Books, Movies, Music & Entertainment - Fast Food Nation The Dark Side of the All-American Meal

Just bought this book, only on section 1 chapter 3 right now but so far it's a great book. The book has certainly started to open my eyes about the fast food industry in our country. My perception of it has started to change, & not in favor of it. I'll make a final decision and opinon after I've read the book in entirely.

Has anyone else read it? Did your perception & opinion change from before you read the book on the fast food industry?

Just bought this book, only on section 1 chapter 3 right now but so far it's a great book. The book has certainly started to open my eyes about the fast food industry in our country. My perception of it has started to change, & not in favor of it. I'll make a final decision and opinon after I've read the book in entirely.

Has anyone else read it? Did your perception & opinion change from before you read the book on the fast food industry?

Save yourself sometimes and pick up the Cliff's Notes. AKA the little pamphlet that shows the Fat content in the garbage at fast food places. I haven't eaten fast food in over a year. I don't plan to ever again either. BTW, fast food is a term that I use to apply to places that serve high fat unhealthy foods. McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King etc. Subway and many places like them have very healthy food and it is also fast.

There's a new documentary movie, Super Size Me, that premiered at Sundance in which the filmmaker ate only at McDonald's for a month, every meal:


*
Why are Americans so fat? Two words: fast food. What would happen if you ate nothing but fast food for an entire month? In Super Size Me, a scathingly tongue-in-cheek documentary of epic "portions," filmmaker Morgan Spurlock does just that and embarks on the most perilous journey of his life. The rules? For 30 days he can't eat or drink anything that isn't on McDonald's menu; he must wolf three squares a day; he must consume everything on the menu at least once and supersize his meal if asked.

Spurlock treks across the country interviewing a host of experts on fast food and an equal number of regular folk while chowing down at the Golden Arches. This enthralling film reveals that McDonald's spends 1.4 billion dollars a year on advertising, insidiously luring children in with playgrounds and happy meals. What they don't do is return calls from pestering filmmakers.

Spurlock's grueling drive-through diet spirals him into a physical and emotional metamorphosis that is downright harrowing and will make you think twice about picking up another Big Mac. A fascinating and truly alarming film, peppered with irreverent music and hilarious graphics, Super Size Me chomps into the legal, financial, and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food.

Hopefully it's found a distributor and will get widely released.

I read the book too- I found the history of the fast food industry really interesting, as well as how it has changed the face of the country in terms of health, agriculture, urban development, unions, etc.

That supersize movie sounds hilarious, I can't wait to see it. I think its also good that the 'supersize' are being phased out. Here in Canada, the supersize was never available. But canadians are getting fatter and more out of shape as well. We aren't quite as bad as americans yet, but we're getting there.

It's not just fast food but restaurants in general have been increasing the amount of food they serve as single portions. I can't remember the last time I went out for dinner where I wasn't served way more than I could, let alone should eat.

The other night on Dateline they were going to do a story about a group of teens and their 'battle of the bulge.' IT seems like every other tv show is about fat teens. On dateline it opened with: "Victims of a national epidemic'. VIctims my ass. This isn't polio, you don't just catch this and gain 80 pounds. They got that way because they ate too much, ate junk food all the time and never even so much as walk a block. It didn't just HAPPEN to them. Everyone talks like it just happens to these poor fat teens. **** victims are victims. These kids got that way on their own and with plenty of help from overindulgent parents.

its a terrific book. the first part of the book (probably where you are on) regarding the history of mcdonalds/disney bored me to death, but the latter parts with the cattle industry muckraking was really interesting. my opinion absolutely changed ... but i do grab a bite from jack in the box and taco bell now and then...

I loved that book - not just for the fast food aspect, but the spread of all things franchise ... then I drove across country and my eyes were opened even further to it all. Pulling into every urban area off the major highways and being greeted by the main streets lined with the golden arches, motel 6's and so on... then struggling to find a local motel or a local place to grab a bite to eat... I did so sucessfully on an old portion of Rt 66 that was still somewhat intact (in terms of road and businesses)... stayed in a motel for under 20 bucks (that had a neon sign!) and had a good little meal at some little cafe.

