Fast food: Yummy in the tummy, woe for the wallet

By Irene Sugiharto

JAKARTA (JP): We all know the potential health hazards of most fast foods. Still, it's hard to resist the temptation of the high-fat, cholesterol-laden but oh-so convenient treats, especially for the young. Many of us gobble up the goodies without considering the costs to their health in the future.

Despite warnings about the dangers and its relatively high price now, fast food continues to grow in popularity. The Jakarta Post talked to people of different age groups to find out what draws them to food the experts dismiss as nutritionally empty calories.

Rendy, a 16-year-old high school student:

I used to eat it regularly when the price was still reasonably cheap, and I would still do if it had not become so expensive.

It's tasty and always enjoyable to eat at any time. It's fast, delicious and most of the fast food places are cool hangout spots. They're actually the choice of me and my friends to chill out.

I've honestly never thought about the nutritional level of the foods I eat, especially when it's my favorite food. I'd rate it five out of 10 for its nutritional value, but that won't stop me from eating it.

Isra, a 20-year-old university student:

I could go to McDonald's three times a week and never get bored. My favorite meal is the spicy chicken.

I guess I know that these kinds of food can cause serious illnesses and conditions, such as heart disease and high cholesterol, but it has never stopped me.

In fact, I do go to many fast food restaurants but the only reason why is because I like the food and it's reasonably affordable, especially before the prices jumped.

Mita, an 11-year-old elementary school student:

I love fast foods very much, like McDonald's, KFC and Wendy's. I could eat it twice a week because it tastes delicious and it's cheap, too.

I like to go with my family, and we usually go on a weekend, but any other day my mom always advises me to eat at home.

My parents say this type of food isn't healthy. We're not allowed to have it often.

Yetti, a 40-year-old teacher and mother of two:

I only let my children eat junk food once a month because of its high price and low nutritional value.

I cannot afford to take my children very often, the price has risen tremendously since the economic woes started. I realize, too, that fast foods are not healthy for my children's development because they are made from nutritionally poor ingredients.

If I let my kids decide our dinner menu, for sure they'll beg us to take them to McDonald's or KFC. They always want to go there.

I think TV advertisements have greatly influenced children's addiction to fast foods, besides their friends or the environment. As I know, some fast foods available here are still new products in our country, which contributes to their popularity.

I think parents must be stricter in directing their children to healthy eating. Luckily, my children still prefer my home cooking.

Lela, a 37-year-old engineer and mother of two: I've taught my children not to get used to eating what I call junk food. My family goes to fast food restaurants once every two months.

They are not forbidden to consume it but the intake is restricted. Once in a while is fine, but sometimes the influence from friends makes it impossible for them to listen to me.

If the freedom of choice was given to my kids, I'm sure that fast foods such as McDonald's or KFC would be top of their list. I agree on its yummy taste and the crispy delicious chicken, but the nutritional value is so low for the expense.

Arini a 36-year-old mother of one:

I have a six-year-old son who always begs me and my husband to take him to one of the fast food restaurants. He cries if we refuse. I personally prefer that he eat healthier foods, as things such as McDonald's are high in fat but low in protein, which is crucial for his growth.

I've also heard that fast foods can speed up the development of certain hormones which could possibly lead to abnormality. That's why I only take him during weekends and forbid him from having them on weekdays. To compensate for the unhealthy weekend meals, I force him to eat lots of vegetables every school day. I try to balance his food intake.

One of the reasons why he likes fast food so much is for the value meals offering various prizes. The prizes intrigue him and make him beg for more. I can't believe I put up with him.

Fast foods are tasty, quick and easy to consume, but we must start thinking about the long-term effects due to its high cholesterol, the fact that it can cause heart attacks later in life, etc. Fast foods should not be a regular meal for anyone at any age.