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WWW.KANSAN.COM/FEATURES
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TALK TO US: Contact Amanda Beglin at (785) 864-4810 or features@kansan.com
MONDAY, OCT. 29, 2001
Dietary Dilemma
A typical fast food meal often includes a burger and french fries. According to Ann Chapman, a registered dietitian at Watkins Memorial Health Center, "The key is supplementing fast foods with fruits or vegetables to get all the food groups in one meal."
Burgers and fries might not be the healthiest meals but energy bars aren't always a good alternative BY JACQUELINE LENART KANSAN FEATURE WRITER
It's convenient, effortless and, well, fast.
Lastyear,$119billion of consumers'dollars went toward fast food, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Funds for higher education, computers and cars all took a back seat to the amount paid for greasy hamburgers, tacos, fried chicken and pizza.
Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, said Americans spent more on fast food than on "movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music—combined."
JAKE TEITELBAUM/KANSAN
music - combined Eating healthily is a choice, but it's often influenced by convenience. The majority of fast food purchases last year were made "on impulse," according to the industry's own figures.
Erin Wynkoop, Topeka sophomore, shops for an energy bar at Juice Stop. Some nutritionists say only high-performance athletes should eat the bars — not average students before a light workout.
With more than 300,000 fast food businesses clogging shopping centers,the industry is booming. Another industry doing well is energy bars, pulling in $600 million yearly, according to ABC News.
Chris Marlow, St. Louis junior, visits his favorite fast food restaurant for lunch. Marlow said he often ate fast food because it was quick and easy.
Large amounts of money are being spent on fatty foods: hamburgers and French fries — but money also goes to energy bars, which are supposedly healthful.
However, many consumers are eating poorly because nearly 33 percent of American adults were categorized as overweight, according to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
"Many students come in by self-referral to seek advice for dieting as well as many suffering from eating disorders," said Ann Chapman, a registered dietitian at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
for — high performance and for The Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington D.C. say energy bars are best used by athletes engaging in long-term exercise — not by people jogging or quickly visiting the gym.
So how can energy bar companies claim the bars are good for students? The answer is simple. Energy bars are beneficial to the people they were originally created for — high-performance athletes.
That advice can be valuable. For fast food is not as bad for student health as is often portrayed, and energy bars are often overrated.
tourists warn students
Getting a chunky chicken salad from Burger King, for example, will add up to fewer calories and grams of fat than a Balance Bar, but the salad contains higher cholesterol and sodium. A Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar and Crispy M&Ms correlate with the Balance Bar and Luna Bar
Checking nutrition labels and restaurant menus are necessary steps in regulating fats, calories and cholesterol and are recommended by various health and fitness magazines. In comparing some fast food and candy to energy bars, it's seen that all the foods contain ingredients that nutritionists warn students about.
or quickly visiting your library.
Addressing energy bars in a newsletter, the centersaid,
"If you're looking for a snack or pick-me-up after a game of tennis, save your money and go for a bagel instead."
"If students are looking for a quick snack to hold them over between meals, a NutriGrain bar or some apples or baby carrots are fast and easy and much cheaper than energy bars," Chapman said.
According to nutritionists, the center's advice is good. Jumping on the bandwagon and eating energy bars as a replacement for meals is not the healthiest option. A single bar can provide more calories than required for the average person.
The average recommended caloric intake per day is 2,700 for men and 2,000 for women -based upon body height, frame size, gender and energy needed to keep internal functions well-maintained.
"It's beneficial for my health to watch what I eat and exercising allows me to feel better and be more energetic," said Dorit Scherman, Norman, Okla., junior.
Nutritionists who promote health awareness, such as
However, there are ways to eat healthily from the fast-food window. Most restaurants now offer meals with a wider calorie range.
Chapman, recommend monitoring calories in individual meals in order to maintain the recommended daily calorie intake.
In a wider calorie range Smaller portions can help reduce calories as well
"The key is supplementing fast foods with fruits or vegetables to get all of the food groups in a meal," Chapman said. "You'll eat less fast food because you'll already have something in your stomach when you go to the restaurant."
It is the decision of consumers to make educated choices about what they eat, and resources are available to help monitor food.
Internet nutritional calculators, such as www.jana-trains.com/calories.htm and http://www.CyberDiet.com/profile/profile.html, add up daily caloric intake and suggest how to lower it.
up daily calorie intake Watkins also provides appointments with dietitians. In the appointment, students can seek advice and information about weight management, high cholesterol, athletic diets and normal nutrition. First appointments are $10,and $7 for all follow-up appointments
Contact Lenart at 864-4810