I know myself. I push myself to the limit. I have to. I'm a woman in a predominantly male line of work, and I have to be able to do my absolute best, so I need to be in the best shape possible, period. I have to push myself harder than most in order to prove myself, and that's exactly what I do.

Originally Posted by Devo

I would make the assumption you're not healthy too. Given that you think home-cooked is food is equivalent to fastfood in nutrient/fat content.

Like I keep saying, a cheeseburger is a cheeseburger. Besides, you miss the entire point. These lawyers are trying to claim that fast food is a real addiction exactly like nicotine addition, and scientific fact says that is simply not true. People only think they're addicted to fast food, they are addicted to nicotine. Thus, the point is that fast food restaurants have absolutely no blame in any of this!

I don't even know why I bother with this web site. I've met a grand total of three people on here whom I consider to be intelligent. The rest of you just waste my time. Some day, you'll be in a position where you have to take responsibility for your own place in life, just like I did, and from the looks of it, most of you won't be ready for it. I pity you. You can't blame others forever!

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Originally Posted by a lurker

EATING FAST FOOD TWICE A WEEK IS NOT THE BEST SHAPE POSSIBLE SUGAR TITS

Were you born this freaking stupid? I'm telling you that, for fact, the fast food has not had any negative effect on my health whatsoever. That's fact, you have no place to dispute that. Or are you saying you know more about me than I do?

You see, I'll let you in on my secret: balance. Fast food, in and of itself, is not a killer. Excess is the problem, and it is not the fault of fast food chains. Tabacco companies are marketing a product that is addictive and kills. The same can't be said about fast food restaurants, period. Unfortunately, lawyers are trying to do exactly that, and I say it's total BS that they would pull something like that.

How ya doing, buddy?

You guys spend over $20 making a home-cooked meal for two people? WTF is that all about? There's three people living in my house, and altogether, a home-cooked meal can feed all three of us for like $10-$15 easily. Except for McDonald's, fast food is usually more expensive, especially Wendy's and Dairy Queen (where it costs us about $20-$25 total for all three of us to eat). So I dunno where you guys are getting your food or how much you're eating, but it's a bit too much I'd say! RacinReaver is absolutely right on this, it would never be more than $5/plate, if that, and it takes far less time (given how long it takes to drive and wait in the drive-thru). Oh, and let's not forget to factor in the cost of gas because President Bonehead is too damn busy funding his ridiculous war to put more money into investigating alternative fuel sources; imagine the advances we're missing out on because all that money is getting wasted. So yeah, by the time you factor in gas and driving and waiting, fast food takes longer and is more expensive, just as RacinReaver said. If you're spending so much on home-cooked meals, they must be pretty damn big meals.

Oh, and Sass, you say stupidity is picked on around here, but from the looks of it, it's the other way around. From the looks of it, stupidity is encouraged while thinking for yourself and intelligence are picked on.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Do you eat these steak dinners every night? I sure as Hell don't eat steak every night. So sure, occasionally it will cost more, when you have a bigger dinner like that, but not most of the time.

Take my dinner tonight, for instance. I simply had a Healthy Choice frozen dinner. Has decent nutrition, faster to fix than fast food could ever be, and really pretty cheap for an entire dinner.

I might eat more lavishly maybe once a week. Like I said, I don't freaking stuff myself. It's called self-control. It's also called moderation. Fast food companies aren't to blame for people getting fat, people eating too much are to blame!

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by a lurker

you think frozen meals are home cooking

Um, yes.

Cooked At Home = Home Cooking

You may have a different definition, but I'm usually a literal kind of person.

Originally Posted by a lurker

The reason why people buy fast food is because it's a combination of cheap and fast. If you want any variety at all in your diet, you'll be paying a lot more at McDonalds than you would be comparatively at the supermarket.

You're missing the point. It's usually both slower and more expensive, once you break it all down. Fast food isn't necessarily about being fast, that's a misnomer on their part. Yes, it's fast once you're there, but that doesn't factor in the driving time. No, fast food is about convenience. People are just too lazy.

As for my Healthy Choice dinners, they are good for you. This was already mentioned by other people, so I need not elaborate. I don't eat frozen dinners every night, though, I was just describing what I had that night.

