Effects of Home Cooked Meals and Fast Food

Eating is a basic human requirement in order for people to sustain their bodies. There are various ways to obtain the food, such as taking your time and preparing it in the kitchen or going to your local Chick-Fil-A for a quick bite. But does it truly matter where people get their food? Although fast food can support the human body’s needs, home-cooked meals benefit a healthier diet because they contain fewer macromolecules, you know what’s going into the food, and you can easily track calories.

People who eat fast food tend to consume more macromolecules, specifically carbohydrates, than those who eat home-cooked meals. Carbohydrates are important macromolecules because they are the primary energy source for the human body while performing basic bodily functions. Sugars, bread, pasta, fruit, milk, and vegetables are all examples of carbohydrates. An excess of carbohydrates, on the other hand, is not considered healthy. Much of the average American lifestyle is sedentary, which can lead to weight gain, poor metabolic health, and an increased risk of heart disease (if they don’t burn them off by exercising). Sugar is widely used in the fast food industry in a variety of applications ranging from sauces and dressings to batters and bread, it also enhances the flavor of the food. People are generally unaware of how much sugar is present in their food. As a result, people eat numerous carbohydrates without realizing it. People who prepare meals daily however ensure that they eat fresh and wholesome meals because they control the ingredients. This helps one look and feel healthier, boosts energy, stabilizes weight and mood, and improves sleep and stress resilience. 

Furthermore, because people are unaware that fast food contains sugar, they are also unaware of what else is added to the food. People think of fast foods as having simple ingredients, however, many chemicals are often hidden. When it comes to preparing fast food products for distribution and consumption, processing chemicals are one of the most dangerous aspects of fast food. Chemicals are commonly added to the majority of fast-food products to make them last longer and taste better. They, however, degrade the nutritional quality of food and can even be harmful to people’s health. Propylene glycol, sodium nitrite, synthetic food dyes, and ammonium sulfate are some common chemicals found in fast food that can cause various types of cancer, are used in toxic products, and are toxic in high doses. Furthermore, PSAFS, a class of heat and degradation cookware (commonly used in fast food restaurants), stain-resistant and waterproof products, and food packaging, have been found in the blood of 97% to 100% of adults and children. PFAS have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immunosuppression, low birth weight, development issues in children, and decreased fertility. Serum PFA levels can be reduced by eating at home every day. This can be accomplished through eating at home daily. For every 1000 kilocalories of home-cooked food consumed, serum PFA levels dropped by up to 5%. (Majority of the meals were prepared by using foods bought from grocery stores). Fast food meals, on the other hand, are associated with higher serum PFAs levels. 

Finally, because people have more control over the ingredients in their food, they have an easier time counting calories than those in fast food. A calorie measures the amount of energy provided by food that can be used to power bodily functions. Every food contains a certain amount of calories per weight; for example, carbohydrates and proteins contain approximately 4 calories per gram, while fats contain 9. As a result, when preparing a meal, people keep track of the weight of each ingredient. Not to mention the use of measuring cups, spoons, and even kitchen scales to determine the volume and weight. And there are numerous recipe calculators available online, including the USDA National Nutrition Database for Standard Reference. People search for the item and see the number of calories, vitamins, and nutrition. But, when compared to fast food chains, their calorie count is significantly higher than the stated values, according to researchers (not all restaurants were inaccurate and even a few of them stated that their foods had more calories than they did). 

Fast foods are viewed as a convenient way to get nutrients into your body. However, many people are unaware that the food contains chemicals and extra ingredients such as sodium and sugar. But, by cooking more frequently, people can obtain the nutrients required in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, people should strive to cook for themselves daily rather than ordering out.