Essay 166 – Traditional foods are being replaced by fast food

GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 166

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In many countries, traditional foods are being replaced by fast food. This has a negative impact on families, individuals and society.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer: [Agreement]

In several countries around the world, conventional cuisines are fading away to make a place for fast food. For families, individuals, and society, the impact of these foods is adverse and sometimes very severe, and in this case, I wholeheartedly agree with the notion.

Traditional foods are associated with cultural code and family ties. Unfortunately, the cultural code fades away when most people in a society switch to fast food. In consequence, the preference for common fast food disrupts family bonds. Traditionally, women are the author of daily meals. Preparing meals is essentially a sequence of physical movements transforming an unconscious intent into prepared meals, in a sense, when a woman offers herself to the family with the food, she exerts great influence on her family. In turn, it firms the family bondage. In contrast, fast food represents anonymous food industries which make no sense of rapport between family members.

Likewise, individuals are also suffering from the adverse effects of fast food. That is to say that fast food, in many cases, is highly processed, and contains substantial amounts of unhealthy fats, added sugar, carbohydrates, and sodium. Besides, harmful substances are added to these foods so as to improve their taste or appearance or to preserve it. Fast foods, on the top of that, are usually high in calories whereas providing poor nutrition. Therefore, when these foods frequently replace home-cooked food in ones’ daily diet, it results in all types of bad health outcomes. For example, recent research work has pointed out that saturated fat intake does affect an individual’s brain function and memory. Similarly, society also suffers from these foods. Many traditional restaurants have gone out of business as most people consume fast food.

In conclusion, it proves to be sensible to assume that the current vogue for fast food affects families, individuals and society adversely. Therefore, we should eat nourishing home-made food meals as much as possible both for our personal, social and family benefits.