Hello this is Alejandra. I am so beyond grateful to be given a platform for my voice to be heard. I am so passionate about this because my life has been an upwards struggle because of my relationship with food. Again thank you for hearing my story! It’s so possible to fight a good fight and end up alive and well!! We got this my friends.
Thank you!! It's to be honest scary to bring up important topics like these, but we don't want fear to hold us back. We hope the stories of the people we met can inspire change for the greater good
@@YesTheory I feel you had the responsibility to include actual obese individuals in this story, showcasing the raw realities of coming out of that lifestyle-the trials, tribulations, and triumphs. It’s through understanding and empathy, these that we foster meaningful change. Instead these comments have shown that Americans that don’t experience these issues are judgmental, rude and ignorant. They have their opinions and assumptions on obese people and they’re not afraid to speak them. I was just asked to show my visceral fat in a dexa scan without the person even knowing if im overweight by just my comment supporting that obese people deserve respect, let that sink in. Please look into how overweight celebs like Lizzo are bashed constantly while on weight loss journeys promoting health lifestyle just as much as when she was fat body positive, showcase all the evil and disgusting things average body people say in the comments of larger people just existing in the world. That is also a cause for a continuation of obesity and stigma surrounding obesity.
The real problem in 2024 is at 20$+ labor costs for most fast food workers it is far more expensive eating fast food that cooking(it's not 1987 amd labor is not 2.5$per hour any more.) With those statical figures in mind going forward there is no real excuse except addiction and laziness, which not only Americans are but most everyone that would do anything everyday, but on the flipside stop learning the moment the leave school even though the world changes more rapidly than ever every few years and now a days if your not educated literally ChatGPT in moments can do all the knowledge work you've amazed your entire life. Point is the world is much different today than the portrial of obesity in this video, but that's what happens I suppose when you say yes all day long, but never spend a moment really learning or understanding technical, social, and governmental action ls of things in a ever changing world and environment.
@@MeetJarred that was a hard read without much punctuations. I think I got the point of it. Here is my take. Your argument highlights some valid points about the changing costs of food, labor, and the pace of societal adaptation, but it misses key nuances regarding obesity and the broader systemic issues surrounding it. First, while labor costs for fast-food workers have increased, this alone doesn’t make fast food unaffordable for everyone. Many people rely on it due to limited access to fresh groceries, insufficient kitchen facilities, or demanding schedules that leave little time for cooking. Labeling these choices as “addiction and laziness” oversimplifies complex socioeconomic and cultural factors, such as food deserts, lack of nutrition education, and the stressors of modern life. Second, your critique about education is valid-lifelong learning is critical in an ever-evolving world. But assuming that most people are unmotivated or “lazy” is dismissive. Not everyone has equal access to resources or opportunities to further their education or adapt to change, especially when they are trapped in cycles of poverty, poor health, or systemic inequality. Finally, while tools like ChatGPT can indeed democratize knowledge, they are not a substitute for lived experience or the social and emotional intelligence required to navigate real-world challenges. Technology is an asset, but it cannot resolve deeply ingrained issues like obesity or inequity without comprehensive action at individual, community, and governmental levels. Rather than assigning blame, it’s more productive to acknowledge the complexity of these issues and advocate for solutions that address the root causes of poor health and societal stagnation, such as improving access to education, equitable healthcare, and community support systems. The world has changed significantly, but the solutions must be as inclusive and multifaceted as the problems themselves.
Yes, but we also can’t make excuses. Meal prepping is cheaper and by far healthier than buying pizza rolls and McDonald’s. More food quality for value by miles. It’s boring, it takes maybe 2-3 hours a week. That’s it. Sugary cereals and processed foods aren’t even cheap. The cheapest frozen pizza at my grocery store is $5. For that I can make a chicken and rice meal.
Nobody asked but over the last year and a half I went from weighing 295 lbs to 180 lbs through clean eating and exercise. It's true when people say it's 80% what you eat and 20% working out. I tried losing weight for 6 months by just exercising and eating the same crap I had always been but only lost 15 lbs. When I started taking my food choices more seriously, the lbs shed off inconceivably fast. For anyone going through this journey as well, keep your head up and keep grinding. The only obstacle in your way is yourself. When you truly want something, nothing can stop you
something that isn’t mentioned is when growing up people are trained to finish everything on their plate no matter. a habit like eating when you’re already full contributes a lot in my opinion
Nah. My mother grew up during the depression and brought us up with this mentality. All 4 girls are 57, 58, 59 and none of us are overweight never mind obese.
Perhaps, but it depends how big your plate is. Most Americans have got a skewed idea of how much food constitutes a full meal. A small soda in a US McDonalds is bigger than a large in most of the rest of the world.
George Orwell explains in Road to Wigan Pier, that when individuals are "underfed, harassed, bored, and miserable," they naturally seek out "something a little bit 'tasty'" to provide comfort. This often results in a diet centered around "white bread and margarine, corned beef, sugared tea, and potatoes," which he describes as "an appalling diet." The book was published in 1936
I work for the City of McAllen and am a follower of your channel. I’m glad you came down, and would have liked to have met you, but also not very proud of why you’re down here. 😂
Pardon, a weight epidemic was happening in the Caribbean Islands as well. Imports being costly, and sugar cane being a huge export in their economy had a good deal to do with that. Mid 1900's the malnutrition and poor health became noticeable.
Thank you so much for this video.I've sadly noticed that in my native country Trinidad and my country of residence the uk have both been affected massively with excessive consumerism as influenced by the USA. I honestly feel so grateful now when I receive a blue-collar balanced meal after seeing this. We need more awareness for the effects of the overconsumption of ultraprocessed foods and I truly hope that things can change for the better.
Amazing! I have only been watching you guys for about 2 months now. I've gone back, and watched a tonne of your videos. And you never cease to make me smile, and warm my heart. Today's episode was different A message I have been trying to share for a long time! Thank you!!
Exactly! So good to see this honest investigation. Good job, Yes Theory! I adopted the mindset that good food is still cheaper than medical treatment due to cheap foods.
Please keep talking about this! We NEED to make changes now… it only gets harder “tomorrow”. I almost completely removed processed foods 2 years ago and started feeling better almost immediately. Then I was able to incorporate exercise and life completely changed.
I understand the points made. I used to be 330 pounds. But I lost over 100 pounds in one year. It was actually really simple. Mostly diet (no carbs) with minimal exercise thrown in. We can blame others all we want. At the end of the day, adults are responsible for their lives. So make better decisions.
