American breakfast culture

Skipping breakfast is commonly thought of as a weight loss method. However, breakfast is crucial to maintain a healthy digestive system, which directly relates how our body processes what we eat and drink, to our weight. In America, it is common for people to skip breakfast with the excuse that they have no time for it, or they do not feel the need. Another equally unhealthy breakfast culture is eating junk food for breakfast. Grabbing a Happy Meal, or a Big Mac with fries with a Coke on the side is a definite no. Unfortunately, the breakfast culture is to go for something fast and cheap, or nothing at all.

The "American Breakfast"

As stated above, this is an image of a typical American breakfast. However, fast food chains caught onto this and started making their own breakfast sets. For instance, McDonald's created the Sausage McMuffin with scrambled eggs and hash browns. Common members of the breakfast family, yet chemically modified, with high levels of salt, preservatives and other unfriendly additives. High fat, high sugar instant meals are easily obtained and cheaper than healthy foods. The fast lane life that is the American way of life naturally accepted this with ease as the food is sold at a low price, can be eaten on the go, and generally tastes okay. Over time, the originally healthy American breakfast culture of home made pancakes topped with blueberries and a side of hash browns started to fade and the fast food industry started to take over. Hence, the American breakfast culture started to deteriorate without the Americans themselves realising.

*This post is strictly unofficial. For educational purposes only and is based on student opinion and research. Not for any other uses.

References:

Fast-food culture serves up super-size Americans . 2013. Fast-food culture serves up super-size Americans . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec01/fastfood.aspx. [Accessed 16 November 2013].

Diet Diary: Fast Food Breakfast's Best and Worst Choices! Morning Nutrition on the Go! | UrbLife.com - The Voice of Gen-X Lifestyle. 2013. Diet Diary: Fast Food Breakfast's Best and Worst Choices! Morning Nutrition on the Go! | UrbLife.com - The Voice of Gen-X Lifestyle. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.urblife.com/the-life/fast-food-breakfast/. [Accessed 16 November 2013].

by: syafiq.R