Fast Food Business - Research Paper Example

Fast Food Introduction Owing to the fact that convenience is quickly becoming a commodity, the fast food business is booming. This coupled with the fact that consumers are looking for consistent, high quality food in a location that values their time has resulted in the speedy growth of fast food outlets. At the same time, this has created opportunities for specialization in the fast food industry as consumers look for variety and freshness as well. The fast food industry is ‘ripe’ with opportunities for different types of entrepreneurs because of these factors. Nonetheless, it does not make it an easy endeavor, as it also requires strategic thinking concerning how to undertake it. There are those that will shy away from it due to high costs incurred at the beginning and those who embrace it simply because there is a constant market. In the same way, consumers have become more aware of health hazards associated with fast food forcing restaurants to come up with healthier options. Outline of Opposing Side The most pressing challenge facing the fast food industry is the fact there is an increasing awareness of health implications of fast foods. Previously, the fast food was the go-to business owing to its cheap aspect in the face of hard economic times. Fast food outlets were able to cash out on such times by offering promotions, discounts and cheap combination meals. At the same time, consumers enjoyed convenience in form of fast deliveries. Presently however, fast food outlets have been faced with challenges stemming from health concerns such as the health reform bill passed in 2010 aimed at combating obesity that calls on fast food restaurants with 20 or more outlets to reveal the calorie content of their meals on the menus. This has called for innovation in the industry where restaurants have to look for ways in which they can package their meals in a healthy manner while still making them attractive. This is particularly so with children meals that are usually offered with toys making them more attractive to them; for instance Happy Meals offered by McDonalds. Legislators suggested that such complementary items attracted children to unhealthy meals. Coming up with healthy alternatives costs more and as such restaurants are faced with an uphill task of creating consumer loyalty where for instance consumers will be encouraged to purchase more expensive items after getting them ‘hooked’ on the low-priced ones (“More than menus…”). Second to health concerns is loss of family tradition as an effect of dependence on fast food. This comes from the fact that fast foods offer convenience and low priced items at a time when most people are leading hectic lifestyles defined by long working hours and work plus school routines leaving no time for getting home to prepare a meal. Getting a meal has become a matter of picking up the phone and making an order that is then delivered in no time. Traditional family bonding that happened during meals has faded because of this as people eat away from home so dinner conversations that created time for catching up have become a thing of history. Even with expensive meals, many young people are able to afford them, as many are keen on making extra money after school or during school breaks (Hager 5). It has been reported that approximately 25 percent of adults eat at a fast food restaurant where a typical meal comprises of three hamburgers along with four packets of French fries every week. Such meals are considered junk foods, as they are high in fat and salt and if a soda accompanies them there is high sugar and calorie contents summing up the junk food definition as being low in nutritional benefits. Sugar-sweetened beverages that have over time increased in portions served account for nearly 20 percent of calories consumed by Americans. This is what causes type 2 diabetes and increased body weight where one consumes this continuously without exercising. High saturated fats along with salty meals cause heart disease, blood pressure issues and obesity. In addition, drinks that come with fortified vitamins which make it okay to eat fast food, as nutrients will come from the drinks sidetrack consumers. Experts, nevertheless, have failed to determine if such vitamins have any positive effects on the body. Beverages such as sodas and iced tea have also been reported to cause thinning of hipbones in women and damaged enamel in teeth (Hales 165- 167). Supporting Research On the other hand, there are suggestions to dealing with these detrimental effects that advocate for healthier alternatives and smaller portions of fast foods. For instance, one should go for plain, baked potatoes that do not have butter, sour cream or bits of bacon, avoiding salads that are filled with dressings such as mayonnaise, going for a regular pizza without any additions such as pepperoni or cheese and having sushi, which is a Japanese meal low in fats. These accompanied with an active lifestyle ought to keep heart disease, obesity and overweight issues at bay. People that consume fast foods often should strive to exercise twice as more and remain active through simple activities such as taking the stairs, walking instead of driving or taking the bus. One has to also pay attention to portions of fast food meals and their relative contents for instance 3-ounce bagel that has 240 calories and 3 grams of fat is a healthier option compared to a 3-ounce croissant that has 360 calories and 20 grams of fat (Goldstein & Goldstein 166). Personal Stake Fast foods are tasty and convenient making them an easy option and one should not refrain from its pleasures. The most important thing is to remain aware of their content and be wary of how much to consume. I am of the opinion that it is possible to enjoy fast foods and remain healthy by selecting the healthier alternatives and monitoring how often one consumes them. Above all, one should strive to be active and avoid being sedentary through frequent exercising. In addition, one should be aware of genetic predispositions to certain diseases such as diabetes as they increase chances of one developing the disease. Having such awareness makes it possible to avoid diseases while still enjoying the pleasures that are fast foods. In addition, the government should strive to make dietary foods in different types of vegetables and fruits are affordable to the masses. It is possible to deter the negative effects of fast foods by accompanying them with a fruit or grains rich in fiber or vegetables. In making healthy foods attractive to children, one should prepare meals that are colorful as these will undoubtedly be healthier as they will contain diverse food groups. For instance, a plate of fries accompanied with fish, vegetables and a fruit. The fries should be in the smallest portion possible and prepared with olive or sunflower oil in order to avoid saturated fats. The general idea is to avoid fried foods, red meat, carbonated and sweetened drinks as much as possible. Just as well, starchy and sweet items should be consumed earliest in the day where right before bed one should have meals high in protein and vegetables. Conclusion Fast foods are without a doubt unhealthy and even the healthier alternatives are not so healthy and as such, it is advisable to stay away from them. Similarly, one should avoid habits such as smoking and immoderate drinking as this is part of ensuring a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, it has been reported that a majority of the population is constantly in a postprandial state that causes changes in metabolism and potentially affects risk of disease. Because fast foods are laden with high carbohydrates and minimal fiber, they will affect blood sugar levels and result in diseases such as diabetes. This is what makes being in a constant postprandial state dangerous particularly since fast foods are the ones being largely consumed. Health researchers call for fast foods to be composed in a different way that features high fiber and carbohydrates but this is bound to make fast foods less popular to consumers (Ramel et al 1193). Works Cited “More than menus need to be revamped if fast foods want to keep growing”. The Economist. July 17 2010. Web. 09 Dec 2013 Hager, Carrison. Fast Food. Skipping Stones; Jan/Feb2008, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p5. Hales, Diane. An Invitation to Health. California: Cengage Learning: 2009. Print. Goldstein, Myrna, Goldstein, Mark. Controversies in Food and Nutrition. Connecticut. Greenwood Publishing Group. Print. 2002. Ramel, Alfons. Gudmundsdottir, and I. Thorsdottir. "Effects of Two Different Types of Fast Food on Postprandial Metabolism in Normal and Overweight Subjects." European journal of clinical nutrition 66.11 (2012): 1193-8.  Read More