Grateful to live in the EU because of how many food regulations need companies to get through in order for it to come in our supermarkets and houses ! Supermarkets in the EU are nothing like the USA and we should be grateful for it !
In Germany Kindergartens they start serving organic self cooked food which I personally find very cool. I worked in a kindergarten where the stuff was totally aware of the connection between serving dessert with sugar and the kids not sleeping. When I lived in the US with 19/20 years I gained weight around 10 kg. 🙈
i’d like to get my few words out cause i also think it’s important for people to hear but i went from a totally health BMI and weight to having a BMI that now makes me overweight but it’s not from the food i was eating it was from the medication i was taking i was in a mental hospital for 2 months and gained almost half my body weight (50lb) in less then 60 days. It’s been 2 years and i’ve lost more then half the weight it’s taken a lot more time due to my depression and the impacts it has in my life
medication dont contain calories, it can change your metabolism, but at the end of the day it still is the food that makes you overweight, hence you shouldve cut down on the portions. unpopular fact.
@@Nhicki i was barely eating there but they were tracking my weight and said NOTHING to me about the significant weight gain in such a short time i had a friend there gain weight too but only 20lb it was the medications that were changing my body they actually quit literally ruined my body but they saved my life so i’m forever grateful. Please do your research because gaining weight is an actual side effect from a lot of anti depressants and such but it’s just depends on the person and how there body works.
@@Nhicki if there are medications that help you lose weight, there are also medications to help you gain weight. and a lot of medications that deal with hormones make people gain weight. your body might start absorbing more water and retaining it, some medications make it so you process and store sugar and other nutrients differently. theres tons of research out there to prove medications DO cause weight gain even if your diet and exercise hasn't changed.
@@Nhicki exactly but people wanna make excuses for everything bro ... like why is bro even on meds knowing meds is another issue lol big pharma. They dont give you meds to cure you its to keep you in the loop.
this is definitely a conversation we need to keep having for a long time to make changes, thank u guys for covering it in such a compassionate and honest manner
Thank you Yes Fam! My dad has been dealt terrible heath scares this year and the leading cause was food. He was just barely overweight but the over processed foods destroyed his colon. Its not widely talked about what the stores are selling us, after reading every label in the store to determine what is safe and whats not, we eat most meats rice veggies and fruits. Something terrible is happening right in front of our eyes and Americans are not fighting hard enough because they don’t even know this is a fight we have to fight. We continue to blindly put our trust in to the government and those whom control our food and products.
Thank you for making this video. I’m someone that grew up in Vermont. I’ve never experienced a fast food and drive-through based lifestyle in my younger years. This is very abnormal to me. I live and work in Texas now. It still seems like an alien way of life. It also brings awareness to the problems you’ve pointed out. I work in granting health benefits for military veterans in the U.S.. It is sad when the veterans develop obesity because it will often prevent them from receiving healthcare for disabilities such as diabetes. A lot of patients don’t realize this or refuse to accept this fact. If high sugar and high fat calorie foods with a lack of physical activity lead to a chronic disability later in life and the government won’t want to help with the treatment of it. It doesn’t matter if the lack of treatment leads to the loss of a limb or cancer. It ultimately comes down to placing the fault of the individual’s choices. In the end this is a problem the government and tax paying citizens have to deal with. I agree something should be done to limit cheap processed food. Especially the amount of added sugar. A little extra urban panning could go a long way. Disabilities like diabetes are terrible and they can be prevented in so many people. In the end we are paying for it more by not addressing it early. We should care more about this problem.
A clear understanding of the chemicals in food & addiction (including to sugar), should be part of the educational process starting in kindergarten and every year through high school (so should personal finance, basic mechanics, growing food, PR/Marketing/Propaganda, comparative religion & critical thinking). Those things aren't in the corporate interests though.
I struggled with Obesity pretty much my entire life. I started a healthy lifestyle in July of this year, and have lost about 106 pounds since then utilizing Water Fasting and Keto. In October, I challenged myself to a 40 day water fast and succeeded, having lost most of my weight during that time. I am still losing weight to this day. Only 50 pounds to go, and I'll hit my goal weight. I think there's not enough education about the relationship between food and your body. Once I did my research and understand what goes into making food, I make my own meals. I refuse to eat anything that's not made by me because I don't know what is being put in the food
this is amazing!!!!! You took everything into your own hands and changed YOUR life. I love your accountability and love what you're doing. congrats on your success and please for the love of god don't ever go back.
This one hits home for me. I am currently in the process of losing weight. I was 302lbs at the beginning of June. Right now, I am at 240lbs, and I feel so much better. Less depression, more energy, clearer thinking, and even higher libido lol. I think moving my mindset towards meal preping and going to the gym has made a world of difference. My drive for it has developed with seeing the results on the scale. Nutrition and cooking healthy meals should be a priority in school curiculum. They should teach budgeting with groceries in school as well. These lifestyle skills are some of the most important things people should learn, and our schools are not prioritizing them. If you are in a similar position as I was, just take the steps forward to make the change and make it as easy as you can. It will be the best decision you will ever make for yourself.
A major solution is gardening. Individual, neighborhood, school and community gardens can grow a lot of food for almost nothing. Add water collection and people can self sustain.
For me, fast food requires you to drive out, wait in line, order, and get your car all smelly (and I don't like delivery cause I don't trust drivers handling my food and fees are expensive). A one-stop shop at the grocery store is good for the whole week and I rather just stay home and put that effort into cooking and meal prepping. I don't like going out of my way after work to go somewhere, I want to go straight home and stay home. It's definitely a perspective you have to change, too.
The hard thing about places like McAllen is that most people live significantly closer to at least 5 fast food places than they do to 1 grocery store. And because poverty is so high, they can t afford to buy a weeks worth of groceries because they are literally living day to day. A friend of mine from McAllen sent me a job advertisement awhile ago and the business was paying $7.50 an hour. Stuff like that makes it hard for people to even have time or opportunity to change their mindset. While I agree that a mindset change is important, you should also know that many people in places like McAllen don’t have the luxury of buying a weeks worth of groceries or eating healthier like you do.
