Fourth Meal?

Is a fourth meal really necessary?

Taco Bell has been advertising their "fourth meal" slogan, perhaps capitalizing on their number one source of income: late night taco binges from teenagers. I know, I've been there, but I think it's disgusting that this country is seriously eating four meals, and I'm not just talking small meals, but hefty, over-sized, deep-fried meals from fast food restaurants like Taco Bell.

I can see why other countries loathe us, with our overconsumption of everything (especially food). Our portion sizes are much larger than we need and are smothered with more ingredients we need. We submit ourselves to pleasure, and we result in an over-obsese nation in the process.

On one hand, we get super-skinny teenagers who suffer from bulemia or anorexia due to media and societal pressures to be hot (which is sexy and skinny), but the environment offers so many fattening food pleasures that one would be driven mad to be surrounded by such food bliss and torture oneself not to eat it. On the other hand, we have an increasing number of obese and overweight people, both children and adults. We have weight problems all over the place.

Why didn't this happen before? Is this because our country is in a stable place that can offer such delightful foods, especially when the cheapest foods are the most fattening? (Dollar Menu...) When a salad costs at least two times the amount of a cheeseburger and fries, it's almost easier to save money and pack on the weight, but your self-esteem will surely suffer from your enviornment.

Overall, I just think that fast food restaurants are becoming ridiculous. We're eating too much fried, fast food that is absolutely unhealthy and unnecessary. I don't think that some are a problem; I just think that it's getting a bit out of control. The commercials make me want to gag too...

I haven't eaten McDonalds since 2005 and I will keep going. Boycott.

I used to work at Taco Bell, which I won't get into too much here at this time, so I know something about the industry. I put in a solid year there, and I'll still eat the food (minus the baked beans and the taco meat). Taco Bell is my favorite fast food restaurant (the only one I rarely frequent), but I can't get over their fourth meal campaign. I know that it's making them money, but it really emphasizes my point of overconsumption. Check out their website to see what I'm talking about. It's completely targeted to teenagers.

SNL made a phony commercial making fun of the points I rant about above. They have a fake restaurant called Taco Town which plays on these stupid commercials and the ridiculousness of new menu items. They're so ridiculously fattening; I wish they came with nutrition facts on the actual item. Watch the video, it's hilarious. I must have laughed throughout the entire bit. It's only a minute. Is it really that far from reality?

Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but I can't help it, that's my personality. What do you think about my rants, or just the larger point of overweight America and the fast food industry?