RacinReaver is absolutely right about cost and such. Oh, and I'd like to add that eating healthy and being a health nut are two different things. You act as if McDonald's food is completely devoid of nutrition, and that simply is not true. It's not as healthy as meals you prepare personally, but they aren't killer. That's why comparing fast food companies to cigarette companies, like these lawyers are trying to do, is ignorant, dishonest, and irresponsible.

Like has been stated several times, you can eat well enough at a fast food restaurant by cutting out the empty calories from garbage such a fries; news flash here, fries are unhealthy period, whether you buy them at a fast food restaurant or cook them at home in a Fry Daddy. Basically, it's like I said all along, it's about moderation. When I eat at McDonald's, I get just a Double Cheeseburger, that's it. I'm not a heavy eater, so that helps me keep the calories down. I intake a lot of protein and I love cheeseburgers and any other meaty item (including steaks), but I also work out heavily and drink protein shakes, as well as using creatine. So by getting up and working on myself, I stay in shape. If I can do it, anyone can, save for those with like those genetic gland problems that can cause severe weight gain; even then, it's not the fault of fast food companies if they get fat, it's because of their body chemistry.

The bottom line that I'm trying to get across here is that people need to stop laying out blame and take responsibility for their own actions, plain and simple!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Capo

Just the thought of seeing a woman who uses creatine grosses me out.

I'm not a freaking bodybuilder! Sheesh! I don't go for the "ripped" look, for the exact reason you said, it's gross! I do like to look feminine, after all . . . Still, I also need strength. How many times must I say the word "moderation"? It's creatine, not anabolic steroids! Good grief . . . You guys say this kind of stuff while calling me stupid? What a joke!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by christinajon

Putting something in the microwave for a few minutes does not equal cooking in my household, but maybe that's just us.

Well, it's not very much cooking and it's almost foolproof, but I still consider it cooking. Minimal cooking, but still cooking. Still, like I said, that was my dinner that specific night. Tomorrow night, I'm cooking (oddly enough) cheeseburgers, on my George Foreman. Love those grills!

Originally Posted by CloudNine

True that.

I can bring a Healthy Choice to work and cook it in the microwave there. How is that considered 'home cooking'. There's absolutely no cooking involved.

Just because it's not "traditional" cooking doesn't mean it's not cooking. Extremely simple cooking, yes, but still cooking. I've known people who prepared fresh cheeseburgers in the microwave, and people who prepare bacon in the microwave; is that no longer considered cooking?

Actually, I got a better question. Why is it that so many of you are trying to dodge the issue at hand and focus on me instead as well as all this semantic nonsense? You just can't admit that I'm right about the topic (in that fast food companies are not to blame and these lawyers are being ridiculous in their accusations that fast food is like nicotine) because you have some weird grudge against me.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

If the fast food companies suddenly disappeared, what would all of those people that only eat there do? Starve?

He beat me to it. Besides, a lot of people here are greatly exaggerating the "unhealthiness" of fast food. I dunno about you, but if I had to pick between starving and eating unhealthy food, I'd eat the unhealthy food, because it's better than nothing.

The reason I keep bringing up cigarette companies is because that's what these lawyers have done. The lawyers claim that fast food companies are responsible in the same way that cigarette companies are responsible, claiming that fast food companies somehow made their products physically addictive. That is a blatant lie and it is very irresponsible for them to spread such false information. That's what this entire topic is about, so I don't see how I can't keep mentioning the comparison when that's what the lawyers are doing!

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by a lurker

So, um, for a week's worth of dinners, you go to a fast food joint twice, you go 'out' (Olive Garden?) an additional two times, and you eat frozen ready meals three times. do you expect you will at any time start making your own meals from scratch, or is that women's labor?

Ah, so in addition to being a worthless troll, you're also deaf and dumb, and you don't know how to read. That explains a lot, really.

You see, you're putting words in my mouth now, meaning either you enjoy lying to put down other people, or you're so stupid you can't figure out how to properly read. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume the latter.

Now then, I never said I had frozen dinners three times a week, I said I have home cooking three times a week. I know how to cook, probably better than you do, and I do indeed prepare my own meals from scratch occasionally. I don't have a calendar with which I decide meals, though. The numbers I gave were on average, and the information was not specific. Sometimes I might have three frozen dinners, sometimes only one. All the same, when I get fast food, sometimes it's McDonald's, but sometimes it's Wendy's. I do not follow a strict schedule. Do you understand what I'm saying yet or no?