It's great that some people enjoy shopping for fresh ingredients and spending time preparing them. Hurray for them. I'm just not one of them and have no interest in becoming one of them. I can't stand grocery stores (stinky/perfumey people, screeching children, etc.) and *_FOR ME_* cooking is just tedious, time consuming and TOTALLY uninteresting. I *really do understand* how some people find great joy and reward in the whole foodie/cooking thing. Strangely, however, they tend to not understand how it simply does not fascinate me the way it does them. Even less likely is me spending my time in a garden playing farmer. It just ain't gonna happen for me, but you do you. That's just the way it is. Forgive me, or not, I really don't care. If affordable, convenient, healthy options that didn't taste like grass, mold, fungus cardboard or dirt were available, I'd eat them.
@@StubbyPhillips I hope this changes one day for you. The benefits are just so much more apparent when you do this. Ive lost 60lbs so far, and I see them all the time. You can eat healthy without making it a food specticle. I usually just meal prep meat/veggie mixes that go with different dishes(93-7 ground turkey/chicken mixed with peppers, onions, brocolli, seasonings, etc) and make rice/ beans, salads with greek yogurt dressing, or buy whole grain Pita bread/english muffins once a week. Best advice I have gotten is make it as easy as you possibly can for yourself. Buy frozen fruits/veggies if it helps you save money. A lot of times, I go to the grocery store later in the evening so I miss the crowds. It is a change, but the benefits will come back to you tenfold if you do.
I get it. I’ve lived through the struggles of being low-income, trying to make better choices when it feels like the world around you is set up to keep you stuck in unhealthy cycles. It’s overwhelming, because so much overlaps-what you eat, where you live, what you can afford-and all of it affects your health. But the truth is, small steps do matter. Whether it’s making a meal from scratch, choosing fruit over candy, or going for a walk around my block, every step counts. And those small actions, over time, create real change. We live in a country where fast food chains fill every corner, but vacant lots could have been community gardens. Why? Because America is a business, and our health is often the price we pay for profit. But here's what I believe: when we take intentional action, no matter how small, it ripples out. Self-love and showing up for ourselves are the foundation. The more we practice self-love, the more we’re able to show up for those closest to us-whether it’s our children, our families, or our friends. That’s how we begin to create the community we need, one that’s intentional and connected, rather than driven by convenience or profit. In a country where convenience is marketed as the easier and better option, it’s hard to make intentional choices. But starting with any small change, no matter how small it seems, creates a ripple effect. That ripple grows, and eventually, it can change the course of your life and inspire others to do the same.
Thank you for making this video. As a father of two young daughters, i have recently taken an active interest in the health of my family. Both my children are fed at school twice a day and when I ask what they had for breakfast/lunch, they invariably tell me "pizza or chicken nuggets or pasta". All of which are processed or high in starch, which equates to glucose spikes in the body. This in turn creates insulin resistance = diabetes. The most incredible resource of info I found to combat this is from the Glucose Goddess aka Jessie Inchauspé, a French Bio Chemist. She suggests a few bio hacks which anybody can follow, regardless of financial means. They are so simple. I have been following her guidance now for two weeks and my own results have been amazing. It's been touch and go with the kids, but they are slowly adapting to eating a bowl of greens before anything else in the morning; even if it's just a few cherry tomatoes. The fibre protects you from sugars and starches the whole day and therefore glucose spikes which is the basis of obesity and all food related illness. Love & Power to all!!
I remember as a kid when our lunches in school drastically changed. There was a diverse option of food. Sure they had pizza, but it wasn't the only option. There was fresh fruit that was actually fresh. I grew up in an area known for our apples. Then into middle school everything changed. There was no more diverse options for lunch. It was this one thing that tasted awful and if you didn't eat it tough luck. The fresh fruit we had turned into inedible rot. Again, the region was known for our apples. At minimum you'd expect there to be fresh apples. Not even the apples were fresh anymore. It was just unhealthy slob. I ended up stop eating lunch outright at school. Either you ate the unhealthy filth. Or you starved. Which I was more than willing to wait till I got home to eat. With that said, I am based off the flawed metric known as BMI overweight. And I know I am. But part of me does wonder how I would be now if I ate the filth they served us as a kid. How bad could it have gotten?
Portion sizes are a major issue in America. Anytime I go to an actual restaurant where entrees range from 15-30 bucks, I’m always amazed at the sheer size of portions. The breakfast restaurant industry is the epitome of this. Three eggs, two pancakes, two slices of sausage, a muffin for 11.99. But as you go to nicer restaurants, spending anywhere around 35-50 per entree, it seems the portions are more on the normal side. As a sequel, you could look into the meat industry in America. Many don’t realize that cattle bred in America, most of that meat does not make it to your dinner table. Most of the meat americans consume is imported. And more and more, it is being imported from farms in Brazil where the Amazon is essentially being chopped down in order to meet the growing demands of American meat consumers. There are one or two companies that have literally dozens of smaller companies underneath them, so tracking this issue is difficult. If you were to try. If you were to find a company raising cattle in the Amazon, it is not as easy as saying “ok, not eating their meat anymore” because they will more than likely have several other companies under their umbrella doing the same thing. Also, kids. Kids these days are growing up in this world + staying indoors. They don’t go outside and run around and play outside nearly as much anymore. Leading to a very high percentage of childhood obesity. if you really wanted to go down a rabbit hole, wanted to dig even deeper, look into local municipalities working with local farmers as a way to put waste water to use. A lot of farms are utilizing utility company waste water as a mechanism for irrigation, essentially spoiling the soil. For example, a few farms in Michigan have been shut down due to how toxic their land has become. Forever chemicals being found in the soil where they are growing crops. If we venture further into this rabbit hole, take a look at the sheer amount of foods and products that use palm oil and coconut oil. It is nearly impossible to avoid, if you wanted to. Most all popcorn brands, most all soap brands use palm oil. For example.
This is incredibly interesting for me to compare it with Europe, specifically Czech Republic, where I live. While fast food restaurants are increasingly popular, their main attractiveness comes from them being convenient when one is too busy to cook. However, they are actually quite expensive for us. All of these people in the video mention fast foods as being more affordable then a healthy home cooked meal which is not even close to the truth in my country.
They are quite expensive in the US too, grocery shopping and cooking is way cheaper. The problem is that there isnt a culture of cooking in relatively poor areas, so people dont have the will or knowledge to cook. The myth that fastfood is cheaper than healthy food is nothing more than a lie, and Im dissappointed in Yes Theory for promoting it, when its very unscientific and doesnt delve into the actual problem.
