Fast food: Banned in the USA?

I was listening to Shawn Hannity's talk show today while the great debate on fast food continued. Should fast food joints be banned in the USA? Lots of people think so. Others think they should stay, and we should take responsibility for controlling excessive use of the most fat-laden caloric products.

Some believe fried drumsticks and onion rings are a sin to be made. Could it be true that the "evil" folks at KFC and Burger King are purposely trying to poison the American public? Maybe we should all just get a grip and learn to visit these restaurants less frequently or simply order the healthy choices while we're there.

As a fitness pro, I've mixed emotions on the subject. Knowing what horrible repercussions the worst of fast food can do to a person, of course I wish it didn't even exist. I wish the fast food execs would simply have a conscience and resolve to serve super healthy food. That sure would make a "know it all" like me happy.

It's not a realistic option though. The bottom line is this. Everyone has the capacity to be particular about what they put in their mouths. Most fast food restaurants presently have a new variety of healthy choices so the people in need of something quick have decent options. We couldn't draw the line at fast food and solve the problems anyway. What about Friday's? They serve tons of greasy and high calorie meals. Most restaurants do. Then we'd have to trash all of the bakeries. Ice creame shops? Gone!

After almost two decades in the fitness industry I've learned this. People will only make change when they put their foot down and decide it's a must for them. Once they make that absolute decision, menus full of oil and butter will have no effect. They'll choose something great or go somewhere else to eat. And if that isn't enough, we are talking about America here. I think choices are what we're all about.