This book is not simply about fat content. That is the least of our worries.
Check out Salon.com's review:

By Maria Russo
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February 08, 2001 | Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars. Every month more than 90 percent of American children eat at McDonald's; the average American eats three hamburgers and four orders of french fries every week.
What's in all those hamburgers? They're most likely made from the meat of worn-out dairy cows (generally the least healthy cattle stock), which spend their days packed in feedlots full of pools of manure. Each burger contains parts of dozens or even hundreds of cows, increasing the likelihood that a sick one will spread its pathogens widely.

Until 1997, those cows, by nature designed to be herbivorous, were fed "livestock waste" -- rendered remains of dead sheep and cattle, along with the remains of millions of dead cats and dogs purchased every year from animal shelters. Thank God the law was changed: Now they're fed only the remains of horses, pigs and poultry. And if you think your fries are animal-free, guess again. While McDonald's no longer cooks them in beef tallow, a process that until 1990 gave the chain's french fries more saturated fat per ounce than its burgers, McDonald's still acknowledges that some of the flavor comes from "animal products."

Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation," is troubled by our nation's fast-food habit, but what goes into the burgers and fries isn't even half the problem, he says. He admits that most of the fast food he ate while he wrote the book "tasted pretty good." (It should, he notes -- fast-food restaurants rely heavily on the services of the billion-dollar flavor industry, which manufactures and sells the complex chemicals that give distinctive flavors to processed foods such as "smoky" chicken, "strawberry" shakes and even "flame-broiled" burgers.)

The reasons Schlosser sees fast food as a national scourge have more to do with the sheer ubiquity of the stuff -- the way it has infiltrated almost every aspect of our culture, transforming "not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture." An estimated one out of every eight workers has at some point been employed by McDonald's, and the nation's 3.5 million fast-food workers are the largest group of minimum-wage earners.

What's more, the values the fast-food industry spreads embody capitalism at its worst: hostility to workers' rights, along with a dehumanizing emphasis on mass production and uniformity at the expense of meaningful worker training and autonomy. At the same time that they invest large sums to design equipment so streamlined that it requires as little skill as possible to operate, fast-food companies accept hundreds of millions of dollars in government subsidies for "training" their workers, through programs intended to reward companies that teach job skills to the poor.

Schlosser also details the fast-food industry's efforts to market directly to kids. He's especially interested in the unholy alliance between McDonald's and Disney, two corporations united not just in their hostility to unions and their quasi-feudal style of dealing with their workers but also in their determination to infiltrate the imaginations of toddlers. Of the two, McDonald's has been the more successful: Ninety-six percent of American children recognize Ronald McDonald. Only Santa Claus rates higher.

In perhaps the most disturbing section of "Fast Food Nation," Schlosser reports on the rise in Colorado of corporate "sponsorships" to cover shortfalls in school districts' budgets: "Whether it's first graders learning to read or teenagers shopping for their first car, we can guarantee an introduction of your product and your company to these students in the traditional setting of the classroom," reads one chilling brochure for a Kids Power Marketing Conference. Fast-food companies are at the leading edge of this new marketing strategy, placing not just hallway ads and banners in schools but also targeted, branded educational materials in classrooms, produced with tax-deductible dollars.

etc..

http://dir.salon.com/books/feature/2001/02/08/schlosser/index.html



Save yourself sometimes and pick up the Cliff's Notes. AKA the little pamphlet that shows the Fat content in the garbage at fast food places. I haven't eaten fast food in over a year. I don't plan to ever again either. BTW, fast food is a term that I use to apply to places that serve high fat unhealthy foods. McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King etc. Subway and many places like them have very healthy food and it is also fast.

there is no such thing as bad food >>>only bad diets. i like M&M's, but if i ate them exclusively, i'd blow up and get sick. McDonald's in and of itself is not bad>>>if you get a whopper from BK WITHOUT the sauce, no fries & a diet soda, is it that bad?

people are inherintly lazy. burger,fries and a coke. burger, fries and a coke.

and you know something? the same people who blame wal-mart for selling cheapo 'disposable' and sometimes unsafe bikes <if people didn't buy them, they wouldn't offer them> will blame mcdonald's, BK, etc for people being overweight. like taking an extra few minutes in the morning to make your own meal is SSOOO hard to do. i can't possibly find the time to make a tuna or PBJ or turkey sandwich, grab an apple and/or yogurt...nope, too hard.