The amount of oversimplification in the comments is depressing, particularly from people who are in health care. In the U.S., the Ag Bill plays an outsized role in food costs and obesity, and is largely ignored/not on the radar of citizens. It's the reason that foods like ramen and tortillas are dramatically cheaper than fresh produce. We subsidize farms to grow commodity crops like grains, soy, dairy, and less than five percent of those subsidies go to production of fresh produce. People claiming that "anyone can eat healthy, they are just being lazy" are privileged and delusional. Ozempic has been shining a light on the complexity of obesity and the over-simplification of traditional approaches from the medical field. It's a complex issue, and it is directly tied to income in most cases. We have a system and an infrastructure that encourages obesity in low income areas.
Being someone who only eats kosher has always made me grateful that I cant eat at most fast food restaurants. Having to make my own food for every meal definitely makes you healthier in general.
I'm an American living in Mexico. Now don't get me wrong, Mexico is one of the fattest countries too, but for slightly different reasons, in my opinion. I can walk almost everywhere here in Mexico. Ultra processed foods are not lining the shelves at your average grocery store (tv dinners, frozen pizzas, etc. are almost non-existent). While American fast food chains are prevalent here, you are mostly going to eat something homemade on your average day...and made with fresh ingredients. The problems in Mexico are the following: allowing Americanization, corner stores every 5 ft (aka, easy access to candy and snack cakes), portion sizes, and very high consumption of animal products that are cooked with too much salt and fried, even if it shouldn't be fried (like why does soup need oil??). While the US and Mexico have similar obesity rates, the obese Americans are way more obese than the obese Mexicans.
@@humanbeing8400 movement would not solve anything. it's calories wholeheartedly. humans are MADE to store fat and efficiently use energy. you'll lose weight for a while then plateau again. you need to eat less to lose weight. caloric deficit is the only way. exercising helps you in numerous other ways, but it does not help your weight long term. check out Kurzgesagt's videos on it.
I'm a Lupus Warrior. As I've gotten older, I'm 65, my chronic health issues and age, have extremely limited my mobility. My diet is horrible now, anything easy to prepare or no prep. The elderly, disabled and poor in the US have the worst diets!
I'm from the RGV and it's a weekly issue trying to figure out what we can go out and do with our kids because all we have are restaurants. The vast majority of us here are also Hispanic and our foods aren't necessarily the healthiest. If you look into it you'll also notice that the surrounding cities are some of the poorest in the state of Texas as well and fast/cheap food is easily accessible here.
Thank you for this. I have a 4 year old granddaughter who is being fed lunch and snacks at school that her parents would rarely or ever promote. I'm astonished that schools think processed food support a learning environment and feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the situation. I'd like to think I could have a positive effect within the system, but this is a big city with complicated politics and I don't really know where to begin. I'm inspired to try, though. Thanks again.
There's a book called The Omnivore's Dilemma that's all about where our food comes from and what's in it. It completely changed how I view the food in grocery stores and made me want to choose my food differently than I had been.
Recently moved from a city suburb to a more rural town for work. I am legitimately going to start growing some greens in my studio apartment because the produce here is so terrible. Makes total sense why people don't eat more of it in rural America.
" Production line "...what an intelligent sentence ! Thats exactly what is happening from the moment a new human steps into this earth. From birth untill death everything is fixed... Thats how dairy , meat and veggie farms are running... If you just stand as a mirror in front of human societys you can see clearly society is farming human beings
As a person who lives in McAllen, we do see your point and I’m super stocked to see y’all in my hometown and shining a light into these topics. Like you said it’s not just on city it’s American, where we are taught that this is the norm because it’s more about the business aspect. You see is that we eat so much processed foods, you get sick you go get medical help, and they help just to fix it temporarily and then you go back again all while the hospitals get paid, and along with the government who make more money. Which technically is like the saying, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
Hi, im going to look through your recipes. Its so encouraging that you take expense into what you are putting together for us. I cant usually afford healthy foods for my kids.
im from Monterrey, México..... 2 hours from mcallen..... mostly every citizen with high adquisitive position go to mcallen to go "fast shopping" but that also includes indulging in chain restaurants that are not in mexico. Theres TONS of bunch of sugary, greasy, etc... options EVERYWHERE in mcallen, it´s overwhelming.......
I live in Finland and a pack of macaroni costs 0,40€ and theres is enough for 2-4 meals and tuna fish, meatballs and noodles on similar price range (even tho not very healthy either) thats what i eat when i dont have lots of money. Fast food is a luxury and I eat it only when I get more money during a good month. Thats why its weird to hear that fast food is the most affordable compared to cooked cheap meals. Maybe the prices are very different in America I have not lookied into it.
The school lunch issue is incredibly complicated and the primary issue is in fact in funding. Funding for the National School Lunch Program gives a grand total of $4 to schools for each free meal given to students that qualify. This $4 has to stretch to not only cover the food but cover the costs of transportation, storage, and preparation of that food. This also has to cover the wages of those preparing the food. Schools teach children how to eat healthily, it’s part of national health curriculum. Students know how to eat well, they simply do not have the option available to them. The issue is in a lack of federal support for the Department of Education. Students living in poverty cannot easily opt out of these meals as these are often their most reliable source of nutrition. The issue is in the governmental structure, not in personal choices of children that are victims of the system. This video is not focused on this issue, but I think we cannot talk about school lunches as if they are part of this larger problem when they are in fact a product of the federal government’s lack of care and consideration for the wellbeing of this country’s children and their education.
Don't blame "the government", blame CONGRESS - they make the laws & fund the programs that the government administers. It ALL starts from Congress, which is more afraid of the oligarchs and corporations than of the people they're supposed to serve.
As an RDN, hispanic households staple foods are cheaper and high in carbs, flour tortillas, 3 to 4 times a day is not good. Sodas consumptions is probably higher than most and nutrition knowledge deficit is also a major contributor.
I absolutely hated school food. It was almost impossible to get a healthy meal. They would dump this nasty processed food into us and then get mad that we would crash and fall asleep in class after lunch.
Di you think the oligarch running the once & future president are going to allow industry to suffer on behalf of people's health? RFK is like a stopped clock, right twice/day - bringing back polio isn't gonna fix anything, and most people don't have vehicles/freezers big enough to collect & store dead bear cubs.
Even here in South Africa it’s expensive to eat healthier but fast food is quickly becoming more expensive so it’s becoming cheaper to cook at home even if what you are cooking isn’t “healthy” it’s still cheaper.
