Fast Food And Obesity – What’s The Connection And How Can You Break It?

There seems to be a definite connection between fast food and obesity. The fast food chains will deny it of course, or blame it on their customers, but the association is there. And it’s a problem Americans need to address.

So, what’s so special about fast food? As it turns out, fast food has some true advantages . . . in the short term. The food is hot and it tastes good. Quite simply, people enjoy eating it more than they do many other kinds of food. However, this is one of the links between fast food and obesity.

Another advantage of fast food is, well, it’s fast. Not only that but it’s convenient – easily found. What other kind of food can you go out and pick up ready to go at a moment’s notice? You don’t have to cook, shop, or even wash dishes. Just toss the bag in the trash. You’re saving all kinds of time here.

You can eat fast food and obesity is the furthest thing from your mind as you chow down.

In fact, fast food is even a socially accepted custom. Children’s birthday parties are held at fast food restaurants. People meet here after sporting events. We’re encouraged by society in general and the custom is touted by tantalizing commercials. Fast food and obesity are never linked in these commercials, by the way.

Scientists have made it their business to study fast food and obesity issues. Some say fast food is as addictive to the human body as heroin. This is of interest since the average American eats away 4 helpings of fast food French fries and 3 fast food hamburgers every week!

Researchers have found people start to crave the sugar, fat, and salt of fast foods. Many different lab studies have demonstrated sugar addiction in rats, for example. One study determined that the rats experienced withdrawal symptoms when sugar was taken away. Because of soft drinks, shakes, and other treats offered, fast food and obesity are connected once again.

Fast food also signals the body to have changes in hormones. These changes make it nearly impossible to control eating. After people eat fast food for a period of time they gain weight. Then they become resistant to leptin, which affects appetite.

Addiction sets in when you crave a second fast food meal after having one already that day. The fast food will cause your blood sugar to go very high and then very low. You’ll want more. You may deny yourself, but without your fast food, you may feel symptoms of weakness and shakiness. This is how fast food and obesity are linked.

The quantity of fast food Americans are eating is an issue of great concern. Fast food and obesity statistics bear this out.

Americans have gotten used to the Super Sized portions. And even though a single fast food meal has enough fat and calories for the entire day, statistically there’s a good chance you’ll eat a second fast food meal during the same day. Or if not you’ll probably eat something else before the day is out.

With about 1/3 (one-third) of all American adults over 20 being obese, fast food and obesity need to be studied more closely. As you take yourself or your family to the nearest fast food haven for dinner, please think twice.

How about only going once or twice a month instead of several times a week? It’s important to take this connection between fast food and obesity seriously. You’ll live longer and enjoy life more because of your good health if you do.

Secrets to Lowering Your Individual and Family Healthcare Insurance Costs

If we want the cheapest personal medical insurance rate we need to do several things. We ought to contemplate look at both low and high deductible contracts. We should compare plans and costs for coverage regularly. We ought to seek to be be someone that the health insurance company wants to insure.

Make sure that you contemplate health care insurance plans with medium and high deductibles. These health insurance plans often offer the best deal when when you factor in the premiums. If you agree to to pay more towards the little expenses, they will give you a better premium. This may make it worth your while to take on the additional risk.

It’s crucial that we find the right balance between premium and benefits. Low deductible healthcare insurance contracts have better coverage but higher costs. medical insurance policies with very high deductibles have low premiums but may have coverage levels that you are uncomfortable with. Most of the time healthcare insurance plans with higher deductibles are better bargains, but you will need to find the level of risk and price that you are comfortable with.

A tried and true way for lowering health insurance premium is to comparison shop. Whether we are talking about healthcare insurance, life insurance or shoes shopping around is a proven way to help you to get the best rate.

Since health care insurance rates change on a regular basis, we should shop for medical insurance on a regular basis. Once a year or once every two years, we ought to make sure that we have the cheapest health care insurance rate by looking at other medical insurance policies. Most medical insurance companies change their costs at least annually.