The other night on Dateline they were going to do a story about a group of teens and their 'battle of the bulge.' IT seems like every other tv show is about fat teens. On dateline it opened with: "Victims of a national epidemic'. VIctims my ass. This isn't polio, you don't just catch this and gain 80 pounds. They got that way because they ate too much, ate junk food all the time and never even so much as walk a block. It didn't just HAPPEN to them. Everyone talks like it just happens to these poor fat teens. **** victims are victims. These kids got that way on their own and with plenty of help from overindulgent parents.

Yea but years ago when I was a kid and used to ride down to the general store w/ my friend and buy a Coke it was a 12 oz can. You hardly see those anymore. Big price wars started happening and all of a sudden a Coke was in 16oz bottles Now they are in 20 Oz bottles. In the fine print it says 100 Cal per serving. elsewhere it says one serving is 8oz. Now tell me when you are 12 years old are you gonna drink 8 oz's and put it back in the fridge for tomorrows serving? I doubt it. The people have been dupped by irresponsible companies for there profit margins and like the tobacco industry has sceen over the last decade they are now facing the conseauences.

A good point made in that book was that these companies are not gonna change because they care about you they change b/c there bottom lines are threatened period!

Super Size Me, the movie (http://www.supersizeme.com/) will be released on May 7th. It should be an interesting movie to watch. I am almost finished reading Fast Food Nation and it has made me think about a lot of things in the US culture and how they are controlled.

we are consumers. these companies are pandering directly to the consumer.

everyone likes to brag about how much value they got for the buck. people want more for less. weather it is a walmart shopping experience or going to a mail order instead of an LBS> food is no different.

i love going to places like Maggiano's or Boca's <both family style italian restaurants> and taking home enough to carbo load for many days afterwards.

people have choices >> and if they choose to overeat what is placed in front of them>>>>YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE that.

we play the blame game in the US. someone or a big company has to be blamed for our own actions. i for one am sick of it. no one takes responsibility for their own actions. why do people rob banks? because that's where the money is. why do people blame these companies? the same reasons.

<i almost tripped getting off of my soap box....i've got to watch that>

Why don't more people blame capitalism?




<i almost tripped getting off of my soap box....i've got to watch that>

Save yourself sometimes and pick up the Cliff's Notes. AKA the little pamphlet that shows the Fat content in the garbage at fast food places. I haven't eaten fast food in over a year. I don't plan to ever again either. BTW, fast food is a term that I use to apply to places that serve high fat unhealthy foods. McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King etc. Subway and many places like them have very healthy food and it is also fast.

wuss up i really wanna save me some time. i have this homework due tomorrow on this book and i have to talk about chapter 3 in the book and write a summary about it and i wanna know if you know what chapter 3 "Behind the counter" is talking about

Geez, why don't you guys actually try READING for a change?

Geez, why don't you guys actually try READING for a change?

But geez I might learn something then :D

Besides I hear it can lead to poor eysight and even make you blind ;)

Like the book, although I also still love greasy food that will eventually have me on the operating table undergoing open heart sugery or angeoplasty (sp?). Taught it to my Freshman honors section last fall. Some stuff seemed to sink in with them, however, they still like to argue: whose fries are better, McD's or BK?

Why don't more people blame capitalism?

What pray tell is the alternative?

What pray tell is the alternative?

compasionate capitalism

Capitalism (Adam Smith to the contrary) is not a philosophy, it's merely a description. It has no inherent moral content whatsoever...it simply mirrors the moral content of those that practice it. The moral character of McDonald's mangement and its customers complement each other.

I am posting this here because I can't seem to find the "recent reading" thread but:

Y: THe Last Man. A graphic novel. Decent and compelling and interesting. A good read. Anybody been able to find that thread lately?