Something very few people talk about is food banks and feed America food bags for kids. 90% of items available for those struggling to eat that they receive from places offering to help are packed with preservatives and unhealthy sugar.
This is a lie, its much cheaper to buy groceries and make food than it is to buy a $15 menu from mcdonalds three times a day. Many studies have shown this, not that you need studies to know that if youve ever made your own food and think for a couple seconds. Its a cultural problem within poor areas, which unfortunately is hard to fix and which is also quite profitable for these companies. However these companies really arent at fault, its the culture that is at fault.
not true at all. i use to do hello fresh- basically they deliver meals to you. each meal sits between 10-12 dollars. if you go fast food you will easily pay close to the same thing. i can walk into publix right now and buy an order of fresh made sushi which is miles healthier then any fast food for 8 bucks. please stop talking and spreading bs. and fyi i use to be legally obese. i stopped drinking soda (which is the big killer) and stopped going out to eat as much and ive lost 30 pounds in the last 5 months and have gone from 225 to sitting between 185-190 pounds i know way more about diet and food options then most. i can easily plan you a week of good quality meals for the same cost that it would be to go out to fast food. that argument is just an excuse. the real problem is people are lazy. they dont want to spend the time shopping, they dont want to spend the time cooking a meal, then having to clean dishes, people dont want to spend time looking at all their options.
I’m so happy that the yes theory crew are of different origins (including US). But for this topic in particular I’m grateful for Ammar and the fact he has experienced US but he is NOT from there. What he said about the US being the largest exporter of culture is so true. I realise it’s not groundbreaking, but even so, people aren’t speaking about the damage that America does to itself and how the ripples go way beyond its borders causing victims elsewhere as well.
I've learned a few things in the few years I have roamed this earth. Most people already know the "right thing" but struggle to do the "right thing" particularly when it comes to lifestyle choices and habits. Which is why it makes sense that these food industry tycoons are being blamed for being manipulative, because they understand once certain habits are established they're hard to break. But in all honesty, the reality is, what Yes Theory has covered will unfortunately rob people of their own agency or ability to choose, despite the being another source of information about the right thing. Because the likely scenario is that when people have someone or something else to blame for their own choices, they will absolve themselves of the accountability over their livelihood, "it's McDonald's fault I am so fat, with their evil scheme" and not "well, I, John, chose to eat a burger today, so I, John am responsible for the consequences" So in all reality with this video along with countless other sources which have made themselves open and available, people are now, more than ever, far more responsible for their caloric intake, exercise, diet, etc.. especially in a world where regardless of if some Ihop is unhealthy for Americans, people in another country would gladly be thankful that stack of pancakes. The privileged need to take a lot more responsibility for their health, and even on the idea of it, despite it being a morbid thought, you're gonna die anyway. Live healthily to enjoy as much as life as you can but not because you want to escape an inescapable reality, do it because you value a lot more than just "trying to live a long life".
I respect the idea of accountability. We are all accountable for what we choose to do. What if you didn't have a choice, though? Supposing that the ultra-processed food in supermarkets was all you could afford. Additionally, that food is as addictive as possible. We don't blame drug addicts for being addicts, but we do blame food addicts. No one needs to take hard drugs, but everyone has to eat to live. It is vicious and cruel what food lobbyists, in conjunction with big pharma has done to millions of people. We all tend to eat what and how our parents did. Just imagine two or three generations of people who grew up on boxed macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. What does "healthy eating" even mean to them? It's very hard to break the habit of easy "instant food" and teach an adult to like veggies, drink water and avoid over-processed carbs. There are socio-economics at play, not just "take responsibility."
@ my point is, if that’s all you can afford, eat it while being aware of how much of what you eat. You can control that. The world is far more dynamic than the black and white perspective about the net effect of eating what you can afford depending on how you structure your diet. I guess because we live in different societies and with different realities our perspectives will differ but where I am from we def blame addicts for their addiction. I can’t speak to how empathetic that is or even helpful but where I live people definitely don’t have them as “blameless” and it’s the same for this particular topic. My country is poor, we eat what we can, we know the food sucks, so we do what we can however we can to manage the portions. Some people go overboard of course but that’s not because they can’t manage it better, it’s because that’s simply their choice.
Yeah, I refuse to believe that obese people don't realize that eating an extra large Arby's meal is going to be less healthy than a baked chicken with vegetables. They aren't stupid, they just struggle with accountability.
i don't think most people know what the "right thing" is considering there's still a major stigma against saturated fats and dietary cholesterol the basics, sure, but not the specifics
Go walk in a single mom with 3 kids and a full time job's shoes for a year then talk to us about personal responsibility and choice. Most of that heavily researched addictive & subsidized chemical mess Americans eat shouldn't even exist as a choice, it's toxic. But it makes $ for the shareholders & the politicians they bought.
Super amazing conversation! Would love to hear about more solutions like growing your own produce to reduce demands at stores and receive higher quality foods!!
It's a systemic failure unfortunately especially with people like Virgie Tovar preaching that being fat is a good thing and you don't need to be healthy or in shape. But the solution is in fact, not only educate yourself, but eat less and move more. If you're addicted to heroin, the solution is to fight the addiction and stop consuming it. Not justify its use.
Exactly.. yes there are fast food places everywhere but there are also bars everywhere and we aren't all drunks... or fat. Fast food was never meant to be a lifestyle. It was meant to be something you grabbed if you had no other choice. Going to McDonalds was a treat for us back in the 80s. We went like once a month and I would get excited each time. Of course now they are pretty gross now but they were a lot better in the 80s.
This is incredibly interesting for me to compare it with Europe, specifically Czech Republic, where I live. While fast food restaurants are increasingly popular, their main attractiveness comes from them being convenient when one is too busy to cook. However, they are actually quite expensive for us. All of these people in the video mention fast foods as being more affordable then a healthy home cooked meal which is not even close to the truth in my country. In fact fast food is more of a treat here, and when you are low on cash, you are “punished” by needing to cook. While cheaper ingredients can also be quite unhealthy, it is not as bad as the fast food diet in America.
It's the same in America. Two pounds of bananas is the same price as the cheapest value item, and a pound of flour is cheap too. Not sure wtf they are talking about.
@ then perhaps they just “believe” fast food is the cheapest option because they were told so. But it is quite strange they use it as an excuse without actually testing the expense of a home cooked meal. Anyway, the horrors of a high school cantine are truly terrifying compared to cantines I am used to (which are unhealthy, but seemingly a paradise compared to what was shown in this video)
@@davidstehlik5365 CNBC did a report on "Why fast food has gotten so expensive" and it reveals a lot about how fast food is becoming unaffordable for folks in the lower income bracket. I think a lot of people equate eating healthy to a meal of organic superfoods, which is indeed very expensive.
