Food – we eat it, we love it, we need it. For many of us Americans, food is a luxury that we approach with wide eyes and big appetites, while many other cultures look through the lens of survival. Now, this is not an attempt to make you feel guilty or to put the small voice in your head at meal time saying, “There are starving children in Africa, so you better appreciate what you have and clear your plate.” There are starving children in Africa, but I in no way promote over eating out of guilt or  attempting to satisfy the pull inside of you compelling you to do something about it by eating your way back to complacency. I am fairly certain that you clearing your plate (or telling your children to) is not going to affect those African children AT ALL.

Anyway, I’ve got a lot to point out about American eating habits vs. those from around the globe. Today I would like to highlight fast food.

We LOVE convenience. I’ll admit, it is luxurious to not have to plan and prepare EVERY meal, but convenience certainly comes with a cost. Now, this fact is cross-cultural. People around the globe appreciate convenience, however it looks dramatically different.

For example, in the US our normal fast food approach is to drive thru the establishment of our choice usually to pick up a high calorie, usually nutritionally devoid sandwich and some sort of side item soaked in grease. On the other hand we have  an example of China’s version fast food which is some sort of handmade steamed dumpling served with fresh meats and vegetables inside. Both are made to order and ready in minutes, however in a foot race to a heart attack I am certain the US version of fast food would win.

In our attempts to satiate our appetites for convenience we fail to note the cost we really are paying, both physically and financially, which leads me to my next blog……”And That’s Why America’s Fat: Twice the Price”. Stay tuned!