Health Essay

Damien Ibarra

September 27, 2015

Health 100

“War of the Unknown Front”

For centuries the flanking maneuver has been used as a method to achieve an advantage over one’s enemy after they have concentrated their offensive to the front. The flank would then force the enemy to concentrate their offensive in an area they are least likely to concentrate their offensive on. Though this method has stood the test of time, and has proven advantageous, the enemy once flanked would know where the “war” lies, which is not necessarily the case for the war on health. In a country where we are taught to stretch a dollar it’s no wonder that fast food is as big as it is. We are also taught the importance of eating healthy but spend 45 minutes in a health class in Junior High School that is in rotation with 3 other classes. We tend not to address the environmental factors, which can lead to stress eating or the only available options after a Friday night football game. Though there are many determining factors in how we decide to eat what we do, the three E’s, Economy, Education and Environment encompass the large majority of factors.

Many years ago the McDonald’s brothers had an idea to make food quick (convenient) and inexpensive. This idea spurred the development of what we now know as fast food. This idea is still true today with fast food being a go to choice due to convenience and price. I remember when I was about 8 years old we lived about 1.5 miles away from a McDonald’s. I was never able to go to far away from where we lived because my parents were over protective but that was not the case for my friends. They would walk there at least once a week and I would give them my $1.99 every time so they can bring back my happy meal. Clearly at 8 years old there’s plenty I can’t afford but saving up the $2 at least once a week was rather affordable and that wonderful toy I would get made it that much better. According to Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation,” he...