@AYVYN I guess that's often a problem in such discussions. Do people who say cooking fresh would be more expensive really cook the natural way with fresh organic goods, or do they use a lot of convenience / industrial prepared products which are a) not healthy again and b) often much more expensive due to advertisement / branding? I see the same sometimes here in Europe when people discuss groceries prices. Here in Germany they're luckily pretty cheap compared to many other countries (especially when considering the average income), but many people who complain about rising prices are often so fixed on industrial branded stuff where they just waste their money for big marketing. Or the weird trend of cooking boxes, where they pay much higher prices for tiny potions. Also a lot gets easier and cheaper by cooking larger volumes.
never heard anyone answer the question, that yes if the "unhealthy" foods are more calorie dense and the point is to save money (which i also doubt people just wont admit that its tasty and the cheap alternatives that are healthier arent as pleasant), then why dont they just eat one or two meals a day. its litterally a choice, sure its harder the tastier and more accessible it is. im not saying dont have compassion for people who struggle with obesity, but acting like yes men arround them feels like enabling their addiction like any other and is morally corrupt in my book.
I remember watching a series where Jamie Oliver came to the US to help improve the quality of school lunches as he had been doing in the UK but parents became very angry and defensive that he was trying to tell them how to feed their children, it was very sad to watch.......
when i found you guys, years ago, i was living on the road and absolutely thought i was SOOOO not your demographic. no longer true - you have a huge demographic and it's good to be here. never.stop.
I support you guys doing more kinds of journalism vs pursuing your "Yes Theory." Keep both sides, but this is clearly where Amars heart is right now. He wants to help make change in different ways, and on a larger scale.
As a German I can't understand how going to a fast food restaurant can be cheaper than cooking yourself. I pay food for 1 or 2 day for like 10€ in the supermarket.
A huge part of that problem is Corn Fructose. Almost every food you buy in the store has that in it. And it is notoriously fattening. One reason nothing is done about it is the "Corn states" lobby. And another it is cheap and companies use it in almost every processed food. There is a lot of blame to go around. But that one thing is a huge part of this problem.
Here lately it is getting even worse because food prices are getting so high. Trying to eat healthy is getting harder to do. I don't buy a lot of highly processed foods. I try to cook with fresh veggies whenever possible. But it is getting more and more expensive to do so.I grow a garden in the summer and try to put by what I can, but I really don't have room to store enough to get through until the next harvest season. I feel bad for people with lots of kids and no space for a garden!
I think another point that was missed is the low income of people in the area. A lot of people are on food stamps which allows you to buy almost anything food wise in a grocery store. Chips, ice cream etc can be purchased.
@@humanbeing8400 - well, it'll go a lot less far buying whole foods vs processed box foods. Just take a full and frank look at the food system (including subsidies), follow up on what YT showed you - they weren't lyin'.
For me fast food is a treat, because it's more expensive than cooking (here in belgium at least). I have eaten fast food for 3 days now because I had leftovers and ate with friends but my stomach feels so bad lol I can't imagine eating it all the time and those people will probably have a lot of shortages in vitamins and so on☹️
I found you guys and your channel a couple of years ago and I just love your videos. You have made me think, you have taken me to places I would never have thought to go and talk to people I would never have met. Well done gentlemen. Pleas keep up the great work. Happy New Year.
It’s literally a false statement to say that fast food is cheaper than fresh produce. No one can tell me that fresh potatoes spinach carrots onions celery chicken pork costs more than eating at McDonald’s every meal. The numbers do not back this. The ppl who use this as an excuse most likely don’t actually know HOW to cook healthy affordable dishes. Those are two very different things
@5:28 you can see the Mexican bottles of Coca Cola that have the black octagon labeling for excess sugar or other unhealthy amounts of ingredients. Just thought it was funny to see that in this video.
I believe this is the very topic we needed to hear before the year ends. May it be an inspiration for the years to come ✨ Thank you for this, YesTheory❤
As a West Papuan live in Indonesia, fast food are very pricey here. It’s like a treat, at least for me. It’s cheaper to just buy raw ingredients like veggies, tofu, tempeh, rice, sweet potato. Also the Indonesian diet is very healthy like gado-gado or lotek that consist of many veggies and ricecake. But Indonesian worst food culture is gorengan (fritters) we fry everything with batter and there’s so much oil. Thankfull that you guys cover this issues.
When I listen to stories like these I feel so lucky to live in a country like Italy where food and health are essentially a cultural thing and no matter how hard companies try to break it, they fail!
I am from McAllen TX and I can tell you exactly why we are the fattest. 1. The food is the best, you combine TX BBQ and texmex cuisine you can smell the charcoal grill going in every neighborhood on the daily, and Stripes (Local Gas station) Tacos are the biggest best tasting food that is cheap/quick and convenient all types of buffets everywhere. 2.Genetics, We are 90% Hispanic on the boarder and tend to have a rounder structure lower in muscle and higher in fat (Most don't like to think about it but it's probably the biggest reason in the ranking. And 3. The love language down here is food. Sporting event? BBQ with all the fixings and an icechest of beer. Baby shower? Same. You want to do something nice? Bag of sweetbread. Went to church? Lets celebrate by going to eat after... ect.
Hello this is Alejandra. I am so beyond grateful to be given a platform for my voice to be heard. I am so passionate about this because my life has been an upwards struggle because of my relationship with food. Again thank you for hearing my story! It’s so possible to fight a good fight and end up alive and well!! We got this my friends.
Thank you so much for your words, for your empathy, and your perspective. ❤
You've got this girl!
thank you so much for your bravery and for sharing with us ❤
You're a total badass! Keep doing what you do and please don't stop! Feliz navidad :)
Thank you guys for allowing me to be a part of this important project! I hope it helps many.
Im so proud of Yes Theory for covering this. Very few dare to do it and with this large of a platform, it is so valuable. Thanks guys!!!