Make sure that you check to see if the health care insurance company you currently have has any new plans. You may find that one of their new plans is more advantageous. If you stick with the same health insurance company chances are you will be able to use the same medical providers. You may find that this can make things much easier for you.

Getting the best premium for private healthcare insurance starts with being a good risk. All the comparison shopping in the world won’t help you get the best healthcare insurance rate for car insurance if you have 20 speeding tickets. Insurance companies are looking to insure people who are the least likely to cost them money. They are not going to give their best rates to people who are overweight or who have pre-existing conditions.

Healthcare insurance companies base their costs on numbers and not moral judgments. They know that a driver who has been caught driving while intoxicated is much more likely to cost them money when compared to a driver who has a clean driving record.

They look at a person with a high BMI or high blood pressure the same way. It’s a money issue for them. They want to offer policies to those who are the least likely to cost them more money than the average person.

Since there are so many of us who do not have control of their healthcare, those of us who do should do what we can to be healthy. By dropping some bad habits, we can cut the chance of being a burden on the health care system. We can thereby make things easier for those who do need medical intervention and can’t do anything about it.

Most of us can decrease our individual and family healthcare insurance rates if we are willing and able do a few things. We ought to think about high deductible plans including HSAs. We should comparison shop on a regular basis. We should aim to be.

The Role of Recreational Therapy in Mental Health Treatment

Recreational Therapy has become a popular component of treatment for many health fields, including mental health. The American Therapeutic Recreation Association defines it as “a treatment service designed to restore, re-mediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition.” (American Therapeutic Recreation Association, July 2009) Recreational Therapy services are provided in a variety of mental health treatment settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and residential care. Certified therapists have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in the field and have passed national certification exam.

Recreational Therapists use a variety of techniques to help alleviate symptoms of mental illness and improve the quality of a consumer’s life. Leisure education is often provided, which can help consumers identify what types of leisure they are interested in and find community resources for participation. Many people who are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness have lost touch with their leisure lifestyles or have become socially isolated. Leisure education can also improve social skills to enhance enjoyment and enable consumers to build better relationships. Many Recreational Therapists also use recreation participation as a treatment modality. Therapists will engage in leisure activities with the consumer to improve leisure skills and practice social skills in the moment. In a group setting, therapists will use leisure based activity to explore patterns of behavior and teach healthy coping skills.

In treating mental health, Recreational Therapy can be a versatile treatment addressing various issues. Leisure activity can provide improved daily structure when participating in activities such as volunteer work, classes, or social groups. Certain leisure activities also provide opportunities for social interaction and support. Physical activities and exercise can help improve your mood. Exercise and other leisure activities also can provide a sense of accomplishment. Many of the concepts reinforced in Recreational Therapy align with cutting edge treatments like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). The skills of mindfulness, regular participation in pleasant events, and building mastery are all core components in both DBT and Recreational Therapy. Finally, leisure involvement can provide a sense of purpose and meaning in one’s life, as well as strengthening individual identity or one’s sense of who they are. A Recreational Therapist can motivate and guide someone experiencing mental health difficulties to leisure that provides the specific benefits suited to their needs. Recreational Therapy services are included in most high quality mental health programs.

How to Find Affordable Dental Care in Your Area

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, most dental insurance policies would cover up to $1,000 or $1,500 in dental care every year. Today, a single crown can cost that much, but most dental insurance policies still have the same annual dollar limits.

Unable to find affordable dental services, many people are having teeth pulled that could be fixed, because they can’t afford to pay for the work.

Finding affordable dental services in your area should not be that difficult. Though the task of locating a dental specialist who offers an affordable dental plan for yourself or your family can take some time, but it can be done easily if you know how to find them.

First and simple step for doing so is to just ask around. World of the mouth is possibly the best chance you can have while looking for a good dental care plan. Simply inquire about them from your relatives, friends and co-workers. Ask about the dental services they are getting, how much it costs, how easy it’s to get an appointment, if the emergency service is provided and so on. Inquire about their personality, if they are friendly, especially towards the children and if the atmosphere in their office is relaxing and reassuring. By asking around you will not only be able find a dental care facility that you can count on but also the ones you can avoid.

