American food choices

Crystal817

I guess I live in the small percentage of US that hasn't been over run with fast food places... yet. The town I grew up in doesn't have one fast food place and still doesn't. Vermont has also been named one of the fittest states in the US. Of course there is still tons of temptation everywhere! But I feel like I would have that problem anywhere. It's all about making smart choices no matter where you live.

Barneystinson

If any of you have ever watched Arrested Development, there is an episode where the main character goes on a date with a British girl in "Wee Britian", which is a complete replica of a small UK town in the U.S. They have an American restaurant there and all they serve are huge plates of donuts, piles of fries, and basically unethically large portions of junk food. Then they gave them3-4 suitcase sized doggy bags per person when they left. It is pretty hilarious, but really sad that America is know for bad eating habits.

Fat Ammie's !!

I loved that show...

ilsie99

We did it to ourselves. Farm subsidies make American grown crops too expensive for consumption (they get used as fuels and other stuff), so our food crops get imported from Mexico and South America because their produce is so cheap due to the fact that our over-supply wrecked the farming sectors or their economies.

Exactly. There are still LOTS of farmers and farmland in the US. The problemn is that government subsidies for corn and soybeans are so incredibly high that nobody wants to grow anything else. It's a very bad situation that's controlled by a handful of massive corporations lobbying the government.

BeHappyNHealthy

Hi Guys

I think the most wonderful thing about MFP is the new American friends I have made. Looking at your diaries it makes me even more admiring of the weightloss of my Pals in the US.

The US food choices are vast and too tempting, with many of them prepackaged, sweet treats or added calories and salt. Coupled with the fact it is much cheaper to eat out for you guys and you have much more of an array of affordable food places, I have absolutely no willpower at all and feel sure I couldn't lose any weight at all.

Of course we have a range of food in the UK too, but I just don't feel so overwhelmed with choice and accessibility as I would in the US.

So more power to you US MFP's - You are amazing!!!!

I am so disgusted by the Western Diet that I have considered moving to a different country. It's not just the nutrition behind it, either. It's the immoral politics with the organizations that supply and monitor our food. There are a slew of problems with the food economy--GMOs, Subsidies, Packaged foods, fast food--it all disgusts me. However, it's good to know there are outlets. Farmers Markets have gone up 79% in the past ten years, organic food is 10X more plentiful now than in 1990. So, it's promising. I love looking to my UK friend's diets for tips too! It's interesting how different the food choices can be. I'm proud of all my MFP friends for resisting the temptations of the Western Diet and opting for a more healthy lifestyle.

BeHappyNHealthy

In at Number 3! The worlds fattest countries...

# 1 United States: 30.6%
# 2 Mexico: 24.2%
# 3 United Kingdom: 23%
# 4 Slovakia: 22.4%
# 5 Greece: 21.9%
# 6 Australia: 21.7%
# 7 New Zealand: 20.9%
# 8 Hungary: 18.8%
# 9 Luxembourg: 18.4%
# 10 Czech Republic: 14.8%
# 11 Canada: 14.3%
# 12 Spain: 13.1%
# 13 Ireland: 13%
# 14 Germany: 12.9%
= 15 Portugal: 12.8%
= 15 Finland: 12.8%
# 17 Iceland: 12.4%
# 18 Turkey: 12%
# 19 Belgium: 11.7%
# 20 Netherlands: 10%
# 21 Sweden: 9.7%
# 22 Denmark: 9.5%
# 23 France: 9.4%
# 24 Austria: 9.1%
# 25 Italy: 8.5%
# 26 Norway: 8.3%
# 27 Switzerland: 7.7%
= 28 Japan: 3.2%
= 28 Korea, South: 3.2%

There's a great documentary on the American Diet if it interests you called Killer at Large. Super interesting! Check it out!

TK421NotAtPost

IMHO, it really isn't the amount of fresh food vs. processed foods, or what foods are healthy vs. not healthy, etc...etc. It has more to do with the portion sizes embedded into each nation's culture. There is plenty of junk food in South Korea and there are also many different Western food chains that have established themselves there... Ever check the fat & calorie content on a box of instant ramen?

Whenever I visit Korea, one of the main things I notice is just how small the portion sizes are over there. The difference is quite dramatic. Things might change over there too if they embrace the super-sized food portions that are a part of our culture here in the States.

jabbogurl

I'll agree with the food being really sweet in USA. When I take my step-daughter to a German bakery and such, she doesn't understand the dessert. It's not pure sugar. I tell her, its more about the actually flavor, but that is a huge culture shock for most people..........chocolate is not sugar.

irishblonde2011

Alot of people will be moving to korea lol

kirstiey

Really interesting debates my MFP friends. We have brains as well as beauty :happy:

theMightyAnt

Interesting thread, to add to what was mentioned about fresh food prices in the UK being ridiculous. My sister recently told me that she takes her kids to McDonalds when out and about to SAVE MONEY! She knows it's a bad option but is really close to the breadline.
Kids foods and fresh ingredients to make healthy alternatives are so extortionately priced here it really is a disgrace. Seeing someone who has devoted her life to her kids have to resort to fast food for cost is heart rending to see.

Elle408

I actually feel lucky to be in the UK, I've travelled the world a lot of the past few years, including living in te US for over a year and an extended stay in Thailand and we really do have the best choice in fresh fruit and vegetables. Our fresh produce aisle is so varied and so fresh! It is expensive considering it doesn't keep well but the choice is there!

I also find with our staples, like bread and butter, are far less artificial. I lost a lot of weight in te US because their chocolate/bread/cakes etc. were just far too sweet so I cut them out of my diet completely and they were the things that made me fat in the UK! It was odd to be eating a ham sandwich and have it taste like dessert by the time you were finished chewing!

Also, random things like oats... Our 'prepackaged' oats have like, 2-3 ingredients, US ones have about 15!

bunchesonothing

I don't know. When I travelled to Germany for 3 weeks, I gained weight. A significant amount.