Thank you!! It's to be honest scary to bring up important topics like these, but we don't want fear to hold us back. We hope the stories of the people we met can inspire change for the greater good
@@YesTheoryrespect 📈
@@YesTheory I feel you had the responsibility to include actual obese individuals in this story, showcasing the raw realities of coming out of that lifestyle-the trials, tribulations, and triumphs. It’s through understanding and empathy, these that we foster meaningful change. Instead these comments have shown that Americans that don’t experience these issues are judgmental, rude and ignorant. They have their opinions and assumptions on obese people and they’re not afraid to speak them. I was just asked to show my visceral fat in a dexa scan without the person even knowing if im overweight by just my comment supporting that obese people deserve respect, let that sink in. Please look into how overweight celebs like Lizzo are bashed constantly while on weight loss journeys promoting health lifestyle just as much as when she was fat body positive, showcase all the evil and disgusting things average body people say in the comments of larger people just existing in the world. That is also a cause for a continuation of obesity and stigma surrounding obesity.
The real problem in 2024 is at 20$+ labor costs for most fast food workers it is far more expensive eating fast food that cooking(it's not 1987 amd labor is not 2.5$per hour any more.) With those statical figures in mind going forward there is no real excuse except addiction and laziness, which not only Americans are but most everyone that would do anything everyday, but on the flipside stop learning the moment the leave school even though the world changes more rapidly than ever every few years and now a days if your not educated literally ChatGPT in moments can do all the knowledge work you've amazed your entire life. Point is the world is much different today than the portrial of obesity in this video, but that's what happens I suppose when you say yes all day long, but never spend a moment really learning or understanding technical, social, and governmental action ls of things in a ever changing world and environment.
@@MeetJarred that was a hard read without much punctuations. I think I got the point of it. Here is my take. Your argument highlights some valid points about the changing costs of food, labor, and the pace of societal adaptation, but it misses key nuances regarding obesity and the broader systemic issues surrounding it.
First, while labor costs for fast-food workers have increased, this alone doesn’t make fast food unaffordable for everyone. Many people rely on it due to limited access to fresh groceries, insufficient kitchen facilities, or demanding schedules that leave little time for cooking. Labeling these choices as “addiction and laziness” oversimplifies complex socioeconomic and cultural factors, such as food deserts, lack of nutrition education, and the stressors of modern life.
Second, your critique about education is valid-lifelong learning is critical in an ever-evolving world. But assuming that most people are unmotivated or “lazy” is dismissive. Not everyone has equal access to resources or opportunities to further their education or adapt to change, especially when they are trapped in cycles of poverty, poor health, or systemic inequality.
Finally, while tools like ChatGPT can indeed democratize knowledge, they are not a substitute for lived experience or the social and emotional intelligence required to navigate real-world challenges. Technology is an asset, but it cannot resolve deeply ingrained issues like obesity or inequity without comprehensive action at individual, community, and governmental levels.
Rather than assigning blame, it’s more productive to acknowledge the complexity of these issues and advocate for solutions that address the root causes of poor health and societal stagnation, such as improving access to education, equitable healthcare, and community support systems. The world has changed significantly, but the solutions must be as inclusive and multifaceted as the problems themselves.
We need to keep this conversation going, thank you for making this video!
Exactly, agree that it's all about the conversation and helping each other! Thank you for your comment / Staffan
Yes, but we also can’t make excuses. Meal prepping is cheaper and by far healthier than buying pizza rolls and McDonald’s. More food quality for value by miles.
It’s boring, it takes maybe 2-3 hours a week. That’s it.
Sugary cereals and processed foods aren’t even cheap. The cheapest frozen pizza at my grocery store is $5. For that I can make a chicken and rice meal.
Nobody asked but over the last year and a half I went from weighing 295 lbs to 180 lbs through clean eating and exercise. It's true when people say it's 80% what you eat and 20% working out. I tried losing weight for 6 months by just exercising and eating the same crap I had always been but only lost 15 lbs. When I started taking my food choices more seriously, the lbs shed off inconceivably fast. For anyone going through this journey as well, keep your head up and keep grinding. The only obstacle in your way is yourself. When you truly want something, nothing can stop you
Great on you man! You are 100% correct. Not only what you eat, but how much your caloric intake is, can change someone’s quality of life 10 fold.
something that isn’t mentioned is when growing up people are trained to finish everything on their plate no matter. a habit like eating when you’re already full contributes a lot in my opinion
Maybe just don’t eat shit and don’t start a second plate
yep! i grew up very lower middle class and i was taught to eat everything on my plate, always
Nah.
My mother grew up during the depression and brought us up with this mentality. All 4 girls are 57, 58, 59 and none of us are overweight never mind obese.
Perhaps, but it depends how big your plate is. Most Americans have got a skewed idea of how much food constitutes a full meal. A small soda in a US McDonalds is bigger than a large in most of the rest of the world.
@@az55544that means literally nothing at all but K
George Orwell explains in Road to Wigan Pier, that when individuals are "underfed, harassed, bored, and miserable," they naturally seek out "something a little bit 'tasty'" to provide comfort. This often results in a diet centered around "white bread and margarine, corned beef, sugared tea, and potatoes," which he describes as "an appalling diet." The book was published in 1936
Yes!
I work for the City of McAllen and am a follower of your channel.
I’m glad you came down, and would have liked to have met you, but also not very proud of why you’re down here. 😂
“When America coughs, the world gets sick” a truly amazing quote to sum up the state of our world right now.
very ignorant thought yes
@@MrAlexq1Exactly what i thought lol
When America coughs up weapons and funds to Israel the whole world gets sick
This quote really stood out for me too.
Pardon, a weight epidemic was happening in the Caribbean Islands as well. Imports being costly, and sugar cane being a huge export in their economy had a good deal to do with that. Mid 1900's the malnutrition and poor health became noticeable.
Thank you so much for this video.I've sadly noticed that in my native country Trinidad and my country of residence the uk have both been affected massively with excessive consumerism as influenced by the USA. I honestly feel so grateful now when I receive a blue-collar balanced meal after seeing this. We need more awareness for the effects of the overconsumption of ultraprocessed foods and I truly hope that things can change for the better.
Amazing!
I have only been watching you guys for about 2 months now. I've gone back, and watched a tonne of your videos. And you never cease to make me smile, and warm my heart.
Today's episode was different
A message I have been trying to share for a long time!
Thank you!!
Thank you for thanking that lady for raising the next generation. It’s hard work that goes unseen, and under appreciated.
Exactly! So good to see this honest investigation. Good job, Yes Theory!
I adopted the mindset that good food is still cheaper than medical treatment due to cheap foods.
Please keep talking about this! We NEED to make changes now… it only gets harder “tomorrow”.