If you have just moved to a new area, it could be quite hard for you to find affordable dental care. Since you are new and don’t know anyone well enough to ask about their dental plans, you can try checking out the local hospitals and other facilities that use the services of a dentist. They or the dentist they employ should be able provide you with a list of the best dental care facilities in the area. If you are planning to move to a new area, you can always check with your present dentist and find out if he can suggest any dental facility in your new area.

The other thing you can do in order to find an affordable dental care is to check out the local dental schools. Most of these schools offer dental services and that too at competitive rates. Some of them may offer to clean and check your teeth for free. You can search for them over the Internet easily.

The most powerful and easiest way of finding great dental services in your area is searching for them online. There are thousands of websites listed over the Internet that can help you locate a dental facility in your area. Simply enter the zip code of the area, and you will get the list of dentists that offer dental care in and around the particular area. Many of the dental insurance companies also provide this facility on their websites. Searching for dentists over your insurance company’s website will give a personalized list of dentists that accept your insurance cover.

Choosing an Eldercare Home

Choosing an eldercare home for an elderly can be a challenging task. You want them to get the best care they can and should receive, but there are just so many homes around, you may just feel lost at to what to consider. But do not worry too much, as here we have a guide to choosing a suitable eldercare home for the elderly.

First of all, you should talk to the elderly person, even if they are very sick. They are still very much human like we are, and would appreciate being consulted before having any decisions made. There may be some things that they would want in the centre in order for them to live comfortably. Whether it is the personality of the people caring for them or the facilities available, if the request is not too much to ask, and if some of the homes have what they need, you can narrow down your options to the few homes. At least you are taking care of their spiritual needs this way. You should also evaluate the other needs of the person, for example, if they are gravely ill needing 24-hour care, or healthy and require minimal supervision.

The cost of the eldercare should also be taken into consideration as what you can give may determine the type of care received. Some of these expenses can be covered by insurance, depending on the type of care the elderly receives. Nevertheless, make sure you calculate the costs that you will need to chip in, such as the care, medicine, toiletries, and other necessities.

Ensure that the company that provides the eldercare service is licensed, and meets the state and federal guidelines to provide care for elderly people. With the license, it is recognized that the minimum standards to care for the elderly are met by the centre. Those standards can range from the architectural dimensions of the centre; the staff having undergone intensive training and received certification; as well as the facilities and services available. Such standards are made in order to create a safer environment for the elderly. You should also do additional research on the service provided and ask for references. Just because a centre may be licensed does not make it satisfactory.

Last but not least, pay the centre a visit. Both you are the elderly person should take a look at the place to see if the environment is pleasant and clean, staff are hospitable, and the residents are safe. You will want the elderly person to be able to live there peacefully without complaints. Then, both of you can make the final say.

All About Affordable Health Insurance Plans

While consumers search for affordable health insurance, they have price in their mind as the top priority. A general conception among the consumers is that cheap health plans should not be costly-the cheapest health plan available in the market is their target. However, this approach is not good. Sometimes, paying for a cheap health insurance plan but still not getting the required level of coverage results only in wastage of money.

With the implementation of the affordable care act, the reach of affordable health plans is set to increase. Or at least, this is what is believed to be the objective of healthcare reforms. However, lots of consumers are still in confusion about how things would work. In this article, we will discuss some detailed options that consumers can try while looking to buy affordable health plans.

To get a hand on affordable health insurance plans, consumers need to take of certain things. First among them is about knowing the options in the particular state of the residence. There are lots of state and federal government-run programs that could be suitable for consumers. Knowing the options is pretty important. Next would be to understand the terms and conditions of all the programs and check the eligibility criteria for each one of them. Further, consumers should know their rights after the implementation of healthcare reforms, and something within a few days, they may qualify for a particular program or could be allowed to avail a particular health insurance plan. If consumers take care of these steps, there is no reason why consumers can’t land on an affordable health plan that could cater to the medical care needs.