If you don't understand by now, well, I suggest you look into some night school classes or something. Seriously. Learn to read properly, then speak. Until then, just go away.

Originally Posted by a lurker

Well, there's two points here isn't there. For one, the issue at hand is something you invented, with your own parameters, which does not exist in the real world. No, I'm sure plenty of lawyers are trying to get McDonalds to be held accountable for fat babies, and I bet more than a few of them made the paralell I stated earlier in that McDonalds aggressively creates a culture of dependance on their product and hides negative health facts as well as they can, like Big Tobacco. You are the only one who said that fast food is addictive as cigarettes, or that fast food is completely null and void in all nutritional value. No one is going to argue on your playground, Patty. Stop insulting our intelligence.

Well, the news report I saw says you're wrong, and sorry, but they have far more credibility than an internet troll like you. The news report stated specifically that the lawyers in question were planning to go after fast food companies by the same premise as cigarette companies were nailed, and claimed that fast food is an addiction exactly like cigarettes. Those aren't my words, those are their words. The point, and the issue at hand, is that these lawyers are full of shit to push such nonsense.

As for insulting your intelligence, that would require that you have some to insult, wouldn't it?

Originally Posted by a lurker

"Insert Retarded Propaganda Picture Here"

pop quiz: are these kids responsible for their appearance? yes/no/lol Healthy Choice

Their parents are the ones responsible, actually. McDonald's certainly isn't. You're just trying to spread bullshit propaganda here.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by CloudNine

Greatly exaggerated unhealthyness? For someone who claims to be informed about nutrition, you seem to be ignorant about what is unhealthy for you. Need I point you to some nutritional guides for some of the most popular fast food chains?

McDonalds nutrition facts

Lets say you order a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal, arguably one of the most popular items on the menu. With Fries and a Coke, your looking at 45g of fat and 1100 calories. A similar meal at Burger King is even worse, totaling to 67g of fat and 1320 calories. How can you possibly say that this is healthy for you, in any way what-so-ever?

The worst thing there are the fries, though. You cut the fries and you cut most of the unhealthy stuff. Fries are not physically addictive. If people are so concerned about health, they should stop eating the junk food like that. Oh, and you do realize that fries cooked at home in a Fry Daddy (gotta compare similar methods of preparation after all) are almost as unhealthy, right?

Basically, no one is forcing you to stuff your face with tons of fries. Eat a double cheeseburger. Get a filet-o-fish. Maybe try the chicken sandwich. Stay away from the junk food, and it's much better for you then.

Originally Posted by CloudNine

The world is a much different place than it was fifty years ago. Many household had woman who stayed home to take care of the children and were there to make home cooked meals. Now a days you have both parents working jobs, running kids around to various sports and activities. You have people who juggle school and full time jobs, who adhere to fast food restaurant because they are much easier and convenient than making themselves bag lunches every day. I know personally that when my days consisted of school related activities from 8am-12pm and work from 4pim-12am, I would end up having to eat some type of fast food during the day. I just didn't have time to cook myself anything.

I would venture a guess that, for the majority of people, this was not the case 50 years ago like it is now.

Hmmm. So let me get this straight. You think fast food companies are responsible for all this because people don't know how to stop "ordering fries with that" and can't manage your time properly to make their own food? If you're running out of time and don't like it, make time. If you don't overflow your schedule, you won't have these problems.

You asked if this was the moral high road for fast food to offer this. I do believe there is absolutely nothing immoral about it. Let me pose this question to you, since you have so little time that you're "forced" to eat fast food. Actually, let me pose you two questions. These questions aren't actually directed at you specifically, but apply to everyone who is supposedly "forced" to eat fast food:

1. Why do you order junk sides? Why not just stick to healthier menu items? If you like fries, then it's your choice, and it's not their fault.

2. What would you do if every fast food company disappeared tomorrow? Would you starve? If not, then if you want to avoid fast food, just pretend that their restaurants don't exist, and do whatever you would be forced to do in such a situation.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by CloudNine

I gave you the nutritional facts for a reason. You should actually take a look at them before you start spouting off inaccurate words. You keep saying that the fries are the most unhealthy part of the meal and that is untrue. A double cheeseburger at McDonalds has more calorie and fat content than the medium fries that come with the meal. And the Filet-O-Fish and the McChicken sandwich are nearly the same as the french fries.

