child obesity
Krista Bailey
Chandler
English 101-521
Research Essay
July 22, 2013 Improving Children’s Health There are numerous ways parents can improve children’s health. I constantly hear, how “convenient dining out is” or how “it is less expensive to eat off the dollar menu at McDonald’s than cooking at home”. Children’s health should be more important than convenience and expense. Parents should step up and prevent their children from becoming obese and from developing health issues. The amount of advertisement for fatty foods should be decrease and also physical activity should be required by all school-aged children. The fact is eating unhealthy food is really not any cheaper than a home-cooked meal. A meal at Wendy’s for a family of four consists of two kids cheeseburgers, two bacon cheeseburgers, 4 large fries, two small and two large sodas, and could cost between $20-25 for just one meal. Think about how expensive that can add up to if it becomes a daily routine. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a home-cooked meal for less expense and receive more food for one’s money. For instance, one can cook a pot of spaghetti and meat sauce for about $12-$15. There are more options to substitute when dining in to eat even cheaper, such as only making spaghetti sauce from the can. Nearly 50 million Americans who are enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) receive about $5 per person, per day which is far from ideal but enough to survive (Mark Bittman, 2011). The problem of cooking at home is that it is considered work to parents, unlike fast food which is quick and convenient. Parents would rather drive up and wait five minutes for food rather than spend hours in the kitchen cooking every day. In 2010 the average American, regardless of weekly earnings, watched no less than an hour and a half of television per day, therefore the time is there (Mark Bittman, 2011). Once
Chandler
English 101-521
Research Essay
July 22, 2013 Improving Children’s Health There are numerous ways parents can improve children’s health. I constantly hear, how “convenient dining out is” or how “it is less expensive to eat off the dollar menu at McDonald’s than cooking at home”. Children’s health should be more important than convenience and expense. Parents should step up and prevent their children from becoming obese and from developing health issues. The amount of advertisement for fatty foods should be decrease and also physical activity should be required by all school-aged children. The fact is eating unhealthy food is really not any cheaper than a home-cooked meal. A meal at Wendy’s for a family of four consists of two kids cheeseburgers, two bacon cheeseburgers, 4 large fries, two small and two large sodas, and could cost between $20-25 for just one meal. Think about how expensive that can add up to if it becomes a daily routine. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a home-cooked meal for less expense and receive more food for one’s money. For instance, one can cook a pot of spaghetti and meat sauce for about $12-$15. There are more options to substitute when dining in to eat even cheaper, such as only making spaghetti sauce from the can. Nearly 50 million Americans who are enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) receive about $5 per person, per day which is far from ideal but enough to survive (Mark Bittman, 2011). The problem of cooking at home is that it is considered work to parents, unlike fast food which is quick and convenient. Parents would rather drive up and wait five minutes for food rather than spend hours in the kitchen cooking every day. In 2010 the average American, regardless of weekly earnings, watched no less than an hour and a half of television per day, therefore the time is there (Mark Bittman, 2011). Once
Cited: Green, Gregory, Brenda Hargrove, and Clarence Riley. “Phsycical activity and childhood obesity: strategies and solutions for schools and parents.” Education 132.4 (2012): 915+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. We. 18 Feb 2013. Retrieved from Worsnop, R. L. (1997, September 26). Youth fitness. CQ Researcher, 7, 841-864. Retrieved Bittman, Mark. “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” NYTimes.com. N.p., 24 Sep. 20. Web. Neuman, William. “U.S. Seeks New Limits on Food Ads for Children.” http://NYtimes.com N.p., 28 Apr. 2011. Web