1. Fast Food
Healthy or Horrible?

2. Project Sponsors
• USDA project funded
through the Food Stamp
Program
• School District of
Philadelphia
• Nutrition Center,
Department of
Bioscience & Biotechnology
Drexel
University
Funded by the PENNSYLVANIA NUTRITION EDUCATION TRACKS, a part of USDA’s Food
Stamp Program. To find out how the Food Stamp Program can help you buy healthy foods,
contact the PA Department of Public Welfare’s tool-free helpline at 800-692-7462. This
institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

3. 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 oz of creamy Caesar
dressing and regular soda
34 grams
#3 Taco Salad and bottled water
48 grams

4. Fast Food Healthy choices
What are today’s
topics ??
Energy balance
Portion size
vs

5. Survey:
• How many of you eat fast food?
• What are your favorite fast food
restaurants?
• How often do you eat fast food?
• What is your favorite fast food choice?
• Do you think fast food is healthy or
unhealthy?
– Why???

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

7. Fast Food Facts: Portion Sizes
20 Years Ago Today
210 Calories How many calories are in
today’s order of fries?
2.4 ounces
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

8. French Fries
20 Years Ago Today
210 Calories 610 Calories
2.4 ounces 6.9 ounces
Calorie Difference: 400 Calories
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

9. Americans are eating more
weight gain
increase in more than 200
per capita calories per
consumption day
Source:Nestle, 2002

10. You do the math
• On average, Americans are eating an extra 200
calories every day
200 calories x days in 1 year = extra calories per year
• 1 pound = 3500 calories
73,000 calories per year ÷ 3500 calories per pound =
pounds of weight gain in 1 year

11. Avoiding the 20 pound gain
• Be more physically active
– If you eat the extra 200 calories each day,
burn them off!
• Control your food intake
– Cut out some things in your daily diet
– Eat smaller portions
• 1 chocolate cream filled cupcake
• 20 peanut M&Ms
• 5 chicken nuggets
• 1 large chocolate chip cookie
• Fast food medium soda

12. Maintaining a Healthy Weight is a Balancing Act
Calories In = Calories Out
How long will you have to walk leisurely in
order to burn those extra 400 calories?*
Adapted from
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm
*Based on 160-pound person

13. Calories In = Calories Out
If you walk leisurely for 1 hour and 10 minutes
you will burn approximately 400 calories.*
*Based on 160-pound person
Adapted from
http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

14. So…what is the problem with
eating too much fast food?
Think about your future health!
– Fast food contains a lot of fat, calories, and sodium
− Can lead to weight gain and high blood pressure
– These health problems can lead to chronic diseases
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Some cancers

15. “To eat or not to eat”…that is
the question!
• It is possible to enjoy
fast foods and stay
healthy
- Eat them less often
- Make wiser choices
• What are the best
choices??

16. Activity: Where’s the Fat?

17. Remember the Healthy Hints:
Fast Food
• Choose vegetable topped pizza - skip fatty
meat toppings
• Choose grilled chicken - skip fried foods
• Choose smaller portions - skip “super size”
• Other good choices: baked potato, side
salads, bean burritos, frozen yogurt
•What other Healthy Hints can you think of?

18. Before:
What you might choose:
• Quarter Pound Burger 40
Grams of Fat
w/Cheese 30
• Large Fries 20
• Large Milkshake 10
0
Totals: Quarter
Pounder
Large Fries 21oz.
Milkshake
1770
w/cheese
Calories = Grams of Fat
Grams of Fat = 68

19. Fast Food Make-Over:
After: Grilled Chicken Sandwich,
Small Fries and Water Totals:
40
35
Grams of Fat Calories = 630
30
Grams of
25
20
Fat = 27
15
10
5
0
Q. Pounder vs. L. Fries vs. Milkshake vs. Before
Chx McGrill S. Fries Water After

20. CHICKEN STIR FRY
20 Years Ago Today
435 calories
How many calories are in
2 cups
today’s chicken stir fry?
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

21. CHICKEN STIR FRY
20 Years Ago Today
435 calories 865 calories
2 cups 4 ½ cups
Calorie Difference: 430 calories
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

22. CHEESEBURGER
20 Years Ago Today
333 calories How many calories are in
today’s cheeseburger?
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm

23. CHEESEBURGER
20 Years Ago Today
333 calories 590 calories
Calorie Difference: 257 calories
Adapted from http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/keep.htm