This week I have had more fast food than I normally do and I have spent less than when I cook everynight. Now granted, when I cook i do use expensive ingredients - salmon, chicken etc - but still, having the benefit of a transatlantic comparison, British supermarkets are way cheaper. There seems to be a direct correlation between cheapness of supermarkets and obesity rates but I am not going to speculate....honest.
Seriously though, when i say fast food is cheap, I mean cheap, especially if you catch it during happy hour. One of my dear friends over here got a slice of pizza the other day big enough to feed a family of four (okkkk maybe a slight exaggeration) for just $3. That is £2 in the current exchange rate and such a cheap meal. Consider buying all the ingredients and making yourself a healthier version - triple the price. Easily.
I'll give the fast food market over here some benefit of the doubt with the delicious Chipotle phenomenon where they use only organic ingredients and helpfully inform you of the calorie boundaries for each meal. For those with self-control, you can opt for the 400-700 calorie 'bowl', a healthy meal all for around 6 buckos. I, however, have not found that self control just yet and opt for the burrito at 900 cals. So yum. Particularly if you leave a little left over and put it in the fridge for breakfast the next day. Heaven.
Anyway, it is clear that America needs more than a TV show with Jamie Oliver to shift their huge weight issues especially now that the current generation of children have a lower life expectancy due to their food habits. Obama needs to address the food tax too if there is any hope of people converting to the healthy home cooked food option especially in the current economic climate. I mean, who can blame people going for the cheaper option. I can't.
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