While addiction is a pretty strong word which depicts a compulsion, obsession, or simply a dependence on a specific substance or behavior, when it comes to eating fast food, people perhaps feel better compelled to call it simply ''a bad habit''. Unless you have to desperatly go get your ''hamburger fix'' at midinight and nobody can stop you, it is quite difficult to imagine somebody suffering from fast food withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, eating fast food can be a bit a far off from being perceived as addictive as substances such as nicotine or alcohol. Yet, people crave fast food and eat it, regardless of well known health concerns deriving from its routine consumption. So there ultimately must be some mild level of addiction after all.
So what causes people to crave fast food so badly, that they care less about the fat, calories and the significant threats to their waist line? It must be a combination of flavors, textures, effective marketing strategies and convenience. All these qualities combined seem to effectively cancel out the negative effects and create a recipe for full blown fast food cravings at any time of the day.
In order to better understand how relevant fast food craving are, let's imagine for a minute that all fast food chain restaurants halted to exist. Yes, that includes your local Wendy's, that Subway on Main street, and all the happy yellow arches around town. How would human kind survive without any fast food restaurants should they suddenly vanish from earth?
Very likely children would be disappointed, crying for their happy meals. Working adults may be craving juicy burgers for their lunch break. Fast food fans may mourn the loss having a hard time accepting the disappearance of their favorite meals. Moms and dads may miss the convenience of not cooking for half a day and keeping their kids entertained for a few hours. Yet, the human population would ultimately get over it. Or at worse, they may attempt to recreate healthier favorite fast food dishes at home. Sorry Ronald McDonal, but at this point, your happy face could turn to a frown.
So is fast food really addictive? Not really. Would people be able to live without it? Certainly. There is a saying that where their is a will, there is power. It really depends on each person if fast food is a simple craving or a potential recipe for addiction. Let's take a closer look into what makes fast food so tempting and hard to live without.
-Its Taste
Perhaps this is the most addicting part of all. Fire grilled burgers, crisp lettuce, a ripe tomato slice, a tickling pickle, mayo and ketchup and yes, for sure your mouth is already watering. Add a serving of slim crisp french fries and you are already heading out for your favorite fast food chain. Fast food restaurants offer tempting food indeed.
-Its Uniqueness
Perhaps everybody tried to recreate those great french fries and chicken nuggets at home with poor results. Truth is, fast food restaurants hold secret ingredients that of course will never be revealed to the public. For some time, a famous fast food restaurant sustained that its french fries were fried in oil mixed with meat products. Stills as of today, the natural flavors that are being added to fast foods are not being revealed and are far from doing so.
-Its Convenience
What store is open most of the day, easily accessible and ubiquitous? A fast food chain of course. One the run? Use the drive thru. Eager to eat calmly? Eat inside. Having a party or a meeting? Take the food home or to the office. It is nice and convenient to have a fast food chain cook for you and serve it to you in a fast, timely manner.
-Its Affordability
Everybody can afford fast food restaurants. This is why many times you find them full of even street beggars emptying their pockets full of change for a one dollar meal. Eating at a fast food restaurant is an effective and gratifying way to eat out without digging a hole in a wallet. Dollar menus make fast food even more tempting especially during peak tough economic times such as present.
-Its Comfort
Say the word McDonald's and a child will put on a big smile. The stores are all designed the same across the states, the same meals are served and eaten from Montana to Arizona, New York to California. The happy yellow arches can be found just about everywhere, even oversease in the most unexpected places. Truth is, fast food restaurants hold a special place in most people's hearts.
-Its Popularity
If you are not craving a burger right now, put on a pair of blinkers because somewhere, somehow , you will see a picture of a burger or advertisement of a fast food chain. There are constant daily reminders of fast foods just about anywhere. Sometimes, these effective marketing strategies will pop up from no where and then you find yourself suddenly craving french fries without really knowing why.
It comes as no surprise therefore, why fast foods are craved so much. Admitting the problem however, is being half way close to the solution. So what to do if your fast food cravings are nearing an addiction? Following are some tips.
How to Keep Fast Food Away and Cravings at Bay
-Do not keep cash on hand, doing so makes purchasing fast food too easy.
-Watch Super Size me and Fat Food Nation
-Drive past by the fast food chain and go to your local super market instead and look for a healthier alternative.
-Purchase a cook book and stick with the recipes
-Try to make fast food something to resort to on special occasions, mark a day on the calender each month and stick to it.
Perhaps the most effective strategy of all is to promise yourself to lead a healthier lifestyle and follow through. Nothing feels better than doing something good for you and keeping it up.