This is the problem with your arguments. All of your statements are pure opinionated bullshit and every one is calling you on it. If your going to make claims here, back it up or else you will get called on for it.

I have backed it up. It's not my fault you haven't read the very nutritional chart you linked to. Sure, those products have more calories, but they also have more nutrition. The only thing besides calories that fries have is Vitamin C, and very little of that compared to the number of calories; the meats, on the other hand, have several things going for them that fries do not, especially protein and calcium. So either read the information in that link before claiming that I don't, or if you already do, please check out more than just the calories and fat columns.

Originally Posted by CloudNine

So are you that people who have to work full time, go to school, take care of the kids and take care of their house should just give up their lives in order to be able to cook their families meals? What do you think that they should just give up in order to cook? Maybe the shouldn't do their laundry? Maybe they should switch to part time work? I know i'm being dramatic, but I give back what I get. I suppose they might have time to heat up some sphagettios.(i.e. home cooking.)

Given that fast food also takes time, how about taking some of that time, and cutting a bit of extracurricular activities or leisure time?

Originally Posted by CloudNine

Please stop quoting forced. I don't rememer ever once saying that these companies were forcing anyone to eat fast food.

1. People will order value meals because they are cheaper and more cost efficent for the amount of food than buying items seperatlely. And like I pointed out above, fries are hardly the most unhealthy part of the meal.

2. Like I have been saying the entire time, it is about conveniece. It would be much more inconvenient to do any of these other options. People who are rushed for time and money will always choose the option that is easiest and most convenient for themselves. Fast food companies know this well and market towards these types of people who would be very inconvenienced by having to go to the store and make their own meals. Again, what should these people cut out of their lives? Sleep? Showering? They are taking advantage of their customers by knowingly serving products of subpar quality and unhealthy nutrition in such a way that many of their cusotmers see no other way than eat there.

Maybe not something that they should be legally held responsible for, but ehtical and moral? I think not.

How is it at all unethical or immoral? Food is something people need to survive, and if there is a demand for a faster method of obtaining it (even if it's not truly faster), then there is nothing wrong with supplying it. It should be assumed that if short cuts are taken to make food, it won't be quite as healthy as normal food. Still, the unhealthiness, as I already said, is exaggerated, and your own link proves me right.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by a lurker

I.... jesus. Do you think I'm the only one who noticed that, not only is a woman who fancies herself at the top of her game giving out advice on what's more nutritional at McDonalds, but that the word 'salad' never passes through her lips?

I don't like salads very much. What can I say about them? I don't eat like a freaking rabbit. I'm a carnivore, I like meat, it tastes good and is good for you. Salads may be great for really overweight people who are trying to lose a lot, but for someone who's athletic and works out a lot, salads are really . . . well . . . unfulfilling. Maybe you need to eat salads, but I don't.

Originally Posted by a lurker

Not to mention she's comparing apples and oranges, if she even knows what those are. The fillet o' fish (a healthier alternative!) is comparable to a double cheeseburger. Big shock there.

Like fucking calcium and protien is hard to come by in an American diet, christ almighty. Actually, I don't know. Maybe it's hard to get your daily alotment of calcium from a Healthy Choice sweet and sour chicken dinner.

The point was that there is nutrition in that food. The point is that it's not as unhealthy as portrayed around here. You see, all the news you get about fast food being fattening is usually considering the average meal bought at these places. Yeah, if you get a number whatever with a regular soda and fries, that's gonna be really unhealthy and fattening. I don't order that crap, I only order the sandwiches. Big difference there.

Good grief were you born this stupid?

Originally Posted by Koneko

Eating once and a while, fine. Eating it once a week or more, not good (esspecially if you do not take time on the side to be active or work out).

That is the big thing right there. Right there, "if you do not take time on the side to be active or work out". That is the problem with most Americans: they're lazy! Always making excuses and blaming other people for their own problems that they've brought upon themselves.

I can eat fast food once or twice a week because I work out extensively. Maybe I'm just weird, but my well-being is the top priority for me. If I wanna indulge myself food-wise with something a little less healthy, I make up for it later by working it off. If I can do it, while working full time, why can't other people? Lazy lazy lazy!

Americans always wanna play the blame game and I'm sick of it! People need to starting taking responsibility! I don't feel at all sorry for anyone who eats himself or herself fat; as it goes, "you reap what you sow". If people want a change, that starts from within, not by suing McDonald's!

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