Fast Food

Healthy or Horrible?
Project Sponsors
• USDA project funded
through the Food Stamp
Program

• School District of
Philadelphia

• Nutrition Center,
Department of
Bioscience & Biotechnology
Drexel
University
Funded by the PENNSYLVANIA NUTRITION EDUCATION TRACKS, a part of USDA’s Food
Stamp Program. To find out how the Food Stamp Program can help you buy healthy foods,
contact the PA Department of Public Welfare’s tool-free helpline at 800-692-7462. This
institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Pop Quiz: Which meal has the least amount of fat?

#1 Quarter pound burger with cheese, large fries and diet

soda
54 grams

#2 Crispy chicken salad with 2 oz of creamy Caesar

dressing and regular soda
34 grams

#3 Taco Salad and bottled water

48 grams
Fast Food Healthy choices

What are today’s

topics ??
Energy balance
Portion size

vs
 Survey:
• How many of you eat fast food?
• What are your favorite fast food
restaurants?
• How often do you eat fast food?
• What is your favorite fast food choice?
• Do you think fast food is healthy or
unhealthy?
– Why???
 Fast Food Facts
• Americans spend a lot • We eat out often!
of money on fast food – Average American dines
(and that amount is out 198 times a year
increasing)! • How many times a
– On French fries: week is this??
• 1970: $6 billion • Do you dine out more
often or less often
• 2000: $110 billion than this?
 Fast Food Facts: Portion Sizes

20 Years Ago Today

210 Calories How many calories are in

2.4 ounces today’s order of fries?

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

 French Fries

20 Years Ago Today

210 Calories 610 Calories

2.4 ounces 6.9 ounces

Calorie Difference: 400 Calories

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
 Americans are eating more

weight gain

increase in more than 200

per capita calories per
consumption day
Source:Nestle, 2002
 You do the math
• On average, Americans are eating an extra 200
calories every day

200 calories x days in 1 year = extra calories per year

• 1 pound = 3500 calories

73,000 calories per year 3500 calories per pound =

pounds of weight gain in 1 year

 Avoiding the 20 pound gain

• Be more physically active

– If you eat the extra 200 calories each day,
burn them off!

• Control your food intake

– Cut out some things in your daily diet
– Eat smaller portions
• 1 chocolate cream filled cupcake
• 20 peanut M&Ms
• 5 chicken nuggets
• 1 large chocolate chip cookie
• Fast food medium soda
 Maintaining a Healthy Weight is a Balancing Act
Calories In = Calories Out

How long will you have to walk leisurely in

order to burn those extra 400 calories?*

Adapted from
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
*Based on 160-pound person
 Calories In = Calories Out

If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes

you will burn approximately 400 calories.*

*Based on 160-pound person

Adapted from
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
 So…what is the problem with
eating too much fast food?
Think about your future health!

– Fast food contains a lot of fat, calories, and sodium

− Can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure

– These health problems can lead to chronic diseases

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Some cancers
“To eat or not to eat”…that is
the question!
• It is possible to enjoy
fast foods and stay
healthy
- Eat them less often
- Make wiser choices

• What are the best

choices??
Activity: Where’s the Fat?
Remember the Healthy Hints:

Fast Food
• Choose vegetable topped pizza - skip fatty
meat toppings
• Choose grilled chicken - skip fried foods
• Choose smaller portions - skip “super size”
• Other good choices: baked potato, side
salads, bean burritos, frozen yogurt
•What other Healthy Hints can you think of?
Before:
What you might choose:
• Quarter Pound Burger 40
Grams of Fat
w/Cheese 30

• Large Fries 20

• Large Milkshake 10

Totals: Quarter
Pounder
Large Fries 21oz.
Milkshake

1770
w/cheese
Calories = Grams of Fat

Grams of Fat = 68
Fast Food Make-Over:
After: Grilled Chicken Sandwich,
Small Fries and Water Totals:
40
35
Grams of Fat Calories = 630
30
Grams of
25
20
Fat = 27
15
10
5
0
Q. Pounder vs. L. Fries vs. Milkshake vs. Before
Chx McGrill S. Fries Water After
 CHICKEN STIR FRY
20 Years Ago Today

435 calories
How many calories are in
2 cups
today’s chicken stir fry?

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

 CHICKEN STIR FRY
20 Years Ago Today

435 calories 865 calories

2 cups 4 ½ cups

Calorie Difference: 430 calories

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
 CHEESEBURGER
20 Years Ago Today

333 calories How many calories are in

today’s cheeseburger?

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

 CHEESEBURGER
20 Years Ago Today

333 calories 590 calories

Calorie Difference: 257 calories

Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm