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Fast Food News

In a way, all these stories are related. The common denominator? Fast food is trying to get "healthy".

That concept has always struck me as ironic. I heard a comedian say, people don't want to go to a burger joint to get a salad. Very true. Back in the day, eating out was a once a week or once a month treat. To indulge in a greasy burger with fries, large soda and shake wasn't horrible.

In recent years, I think, it's the 24/7 hours, the availability of restaurants on every corner, the drive thru, the cheap prices, etc etc etc, that makes it so easy to eat out daily.

There's no hard and fast answer. For me, I'm trying to not see the fast food industry not so much as the enemy, but as a once in a blue moon experience.

Mentally I'm trying to live as if I'm in ye olden days. Er…the '50's

1. Wendy’s to switch to healthier cooking oil

Wendy’s International Inc. said Thursday it will begin frying french fries and breaded chicken items with non-hydrogenated oil, continuing a shift to offer healthier menu choices.

The country’s third-largest burger chain said the blend of corn and soy oil has zero grams of artery-clogging trans fat per serving and will cut trans fat in those menu items by 95 percent. Wendy’s will begin using the oil in its 6,300 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada in August. [read more]

2. ‘Super-size’ not a super deal, study finds. Extra calories can lead to higher costs for groceries, health care and more

The "super-size" deals at fast-food restaurants aren't such a bargain once the costs of weight gain are considered, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that while the average "upsized" fast-food meal costs a mere 67 cents more than a regular meal, those bonus calories could translate into substantial daily costs due to weight gain.

When people put on weight, the study authors say, their grocery bills, healthcare costs and even gasoline expenses climb as well. [read more]

3. Restaurants offer too much of a bad thing. Cut portion sizes, get rid of fat-laden side dishes, health officials say

Those heaping portions at restaurants — and doggie bags for the leftovers — may be a thing of the past, if health officials get their way.

The government is trying to enlist the help of the nation’s eateries in fighting obesity. One of the first things on their list: cutting portion sizes.

With burgers, fries and pizza the Top 3 eating-out favorites in this country, restaurants are in a prime position to help improve people’s diets and combat obesity. At least that’s what is recommended in a government-commissioned report released Friday. [read more]

Sleep eating and more

This week we learned:

• The residents of Portland, Oregon reside in the best city for walking.
• You may not be surprised to find out there is a new study that links the Atkins way of eating to a possible health risk:

  Doctors from New York University wrote in The Lancet journal of a 40-year-old woman who developed a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis, a dangerous buildup of acids called ketones in the blood which can lead to patients falling into a coma.

• And finally, if you take Ambien, you may very well be packing on the lbs, in your sleep!! [source]

Be safe folks!

Fittest cities & more

A new category, rather than post health news daily, I'll highlight 4-5 stories from the past week.

This week we learned:

• Baltimore has been named America's Fittest City, hooray for crab cakes! While Chicago is America's Fattest City, tough luck pizza! [source]
• A study shows after after only three weeks a low-fat diet can cut your risk for type two diabetes. You need to add regular exercise to the mix of course. Coincidently, 21 days is also the thought to be timeframe for something to be made into a habit.
• 25 weight loss tips.
• And finally, a survey finds America's attitudes toward overweight people are shifting from rejection toward acceptance. [source]