In this age of busy schedules filled with stress and the need to get things done as soon as possible, more and more people are turning toward a fast food breakfast in order to save time. The market is so prevalent that even Taco Bell offers breakfast and McDonald's has gone as far as offering breakfast all day long. But are people really saving enough time to justify a fast food breakfast which some consider to be tantamount to a health violation?
Many fast food breakfast items contain in excess of 40 grams of fat and 1,000 milligrams of sodium and if you have two or three items for breakfast, the math speaks for itself. That doesn't even include a latte, frappuccino or other hot beverage of choice. Considering that you really are what you eat, perhaps a fast food breakfast is not the best example to set for our children on how they should start their day. American childhood obesity has become all too common and parents sometimes look for someone else to blame. This was arguably the case back in 2002 when parents sued McDonald's alleging essentially that their kids became fat from eating their food. The parents blamed McDonald's claiming that they were somehow responsible and liable for their kids' poor eating habits. A federal court judge later dismissed the case and "threw it out of court." Is this really what has become of our society?
The ironic part is that people will often spend more time and money heating up or going out for a fast food breakfast, than they would eating a healthier breakfast at home such as instant oatmeal. Just because the fast food industry is now ringing the Pavlovian breakfast bell louder than ever, that doesn't mean we should all go running to eat a fast food breakfast. Perhaps our time, health and wallets would be better served if we don't allow big business to lead or mislead us with expensive advertising and marketing campaigns. Remember these restaurants are in the business of making money and only you are truly in the business of keeping your family and you healthy.
Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, PLLC
www.liattorney.com