Let’s discuss some options related to affordable health insurance plans state-wise:

State-run affordable health insurance programs in California

While considering California, there are three affordable health insurance plans that are run by the state government. Consumers can surely get benefited by these if they are eligible for the benefits.

• Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP)

This program is a very handy one offering limited health benefits to California residents. If consumers are unable to purchase health plans due to a preexisting medical condition, they can see if they qualify for this program and get benefits.

• Healthy Families Program

Healthy Families Program offers Californians with low cost health, dental, and vision coverage. This is mainly geared to children whose parents earn too much to qualify for public assistance. This program is administered by MRMIP.

• Access for Infants and Mothers Program (AIM)

Access for Infants and Mothers Program provides prenatal and preventive care for pregnant women having low income in California. It is administered by a five-person board that has established a comprehensive benefits package that includes both inpatient and outpatient care for program enrolls.

Some facts about affordable health insurance in Florida

While talking about affordable health insurance options in Florida, consumers can think about below mentioned options:

• Floridians who lost employer’s group health insurance may qualify for COBRA continuation coverage in Florida. At the same time, Floridians, who lost group health insurance due to involuntary termination of employment occurring between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 may qualify for a federal tax credit. This credit helps in paying COBRA or state continuation coverage premiums for up to nine months.

• Floridians who had been uninsured for 6 months may be eligible to buy a limited health benefit plan through Cover Florida.

• Florida Medicaid program can be tried by Floridians having low or modest household income. Through this program, pregnant women, families with children, medically needy, elderly, and disabled individuals may get help.

• Florida Kid-care program can help the Floridian children under the age of 19 years and not eligible for Medicaid and currently uninsured or under-insured.

• A federal tax credit to help pay for new health coverage to Floridians who lost their health coverage but are receiving benefits from the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. This credit is called the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC). At the same time, Floridians who are retirees and are aged 55-65 and are receiving pension benefits from Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), may qualify for the HCTC.

Some facts about affordable health insurance in Virginia

While talking about affordable health insurance options in Virginia, consumers need to consider their rights:

• Virginians who lost their employer’s group health insurance may apply for COBRA or state continuation coverage in Virginia.

• Virginians must note that they have the right to buy individual health plans from either Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield or CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.

• Virginia Medicaid program helps Virginians having low or modest household income may qualify for free or subsidized health coverage. Through this program, pregnant women, families with children, and elderly and disabled individuals are helped.

• Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) helps Virginian children under the age of 18 years having no health insurance.

• In Virginia, the Every Woman’s Life Program offers free breast and cervical cancer screening. Through this program, if women are diagnosed with cancer, they may be eligible for treatment through the Virginia Medicaid Program.

Some facts about affordable health insurance in Texas

While talking about affordable health insurance options in Texas, consumers need to consider their rights:

• Texans who have group insurance in Texas cannot be denied or limited in terms of coverage, nor can be required to pay more, because of the health status. Further, Texans having group health insurance can’t have exclusion of pre-existing conditions.

• In Texas, insurers cannot drop Texans off coverage when they get sick. At the same time, Texans who lost their group health insurance but are HIPAA eligible may apply for COBRA or state continuation coverage in Texas.

• Texas Medicaid program helps Texans having low or modest household income may qualify for free or subsidized health coverage. Through this program, pregnant women, families with children, elderly and disabled individuals are helped. At the same time, if a woman is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, she may be eligible for medical care through Medicaid.

• The Texas Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers subsidized health coverage for certain uninsured children. Further children in Texas can stay in their parent’s health insurance policy as dependents till the age of 26 years. This clause has been implemented by the healthcare reforms.

• The Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Control program offers free cancer screening for qualified residents. If a woman is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through this program, she may qualify for medical care through Medicaid.

Like this, consumers need to consider state-wise options when they search for affordable health coverage. It goes without saying that shopping around and getting oneself well-equipped with necessary information is pretty much important to make sure consumers have the right kind of health plans.

