McPoor

There is nothing like Taco Bell at 2 in the morning after a long night of drinking. You always wonder to yourself---Where did they find this five star chef who made my beefy 5 layer burrito? Fast food is an American way of life since its conception in the 1950s. There are thousands of locations around the country and the idea of fast food has been integrated into the American lifestyle.

But have you ever noticed how many fast food chains are in low income areas? It has become apparent over the past twenty years that the numbers of fast food chains in low income areas are raising. It’s a cheap resource for people who have no other means of survival. Fast food is an easy meal for people who--- work multiple jobs, are single parents, homeless, or just have no means to quality food. 

I’ve traveled around the country and noticed the poorer the neighborhood, the less sources of quality food that are available. Even here in San Francisco it is evident. I was on the 22 bus through the Mission District last week and I noticed the father you went into the poverty afflicted areas, your more likely to see an alien than a quality grocery store.

Many of the fast food chains buy cheap property and build multiple locations in low income areas-- taking advantage of cheap land, a community with no other resources, and large number of people compacted into an area. Its not like cheap food is the problem, its that these communities have no other means of food. Instead of having quality stores to buy food to cook themselves, these communities just accept the trend and go along with it. It brings up a number of issues, most notable the major corporations taking advantage of the low income class and their situation. People living in poor neighborhoods with a preponderance of fast food are also more likely to have health problems as well. Obesity, diabetes, and other health risks associated with a poor diet are exacerbated by insufficient health care. The people with the least access to quality health care are the same people exposed to the worst food choices. If the resources were more readily available, maybe the health concerns and problems associated with fast food would diminish.

I honestly have noticed that the trend towards obesity is a huge concern here in America. But its sad that these issues are more notable in the poverty stricken areas. These people know of the dangers of the lifestyle they are living, but have no other means around it. I would love to see more stores like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods open up stores in low-income areas. But the truth is that they wont. They know that the stores would not survive in areas of low income households. Healthy food is supremely expensive and it will probably remain that way, even to the average American.

So the next time your at Taco Bell at two in the morning getting those drunkhies. Just remember that this isnt just munchies to other people... its a means of survival.