by Drew Lyness
Daily Lobo
It is no secret the United States is a nation that likes its food.
In any American city, no matter what time of day or night, you can always find an open restaurant, and the fast-food business is among the most lucrative in the world.
At first glance, the choice of food in Albuquerque seems vast. If you were to drive the length of Central Avenue, how many restaurants, burger bars and diners would you pass? It seems like every other building offers a special deal on breakfast burritos or the option to supersize a Mountain Dew for an extra 20 cents.
Albuquerque, like everywhere else in America, is teaming with eateries that provide fast, reliable and cheap meals. As a result, we drive through and drive away without giving much consideration to our dietary and nutritional requirements.
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Although in Britain fast food is fairly popular, eating out is more expensive, and it is common to eat at home most nights.
There is also nowhere near the number of fast-food restaurants, and a greater emphasis is placed on home cooking.
My university in Norwich, England, has no catering. Rather, every residence has a well-equipped kitchen. Pasta, fish and vegetables become a staple diet for most students, and there is a greater opportunity for healthy eating.
I must say the occasional burger isn't going to kill me, and I am as guilty of those 4 a.m. trips to the Frontier as anyone else. UNM's favorite eating establishment provides some of the best late night munchies I have had anywhere in the world.
The problem seems to be very few restaurants provide balanced meals.
Since my last visit to the United States, the only noticeable solution to the nation's unhealthy diet has come in the form of the Atkins Diet.
Most fast-food outlets also offer a low-carb version of their leading artery-cloggers - a solution that has debatably devastating effects on people's health, and I suspect will do little to curb the majority's love of burgers and fries. When you are constantly surrounded by unhealthy food, it can sometimes just seem like the easiest option.
There should be a greater provision for healthy eating on campus. While La Posada has a difficult job in catering to a large amount of students, it would be nice to see a greater number of meals containing fresh vegetables and low fat alternatives.
Pizza, burgers, burritos and fries are on the menu every day, but there are only one or two remotely healthy options. The salad bar is somewhat limited, and even the pasta appears be fried in an unnecessary amount of greasy oil.
While food in America is always tasty and satisfying, it would be nice if it didn't always come with the nagging feeling you probably aren't doing your body much good.
