Fast food and the “American way of life” are closely linked in the minds of many people. The first forerunners of the modern fast food restaurant were found during excavations in Pompeii: Hot food for quick consumption could already be bought on many street corners in ancient times. Fast food stores took its further development in the course of the 19th century in Russia and the USA, until the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in California converted their restaurant to self-service in the late 1940s and rationalized burger production on a large scale.
Fast food recipes take off
Bigger, faster, better: the motto of modern American society was catching on, and not just in the Western world. Fast food, or quick food – on the go or in a casual, lively and colorful setting – at low prices became increasingly popular, causing fast food chains to spring up around the globe. The abandonment of table manners and the resulting informal atmosphere, as well as the food rich in salt and flavor enhancers, make fast food especially popular with young people. The burger with fries was soon considered one of the classic fast food recipes. Today, almost every country-specific cuisine serves fast food recipes for industrial, streamlined use: Whether kebab, curry sausage, pizza or spring rolls, there is something for every taste. Even or especially in foreign countries, travelers like to seek out familiar fast food chains: With these, the customer knows what he is getting for his money, even in exotic countries. The success concept of fast food chains is based on similar prices worldwide, a standardized range of products, the same quality and familiar taste.
Is fast food healthy or not?
However, with the growing popularity of fast food, criticism also accumulated. Suddenly it was said that fast food is unhealthy and makes you fat. In fact, it is virtually impossible to eat a balanced diet with fast food. In addition to unhealthy ingredients, fast food contains too much fat and fiber, is often eaten in portions that are too large, and usually lacks a nutritious side dish. The calories contained in fast food correspond to the portion of a full meal, but are often eaten to satisfy a small appetite. It is not only the tempting supersize offers, which promise a large menu for supposedly little money, that cause consumers to consume more fast food than they actually wanted. Whether fast food is good or bad, however, depends on many other factors. An unbalanced diet with lots of salt and sugar instead of fruits and vegetables, and cola instead of water, and too little exercise are always a health risk. Healthy or unhealthy?
Fast food can make you sick
Anyone who indulges in a fast food meal from time to time, but otherwise pays attention to a healthy lifestyle, is not doing their body any harm. However, anyone who is a regular at a fast food joint is exposing themselves to a health hazard. The US-American Morgan Spurlock caused a sensation in 2004 with his documentary film “Super Size Me”, in which he depicts his self-experiment of feeding himself three times a day exclusively on fast food products from a fast food restaurant. In addition to the one-sided and high-fat diet, Spurlock wanted to test the average lifestyle of an American office worker, who walks less than 2,000 steps a day on average. The results were shocking: after just a few days of eating only fast food, Spurlock suffered from headaches, heartaches, fatigue, lethargy, depression and loss of libido. At the end of his 30-day experiment, he had gained 11.1 kg, which was about 13% of his body weight. Scientific studies confirm that frequent consumption of fast food increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and depression.
Organic fast food recipes
With food scandals popping up all the time, organic foods are more popular than ever. This trend is also catching on in the fast food industry: More and more organic fast food restaurants are opening in major cities, frequented mainly by women. The quick snack fits perfectly into the short lunch break, is healthy and tastes good. Contrary to the classic definition, providers often convince with vegetarian or vegan fast food recipes in addition to purely organically grown food.In line with the fast food idea, the food is delivered quickly, but there is also an attempt to convey a conscious and healthy diet and lifestyle – this also includes the slow consumption of food, which is untypical of fast food. Because fast food on the hand harms the digestion – this functions better by sufficient salivation, which is stimulated however only by plentiful chewing – and delays the setting of the saturation feeling, which lets the fast food junkie eat automatically larger portions.
Make fast food recipes yourself
If you do not want to give up burgers and pizza, you can alternatively try out fast food recipes yourself at home with high-quality ingredients. Especially children can thus be offered a healthier fast food option and involve them in the processes of shopping and cooking. It is important to always ensure a balanced meal by adding salad to the pizza or combining chips as a side dish with raw vegetables. Always use whole grain dough for pizza, tortilla, burgers and co.
Recipe: pizza of choice
Per tray you need:
- 500 g whole wheat flour
- 1 packet dry yeast
- A little salt, pepper and oregano
- 350 ml of water
- About 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Depending on your preference: Desired vegetables
- Tomato paste and tomato pieces
- Cooked ham
- Mozzarella or grated Gouda cheese
Mix whole wheat flour, dry yeast, lukewarm water, a little salt and a tablespoon of olive oil and knead into a dough. Brush this with a little oil and leave in a warm place for an hour. Now roll out the dough and cover it with tomato paste and the tomato pieces. Then season with salt, pepper and oregano. Now you can top the dough with the ingredients of your choice and then spread the cheese on top. Let it bake in the preheated oven at 220 degrees for about 20 minutes until the dough becomes crispy.
