Fast Food
Figuring Out the Facts
Project Sponsors
• School District of Philadelphia
• Department of Nutrition Sciences, Drexel University
• USDA Project Funded through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Survey:
• How many of you eat fast food? • How often do you eat fast food? • What is your favorite fast food choice? • What do you consider “fast food?” • Do you think fast food is healthy or
unhealthy?
What are today’s topics ??
Fast food Making healthy choices
Energy balance Portion size
Pop Quiz
Which Meal Has the Least Amount of Fat? #1 Quarter pound burger with cheese, large fries and diet soda
#2 Crispy chicken salad with 2 ounces of creamy Caesar dressing and regular soda
#3 Taco Salad and bottled water
54 grams
34 grams
48 grams
Fast Food Facts • Americans spend a lot
of money on fast food (and that amount is increasing)! – On French fries:
• 1970: $6 billion • 2000: $110 billion
• We eat out often! – Average American dines
out 198 times a year • How many times a
week is this? • Do you dine out more
often or less often than this?
Too Much Fast Food? • Fast food can contain a lot of fat, calories, and
sodium • Eating too much solid fat can raise cholesterol • Eating too many calories can lead to weight gain • High sodium intake is related to high prevalence
of high blood pressure in the U.S. • These health problems can lead to serious disease
– Diabetes – Heart Disease – Stroke – Some cancers
20 Years Ago Today
How many calories are in today’s order of fries?
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
Fast Food Facts: Portion Sizes
210 Calories 2.4 ounces
610 Calories 6.9 ounces
400 more calories!
more than 200 calories per
day
weight gain
increase in per capita consumption Source:Nestle, 2002
Americans Are Eating More
You Do the Math How much weight is gained by eating 200 extra calories every day for 1 year?
1. 200 calories x ____ days in 1 year = extra
calories per year
1 pound = 3500 calories
2. 73,000 calories/year ÷ 3500 calories/pound = ______ pounds of weight gain in 1 year
How long will you have to walk leisurely in order to burn those extra 400 calories?*
*Based on 160-pound person
Energy Balance
Calories In = Calories Out
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes you will burn approximately 400 calories.*
• Be more physically active
– Physical activity is a key to energy balance • Enjoy your food, but eat less
– Cut back on foods high in solid fats and added sugars
– Avoid oversized portions
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
• 1 chocolate cream filled cupcake • 20 chocolate coated peanut candies • 5 chicken nuggets • 1 large chocolate chip cookie • 1 fast food medium soda
Fast Food Makeover: Before What you might choose: • Quarter Pound Burger
w/Cheese • Large Fries • Large Milkshake
0
10
20
30
40
QuarterPounderw/cheese
Large Fries 21oz.Milkshake
Grams of Fat
Totals:
1770 Grams of Fat = 68 Calories =
Grams of Fat
Fast Food Makeover: After • Cheeseburger • Small Fries • Bottled Water Totals:
Calories =
Grams of Fat =
560
25
Grams of Fat
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Quarter PoundBurger w/Cheese
and CheeseBurger
Large and SmallFries
Large Milkshakeand Bottled
Water
Some Fat Is Good!
• What are the benefits of fat? – Cushion and protect organs – Needed for energy – Helps with vitamin absorption
• What foods have fats that are good for the body? – Tree nuts – Fish – Vegetable oils
Healthy Hints • Try vegetables on pizza – choose fatty
meat toppings less often • Choose grilled chicken – cut back on
fried foods
• Avoid oversized portions – choose a smaller size option
• Be creative – try baked potato, side salads, bean burritos, or frozen yogurt – make half your plate fruits and vegetables!
• What other healthy hints do you have?
Activity: Fast Food Makeover
Fast Food • Make Healthier Choices
– Choose lower calorie, fat, and sodium foods
– Go for smaller portions • Remember Energy Balance
– Get your physical activity – Balance the calories you need with
the calories you eat
Questions?
