1. Fast Food
Figuring Out the Facts

2. Project Sponsors
USDA Project Funded through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
School District of Philadelphia
Department of Nutrition Sciences, Drexel University

3. Survey: How many of you eat fast food? How often do you eat fast food?
What is your favorite fast food choice?
What do you consider “fast food?”
Do you think fast food is healthy or unhealthy?

4. What are today’s topics ??
Making healthy choices
Fast food
What are today’s topics ??
Energy balance
Portion size

5. Which Meal Has the Least Amount of Fat?
Pop Quiz
Which Meal Has the Least Amount of Fat?
#1 Quarter pound burger with cheese, large fries and diet soda
54 grams
#2 Crispy chicken salad with 2 ounces of creamy Caesar dressing and regular soda
34 grams
#3 Taco Salad and bottled water
48 grams

6. Fast Food Facts
Americans spend a lot of money on fast food (and that amount is increasing)!
On French fries:
1970: $6 billion
2000: $110 billion
We eat out often!
Average American dines out 198 times a year
How many times a week is this?
Do you dine out more often or less often than this?

7. Too Much Fast Food?
Fast food can contain a lot of fat, calories, and sodium
Eating too much solid fat can raise cholesterol
Eating too many calories can lead to weight gain
High sodium intake is related to high prevalence of high blood pressure in the U.S.
These health problems can lead to serious disease
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Stroke
Some cancers

8. Fast Food Facts: Portion Sizes
Today
20 Years Ago
How many calories are in today’s order of fries?
210 Calories
2.4 ounces
400 more calories!
610 Calories
6.9 ounces
Adapted from

9. Americans Are Eating More
weight gain
increase in per capita consumption
Take an informal survey: Let’s say I place in front of you 5 chocolate chip cookies. How many are you likely to eat?
Chances are, you’ll eat more than the “serving size” of one or two chocolate chip cookies.
Recent article supports this idea and showed that when offered a large or a small portion of a food, women consumed an average of 184 additional kcals and men at an average of 311 additional kcals. These studies show that for a variety of different foods, both in controlled lab studies and in a restaurant, large portions lead to increased calorie intake Children would likely have similar results—and the impact on weight gain may be more dramatic.
The amazing thing is that when people were given smaller portions and/or less calorie dense food it didn't leave them hungry. Even though the study participants consumed 221 fewer calories when offered a smaller meal of lower calorie density, they felt just as full and satisfied as when they had consumed a larger meal of higher calorie density.
Can it work for children? Possibly, if we give them tools to assist them in determining appropriate portion sizes.
Other Talking Points:
Marion Nestle, in her book, Food Politics, noted that between 1970 and the late 1990s the daily food supply in America increased by 500 calories. Although the food supply is an overestimation of what people consume, dietary intake surveys show an average increase of more than 200 calories per day. Such small increases in calories can translate into significant weight gain unless there is a change in physical activity or metabolism.
200 calories/day = 20 # weight gain/year (large vs. small bagel, extra cookies, 2 cups of fruit/2 bananas)
Possible Activities:
Ask the audience to discuss if they think they are eating 200 more calories a day than they did 15 years ago. If so, what is the source of those calories?
more than 200 calories per day
Source:Nestle, 2002

10. You Do the Math
How much weight is gained by eating 200 extra calories every day for 1 year?
200 calories x ____ days in 1 year = extra calories per year
1 pound = 3500 calories
73,000 calories/year ÷ 3500 calories/pound =
______ pounds of weight gain in 1 year
365
73,000 20

11. Calories In = Calories Out
Energy Balance
Calories In = Calories Out
If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes you will burn approximately 400 calories.*
How long will you have to walk leisurely in order to burn those extra 400 calories?*
Adapted from
*Based on 160-pound person

12. Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Be more physically active
Physical activity is a key to energy balance
Enjoy your food, but eat less
Cut back on foods high in solid fats and added sugars
Avoid oversized portions
1 chocolate cream filled cupcake
20 chocolate coated peanut candies
5 chicken nuggets
1 large chocolate chip cookie
1 fast food medium soda
200 calories =

13. Fast Food Makeover: Before
What you might choose:
Quarter Pound Burger w/Cheese
Large Fries
Large Milkshake
Grams of Fat
Totals:
1770
Calories = 68
Grams of Fat =

14. Fast Food Makeover: After
Cheeseburger
Small Fries
Bottled Water
Totals:
Grams of Fat
Calories =
560
Grams of Fat = 25

15. Some Fat Is Good! What are the benefits of fat?
Cushion and protect organs
Needed for energy
Helps with vitamin absorption
What foods have fats that are good for the body?
Tree nuts
Fish
Vegetable oils

16. Healthy Hints
Try vegetables on pizza – choose fatty meat toppings less often
Choose grilled chicken – cut back on fried foods
Avoid oversized portions – choose a smaller size option
Be creative – try baked potato, side salads, bean burritos, or frozen yogurt – make half your plate fruits and vegetables!
What other healthy hints do you have?

17. Activity: Fast Food Makeover

18. Questions? Fast Food Make Healthier Choices Remember Energy Balance
Choose lower calorie, fat, and sodium foods
Go for smaller portions
Remember Energy Balance
Get your physical activity
Balance the calories you need with the calories you eat
Questions?