Drug Abuse Addiction: A Misunderstood Problem

Too often people don’t truly comprehend the real reason why a person develops a drug abuse addiction or how drugs can alter their brain to stimulate compulsive drug abuse and addiction. They wrongly perceive this problem as something that is surely a social problem only and may discriminate those who abuse drugs as morally powerless. A persistent and general belief is that addicted individuals should be fully capable of just quitting drugs as long as they are willing to alter their attitude and behavior. Again and again, what people often simply and underestimate is the complication of drug addiction. It is a serious disease that impacts the very brain itself and as a result, ceasing drug abuse and drug addiction is not plainly a matter of an individuals’ willpower. Through current scientific advances we are now able to understand much more in regards to how precisely drugs affect the brain. Furthermore, we now know that drug abuse addiction can be successfully treated to assist individuals’ in stopping the abuse of drugs and carry on their normal lives.

Drug abuse and addiction can be a huge burden on society. There have been approximate estimates of the overall costs of this issue in the USA alone, which includes health costs as well as losses in productivity, to surpass 500 billion dollars annually. As distressing as these figures are, they don’t adequately and fully convey the breadth of detrimental public health and safety implications, which involve domestic violence, school failure, family disruption, loss of employment, child abuse, and many other types of deviant crimes.

To truly understand what drug abuse and drug addiction is, we need to know that it is a continuous, relapsing brain disease that induces uncontrollable drug seeking and use and abuse in spite of harmful and damaging consequences to the abuser who is addicted and to all those who are close to them. Drug abuse and addiction is defined as a brain disease for the reason that this problem advances changes in the function and also the structure of the brain. Even though it is undeniable that for most addicts the initial decision to take drugs is purely voluntary, over the course of time the alterations in the brain, as a result of abusing drugs over and over again, can greatly affect an individual’s self control and capability to make logical decisions, while at the exact same moment send extreme impulses to take more the addictive substance.

It is these very extreme changes in the brain that makes it so difficult for an individual who is addicted to absolutely cease from abusing drugs. Fortunately, there are existing treatments that assist people to neutralize drug addiction’s strong damaging effects so that the individual can recapture some semblance of self control. Studies have shown that incorporating drug abuse addiction treatment medications along with behavioral therapy is one of the most successful ways for majority of patients. When a treatment method is customized to each patient’s patterns along with psychiatric aid can lead to long term continuous recovery and a life without the need for further intervention.

Very much like other chronic or relapsing diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, drug abuse addiction can be managed quite successfully. Additional, it’s not unusual for a drug abuse and addiction person to backslide and start abusing drugs again. We must be clear that relapse does not indicate failure, rather, it demonstrates that proper drug abuse and drug addiction treatment should be reintroduced, modified, or that other forms of drug abuse addiction treatment is required to help the individual retake self control and recover.

Mental Health Treatment Facility – How to Identify a Top-Notch Treatment Center

A topnotch mental health treatment facility is in great demand. In today’s growing economy, there is an increasing number of persons who suffer from mental health illnesses or to put it bluntly; just able to cope with daily stresses. The problems, which are becoming more apparent, are sometimes looked upon as pitiful, deserving or embarrassing.

However, neither hiding from nor shunning the realities of the problem will help your family member or loved one cope with the condition. The solution lies in identifying the right facility that will best suit your needs. There are specialized facilities in every city, town or state that are designed to accommodate the needs of the community.

Each mental health problem is unique to the person and the disease. This uniqueness requires specific treatment that must address the condition in a holistic manner. ( holistic means, you should have treatment in all areas, Ie. Mentally, physically, and psychologically, in order to have a balance program). Some trained mental professionals try to avoid further occurrences by determining the triggering factors.

When choosing a facility, the staff must have the right qualifications for the job. Since the staff will be spending elongated amounts of time with the patient, it is imperative that the facilities staff be understanding, compassionate, and properly certified in dealing with the individual cases of the patient.

Ensure that the facility has a “make yourself at home” feel to it. The facility should be clean with recreational activities and plenty of group sessions. Each mental health treatment facility is different; find one that best suits your needs.

Winter Family Healthcare

Winter is a period when all of the family are susceptible to ill health. By taking a few minutes to read the following article, however, you can learn some of the ways in which you can help to protect yourself from infection and keep your family in good shape over the months to come.

