Fast food is a quite controversial area and there are many different and controversial opinions about it. In this article, we will try to cover the most important cons of fast food.
Unhealthy food
Many of choices on fast food menus are very unhealthy. Many foods are rich in saturated fats, simple carbohydrates, sugar, salt and additives like MSG. Addition of flavor-enhancing food additives like MSG makes people consume more food than they need. Saturated fats and simple carbohydrates are bad for the waistline and heart health. On a positive side, many healthy options are being introduced to the fast-food menus. Still, the number of unhealthy choices considerably outnumbers healthy ones.
Quality of food may be lower
Fast food typically is made in large quantities with low cost which requires fast-food brands to make trade-offs when it comes to quality and the number of preservatives put in it. Many fast food items are partially pre-cooked which requires special ingredients for food preservation which may not be the best for food quality and taste.
Less time to socialize
Restaurants were for long one of the best venues for social interactions. With fast food, it changed because food in fast-food restaurants is consumed quickly or in case of the drive-through outside of the restaurant. This reduces potential interactions with friends and colleagues making people more depressed and introverted.
Easy to develop fast food habit
Visiting fast food quickly replaces the traditions of cooking food at home giving fewer opportunities for socializing with family and friends.
More money spent
Even though many items on fast food menus are cheap it is very easy to spend more money on fast food because of overconsuming it. Also, fast food consumption frequently makes people dependent on it which increases the number of fast-food location visits thus making spend higher.
Large portions
Portions in fast food menus are frequently sized larger than typical portion size requirements. This increases calorie intake from food and is not healthy. Drinks are especially problematic because sodas with high sugar content are very popular. Sizes of the drinks are frequently huge which badly affects both weight and overall health.