About once a week I have a double cheese burger(Plain+BBQ sauce+pepper) cost $1, and the really big fry, cost $1.74. I enjoy the taste and I can afford it. It is a change from the monotony of soup or cereal I have the other four days a week for lunch.
I also weight train m/w/f, run tu/th, ride m/w/sa. 5'10" 170#

I think fast food is okay to eat, if it's a once in a while thing, and if you at least get some exercise. Like Rev chuck- he doesn't have to worry about obesity with that regimen, and we're all cyclists. However, the fast-food lifestyle often combines with no exercise and bad habits. It's laziness- too lazy to exercise and too lazy to cook. But geez, if you don't want to cook, what's so hard about buying Lean Cuisine?

It's worst for kids. THere is an epidemic of child obesity, not just in the USA. And kids are now developing diabetes at incredible rates.

It's worst for kids. THere is an epidemic of child obesity, not just in the USA. And kids are now developing diabetes at incredible rates.

Yeah, tell me about it. Out here we now have three year old kids who can't walk because they're so fat. As far as I'm concerned, someone should prosecute their parents for child abuse.

My goodness, I had no idea it was so bad in other countries. Developing countries, that is. I have been hearing that in the UK it's also bad. In fact, I read an article about how the medical establishment is recommending cycling as the ideal exercise to combat obesity. I can't remember where , I think I read it on cyclingnews.com. It seems that kids in the UK are getting to be as fat and lazy as other kids, although american kids still lead the world in obesity.

The guy in Supersize Me, from what I have read, was also a runner. He stopped running when he started this McDonalds diet. Any one of us thatr has ever been involved in a program of regular strenuous exercise knows what happens when you quit exercising and maintain your current diet. It is no surprise he gained weight(Even if he had not started eating at McDonalds). I also have not found exactly what he ate. It is possible to maintain a decent diet of the Mickey D's menu if you pay attention and curb your dark desires.

Like my PHD chemistry coworker said" When doing a trial, you only change one parameter at a time, otherwise you don't know for sure what caused the effect"

The guy in Supersize Me, from what I have read, was also a runner. He stopped running when he started this McDonalds diet. Any one of us thatr has ever been involved in a program of regular strenuous exercise knows what happens when you quit exercising and maintain your current diet. It is no surprise he gained weight(Even if he had not started eating at McDonalds). I also have not found exactly what he ate. It is possible to maintain a decent diet of the Mickey D's menu if you pay attention and curb your dark desires.

Like my PHD chemistry coworker said" When doing a trial, you only change one parameter at a time, otherwise you don't know for sure what caused the effect"

Yep I was riding 30 miles a day 13 years ago, stopped riding gained 65 pounds before I cmare to my senses

The "supersize" meal issue is not just with fast food joints like McDs. The other night I ate at one of the popular Italian chains (all you can eat salad and breadsticks with meal). I ordered eggplant parmesan with pasta. I ate about half of my meal, and got the rest boxed to go. The next day I put the remainder in one of the serving bowels I frequently use at home to microwave it. It wouldn't all fit! Half of what they served me at the restaurant was more than I would normally eat at home! :eek:

No wonder we are becoming a supersized nation! I can't wait to see that film.

The main thing that keeps me out of McDonald's and BurgerKing is the food. If you avoid sugary/salty/greasy food for just 90 days, you will find that your tastes change.

That sort of fast food is revolting.

I have had pretty good luck with the occasional vegetable sub at Subway (basically a salad on bread).

For the price of a greasy burger shoved at you through a hole in the wall by a bored teen, you could go to a diner and have real food served on a real plate by a real person, and then sit down to eat it like a real human.

Dan

My gf and I loved fast food nation. It's odd but despite what I've known all this time, since reading it, I just won't eat fast food anymore. I can go buy a box of graham crackers for lunch and it'll be healthier.
OTOH, I was real hungry today and at the local deli, $7 got me a pound of mashed potatoes, 3/4th pound of chicken, and 1/2 pound of mixed veggies. THAT is what they think is one serving there.