Eating right

A good diet is an essential part of family healthcare and winter time is no different. Eating sensibly ensures that you maintain a strong immune system and build up a strong resistance against viruses and infection. Make sure that all of the family eat 3 square meals a day, with plenty of hearty and nutritious food, including all of the vitamins and minerals needed to stay fit and healthy.

Eating in moderation is important for family healthcare over winter, and whilst it is important not to overdo it with fatty and sugary foods, it certainly won’t do anyone any harm to indulge a little. With this comes the temptation to over-eat which should be avoided at all costs. The explanation for this is simply that many people eat to feel better, as winter naturally causes us to feel miserable. Junk food releases chemicals into our bodies which make us feel happier, and because we enjoy eating this food, it can raise our spirits. This can obviously lead to health problems and weight gain, so it is sensible to replace the junk with healthy snacks and fruit.   Make sure that you eat sensibly this winter

Wrap up against the cold

Keeping warm is essential for family healthcare during the winter in order to maintain our core body temperature. When the body is cold, it is more vulnerable to the spread of germs and the risk of infection, so it is vital to keep everyone wrapped up warm with plenty of layers, including a winter coat, scarf, hat and gloves.

Don’t neglect to exercise

Winter can be a period when it is difficult to get regular exercise. This is due to the cold temperatures outside and the weather, which can often make it difficult to take part in regular fitness activity. One way in which you can combat this is by signing up for a family gym membership, which will not only help you to maintain your family healthcare, but also give everyone something to do on those long cold winter nights.

Flu vaccination

Depending on your circumstances, one or more members of your family may be entitled to a flu vaccination. This is especially true for old people, who are particularly vulnerable to the threat of flu. Why not ask at your local doctors surgery for more information?

Now you know more about winter family healthcare, and what you can do to make sure that you’re eating right, exercising, and wrapping up warm, you should be able to stay illness free and find plenty to do this winter.

Fast Food Restaurants and Churches – What They Have in Common

The rise of fast food restaurants in the world is a current phenomenon. McDonald’s was the first major chain, and it stood unchallenged for many years providing inexpensive fast food and an entertainment experience. The market exploded suddenly, with a numerous variety of franchises spreading to the reaches of North America and eventually to the world. Although the fast food restaurant is a product of modern culture, it has remarkable similarities to church. This may sound like an outrageous statement, but consider the likeness of their history, beginning with the official Catholic Church which “stood unchallenged for many years”; then numerous other denominations were created. Today, churches and fast food restaurants have an easily recognizable physical structure and a set of consistent routines and procedures. They also both teach desirable values through their interaction with society.

Churches are easily recognized by their outward appearance: some are very ornate stone with spires, bells and stain glassed windows, while others have a simpler or conservative construction. Each denomination has a distinct appearance that is duplicated in the towns and cities of North America; likewise, restaurants are easily recognizable. Even a child can spot the ‘Golden Arches’ of a McDonald’s from a distance. Just as there are numerous flavors of churches, there are also many different fast food franchises, that offer a customized menu and atmosphere. Each restaurant has an individual style, but they are all colorful, stylish buildings with bright, large windows.

The inside of franchised restaurants are decorated in the same style, just like in churches of the same denomination. There are standard decorating and furniture by franchise or denomination. For example, churches have seating in a main hall or sanctuary where sermons are received. In a Catholic Church there will be wooden pews in rows, whereas in a Brethren Church there will be modern cushioned chairs, placed in an arrangement of sections and rows. Likewise, all fast food franchises have fixed seating of tables, chairs, and bench seating, but each has its own manner and style of arranging the seating. Inside or out, fast food restaurants and churches are easily recognized by their physical appearance.

Both institutions have predictable routines and procedures that are followed by the people who go there. When going to a church service, you are greeted by an usher; likewise, when going to a fast food restaurant you are greeted by a server. Both can be visited alone, with family or with friend, and offer a social aspect as well. During both social experiences, you will consume food and drink. During the church service you will take communion, bread and wine, and during your restaurant experience you will eat a meal of your choice. One feeds the body, while the other feeds the soul.

