Long before, food-on-the-go retail chains lined the streets of America; comfort food was a home-cooked meal. The comfort food of many Americans has been replaced by fast foods. Despite its expedient convenience and availability, there are not many health benefits in fast foods. The efficiency at which these foods are made is not the problem.

For starters, fast foods are highly concentrated in fat and calories. Dissimilar to the essentials of a well-balance diet that includes fruits and vegetables, these foods are void of vividly colored fruits and vegetables. Since French fries do not account for vegetables, Americans are eating fewer vegetables than they are consuming fast food. The outcome results in diminished intakes of nutrients. Moreover, without the aid of fiber-rich vegetables, there is a propensity amongst people who eat fast food – to consume more high-fat foods.

A facet of the fast food issue can be identified in our perceptions about food. For instance, one study revealed that many fast food eaters are oblivious about the risks of cancer associated with foods lacking in nutritional value. Then, there is the propensity of people engaging in ‘passive over-consumption’. Because the body is unable to automatically detect that smaller portions are appropriate with meals high in calories, over-eating transpires. Not to mention, the large coke or soda that comes with these meals, increase the calorie load by a minimum of 100 calories.

In a research study on teenager’s eating habits, the results depicted that leaner adolescents were less apt to eat throughout the duration of the day if they consumed fast food than their overweight colleagues. Also, the study showed overweight teens over indulges fast food more dramatically than the leaner youngsters.