In America where almost anything goes...along with a huge chunk of self-respect. People are lawsuit happy as if filing a class action lawsuit will be the one thing that can make it all happy...even when the culprit is a Happy Meal?
Okay, so I admit to being fat. Nowadays, in the US, who isn't? I grew up in the 70s and McDonald's was aiming their ads towards the children even back then. But I had one good thing standing in the way between Mickey D's and myself - my mother! And my mother had one good weapon to use against me whining or begging to go - NO! That was it. No back talk or else I could expect my teeth down my throat.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that food which is fried in a lot of fat with empty calories will make you fat if you consume it everyday. Even as a kid I knew that if I would have dined at such a place everyday it would make me fat. But I am fat now. Who's fault is that?
I wish people would start to take the huge step to blaming the proper person for their obese condition - themselves!! My mother made me eat a proper diet growing up consisting of plenty of fruits and vegetables. As an adult, I fell out of that habit and picked up bad ones which did include a lot of fast food. I chose a sedentary lifestyle. The bigger I got, the harder it became to get back on track.
Can I really blame McDonald's or any other fast food place for my situation? They did not hold a gun to my head and force me to eat there. I have a mind of my own and chose to go. It was quick and cheap after working long hours.
A lot of parents with obese children choose to take their kids to McDonald's because it is cheap, easy, and the kids like it. With single parents and the two parents who are working, it is a time saver to pick something up instead of having to cook a meal. That is understandable, but it is still a CHOICE they made. The parents CHOSE to give their kids fast foods. Will there be a lawsuit against these parents at a future time?
And what of the teenagers? Many have a discretionary allowance so they can buy the things they want. Who's fault is it that they CHOOSE to go into a fast food restaurant? Many schools teach the importance of a balanced diet in elementary school. Did they listen? Most of these children watch television and they should know about what these foods can do. Did they listen? Many parents tell their children that eating the wrong foods will lead to poor health and getting fat. Did they listen? Many web sites are online about nutrition and the poor quality of fast foods. Did they listen? It's all over the media, no matter where you turn! Unless you live in a cave under the sea, you should know that fast foods consumed on a regular basis will make you fat!! Whose fault is that if you choose to tune out or not listen?
If a kid fails a test at school, do you sue the teacher because the kid wasn't paying attention to the lesson? If a kid fails in school, the result is a very hard life. If a kid fails to pay attention to people warning them about the fast food habit, the result is obesity.
Do all fast food restaurants now have to carry a label that warns people that the food they eat will kill them if they indulge in large portions on a daily basis? I am sure that will kill their business faster than any class action lawsuit.
Even if they were to get together for a massive community service message to warn people on the daily habit of eating fast food, there would still be people tuning out the message.
The writing has been on the wall for a few decades and we all know it, eating poorly makes one fat. But what of the other issues that lawsuit doesn't address? Eating fast food alone is NOT the sole cause of one being fat. There is a whole lifestyle and attitude that goes into it.
While the fast food industry might have to buckle down on what they are serving people, people will still be fat if they don't start to eat a well balanced diet which includes a variety of foods, drink plenty of water, exercise, get plenty of sleep, and deal with emotional issues instead of turning to food for comfort. McDonald's certainly is not responsible for all the rest of those factors!
Need a fast, cheap meal that won't kill? Crumble ground beef and fry it. Drain all the grease. Slit open pita bread and stuff it with shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and 4 tablespoons of ground beef. Pour salsa into the shell to moisten it to your desired level. Serve with orange juice. This is simple to make, includes the basic foods you need, low in calories and fat, and tastes good.