Routines will vary by denomination or franchise, but will be consistent in each. For example, all church services involve singing, preaching, offering, and praying, but the order and style will vary by denomination. A Baptist Church service generally begins with a couple hymns and an opening prayer. Then announcements, special music, and scripture reading before the sermon. Sermon. Closing prayer and/or hymn. It’s a predictable experience. Attending a Catholic Mass will be different from a Baptist service, but it will be equally predictable each week.

Likewise, going to McDonald’s involves getting in line at the counter, ordering your food, taking your tray to your table while picking up napkins, ketchup, straws, etc., on the way, eating, and cleaning up your own mess. Then kids can play, while the adults relax. No matter what McDonald’s you visit the experience will be the same. Going to Burger King provides relatively the same experience, but the food, atmosphere, and play items will vary. You could be dropped into a church or fast food restaurant blindfolded, and it’s absolutely certain that you’ll know what’s expected of you when the blindfold is removed!

Finally, both churches and fast food restaurants teach values through their respective institutions. Churches teach biblical values for how people should live their lives. “For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness,,,… and self control” is an often quoted verse that names virtuous qualities for people to develop in themselves. There are also many parables that teach about making right decisions. Beyond believing in God, Jesus and the sacrifice of the cross, people are encouraged to strive for good qualities so that they can be good people.

Fast food restaurants teach values, although it is done more implicitly. They encourage cleanliness and responsibility by expecting people to clean up after themselves. The words “Thank You” on the garbage receptacles are an encouragement to dispose of your waste instead of leaving it on the table. Kindness is also exemplified through their advertising slogans. Dairy Queen has trademarked the slogan, “We treat you right.” McDonald’s uses the slogans, “We like to see you smile” and “The smiles are free.” These are feel good, positive statements that encourage the consumer to respond in kind.

Both institutions are involved in charity, collecting money for worthy causes that will help people. Churches collect money through collections to offer programs to the people in their community, while fast food restaurants provide change receptacles at the cash where you can donate to various charities. These are ways that both institutions teach values to the people who frequent them.

Although there are many striking similarities between churches and fast food restaurants, there are also differences. While church is offered at fixed times during the week, fast food restaurants have lengthy and flexible hours. It’s very convenient to eat dinner quickly, inexpensively, and without the work of preparing it. Church services are offered at fixed times and it’s unlikely you will get out of there quickly. As well, going to church is meant to meet a spiritual need, while going to a fast food restaurant is meant to meet a physical need. At the restaurant you are feeding your body, but at church you are feeding your soul. Attending church helps people maintain a balanced life, while going to fast food restaurants merely provides an unhealthy meal, which contributes to an unbalanced diet.

One experience is free, but the other has a cost. You can willingly give a donation or politely decline during offering, but at any fast food chain you will not be given food unless you pay. Fast food restaurants are money making ventures, in contrast to the non-profit nature of churches. The restaurant owner offers this food and service to make a living; whereas, the minister or priest is collecting money to use for the physical or spiritual service of others. It may be argued that the church overseer also receives a salary, but idealistically the salary is given for self-less service and not personal gain.

I have presented this comparison to a variety of different people over the last few years. Curiously, the initial reaction of most people was to adamantly argue against the idea that these institutions were similar. The main reason for their persistent protesting was that they thought it was heresy to make this comparison – between the modern, pagan fast food establishments and rituals and the long-standing Christian churches whose establishment and rituals’ purpose is to reunite the human race with God. For many people, the comparison becomes intensely personal and they feel that it’s wrong.

Overall, there is a sense of strangeness in the similarities that exist between fast food restaurants and churches. The remarkable likeness between the two should not be surprising as they were an invention of people who have been raised in a church-going society. Whether they are active, religious church goers or not, they cannot help but be implicitly affected by this pervasive institution. People are comfortable with predictability; thus each familiar experience, whether in church or a fast food restaurant, is like an old familiar shoe.