Is this why we’re fat?

America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Oh, and the obesity capital of the world. It might not sound as glamorous as the other two, but we are constantly reminded that America … well, it has an eating problem. With Thanksgiving all done and the break ended, it seemed appropriate to talk about the American diet.
“This is Why You’re Fat” is where dreams become heart attacks; at least that’s the Web site’s claim. This blog (thisiswhyyourefat.com) is dedicated to highlighting disgusting recipes that push the calorie envelope in a way that makes them seem radioactive. You look at quadruple-decker burgers with extra bacon stacked between each layer and start thinking, “It’s gonna blow!” If you ever want to lose your appetite in a quick and effective way, we strongly recommend this Web site. Some are homemade, others are discovered at restaurants, but one look at this Web site and an understanding about what Europeans are laughing at falls into place.
The “Irish Hog” is a deep-fried, spiral cut potato encasing deep-fried bacon and topped with brown sugar BBQ sauce. The “Twinkie Casserole” is made by lining 24 Twinkies in a pan, topped with caramel, mini marshmallows and brown sugar. On top of all of that there is a nice, thick layer of caramel icing. The “Ultimate White Trash Hot Dog” is a hot dog “infused with cheese, deep-fried, wrapped in bacon and fried again.” And the meal wouldn’t be complete without a nice heap of french fries.
Americans have to start thinking about what they are putting into their bodies. Dishes like the ones featured on this blog shouldn’t exist. And yet they do, in all their disgusting glory.
What about college students? How many fried items does the average college student consume in any given week? It’s more than understandable that on a college student’s schedule and budget, McDonald’s, Burger King and Arby’s are the go-to choices for lunch (and often dinner too). The meals are cheap and you can eat quickly between classes. Why buy carrot sticks when you can get a whole meal for a buck or two more?
Still, Web sites like “This is Why You’re Fat” shouldn’t exist. There should be a line somewhere that we agree on. This and that probably shouldn’t be deep-fried. How many pieces of bacon are too many? Indulging and gorging are two separate issues. The food industry has managed to create menus that prey on our basic instincts. Human beings crave fat, sugar and salt naturally. It’s part of our chemistry. But a Twinkie casserole just sounds too sweet and an Irish Hog sounds too fatty.
The college years are creating a pattern of health that often continues into the rest of students’ lives. Bad diet today usually means bad diet tomorrow. Next time we order a greasy whatever from some chain that boasts cup sizes that can fit a gallon of soda, we should stop and think, “Is this really what my body wants?” Try subbing the good food in where you can. Eat more of the green stuff and a little less meat. Water is actually very good. And the best part, sweet foods and fatty foods become a wonderful treat. We appreciate the good-tasting-but-bad-for-you food more when we eat them less.