I almost completely removed processed foods 2 years ago and started feeling better almost immediately. Then I was able to incorporate exercise and life completely changed.
I understand the points made. I used to be 330 pounds. But I lost over 100 pounds in one year.
It was actually really simple. Mostly diet (no carbs) with minimal exercise thrown in.
We can blame others all we want. At the end of the day, adults are responsible for their lives. So make better decisions.
Grateful to live in the EU because of how many food regulations need companies to get through in order for it to come in our supermarkets and houses ! Supermarkets in the EU are nothing like the USA and we should be grateful for it !
In Germany Kindergartens they start serving organic self cooked food which I personally find very cool. I worked in a kindergarten where the stuff was totally aware of the connection between serving dessert with sugar and the kids not sleeping. When I lived in the US with 19/20 years I gained weight around 10 kg. 🙈
i’d like to get my few words out cause i also think it’s important for people to hear but i went from a totally health BMI and weight to having a BMI that now makes me overweight but it’s not from the food i was eating it was from the medication i was taking i was in a mental hospital for 2 months and gained almost half my body weight (50lb) in less then 60 days. It’s been 2 years and i’ve lost more then half the weight it’s taken a lot more time due to my depression and the impacts it has in my life
medication dont contain calories, it can change your metabolism, but at the end of the day it still is the food that makes you overweight, hence you shouldve cut down on the portions. unpopular fact.
@@Nhicki i was barely eating there but they were tracking my weight and said NOTHING to me about the significant weight gain in such a short time i had a friend there gain weight too but only 20lb it was the medications that were changing my body they actually quit literally ruined my body but they saved my life so i’m forever grateful. Please do your research because gaining weight is an actual side effect from a lot of anti depressants and such but it’s just depends on the person and how there body works.
@@Nhicki if there are medications that help you lose weight, there are also medications to help you gain weight. and a lot of medications that deal with hormones make people gain weight. your body might start absorbing more water and retaining it, some medications make it so you process and store sugar and other nutrients differently. theres tons of research out there to prove medications DO cause weight gain even if your diet and exercise hasn't changed.
Lmfao okay buddy. @Nhicki
@@Nhicki exactly but people wanna make excuses for everything bro ... like why is bro even on meds knowing meds is another issue lol big pharma. They dont give you meds to cure you its to keep you in the loop.
this is definitely a conversation we need to keep having for a long time to make changes, thank u guys for covering it in such a compassionate and honest manner
Thank you Yes Fam! My dad has been dealt terrible heath scares this year and the leading cause was food. He was just barely overweight but the over processed foods destroyed his colon. Its not widely talked about what the stores are selling us, after reading every label in the store to determine what is safe and whats not, we eat most meats rice veggies and fruits. Something terrible is happening right in front of our eyes and Americans are not fighting hard enough because they don’t even know this is a fight we have to fight. We continue to blindly put our trust in to the government and those whom control our food and products.
Thank you for making this video. I’m someone that grew up in Vermont. I’ve never experienced a fast food and drive-through based lifestyle in my younger years. This is very abnormal to me. I live and work in Texas now. It still seems like an alien way of life. It also brings awareness to the problems you’ve pointed out.
I work in granting health benefits for military veterans in the U.S.. It is sad when the veterans develop obesity because it will often prevent them from receiving healthcare for disabilities such as diabetes. A lot of patients don’t realize this or refuse to accept this fact. If high sugar and high fat calorie foods with a lack of physical activity lead to a chronic disability later in life and the government won’t want to help with the treatment of it. It doesn’t matter if the lack of treatment leads to the loss of a limb or cancer. It ultimately comes down to placing the fault of the individual’s choices.
In the end this is a problem the government and tax paying citizens have to deal with. I agree something should be done to limit cheap processed food. Especially the amount of added sugar. A little extra urban panning could go a long way. Disabilities like diabetes are terrible and they can be prevented in so many people. In the end we are paying for it more by not addressing it early. We should care more about this problem.
A clear understanding of the chemicals in food & addiction (including to sugar), should be part of the educational process starting in kindergarten and every year through high school (so should personal finance, basic mechanics, growing food, PR/Marketing/Propaganda, comparative religion & critical thinking). Those things aren't in the corporate interests though.
I struggled with Obesity pretty much my entire life. I started a healthy lifestyle in July of this year, and have lost about 106 pounds since then utilizing Water Fasting and Keto. In October, I challenged myself to a 40 day water fast and succeeded, having lost most of my weight during that time. I am still losing weight to this day. Only 50 pounds to go, and I'll hit my goal weight. I think there's not enough education about the relationship between food and your body. Once I did my research and understand what goes into making food, I make my own meals. I refuse to eat anything that's not made by me because I don't know what is being put in the food
That's awesome! I did low carb 20 years ago and lost a 100 pounds. I do carnivore and it's definitely next level. I feel 20 again.
Congrats man, tho I wouldn't suggest any 40 day water only fast there are better more safe ways, patience is key
Congratulations! Keep going
this is amazing!!!!! You took everything into your own hands and changed YOUR life. I love your accountability and love what you're doing. congrats on your success and please for the love of god don't ever go back.
This one hits home for me. I am currently in the process of losing weight. I was 302lbs at the beginning of June. Right now, I am at 240lbs, and I feel so much better. Less depression, more energy, clearer thinking, and even higher libido lol. I think moving my mindset towards meal preping and going to the gym has made a world of difference. My drive for it has developed with seeing the results on the scale. Nutrition and cooking healthy meals should be a priority in school curiculum. They should teach budgeting with groceries in school as well. These lifestyle skills are some of the most important things people should learn, and our schools are not prioritizing them. If you are in a similar position as I was, just take the steps forward to make the change and make it as easy as you can. It will be the best decision you will ever make for yourself.
A major solution is gardening. Individual, neighborhood, school and community gardens can grow a lot of food for almost nothing. Add water collection and people can self sustain.
Totally agree. Community gardening could do a ton to help people source healthy food.
For me, fast food requires you to drive out, wait in line, order, and get your car all smelly (and I don't like delivery cause I don't trust drivers handling my food and fees are expensive). A one-stop shop at the grocery store is good for the whole week and I rather just stay home and put that effort into cooking and meal prepping. I don't like going out of my way after work to go somewhere, I want to go straight home and stay home. It's definitely a perspective you have to change, too.
The hard thing about places like McAllen is that most people live significantly closer to at least 5 fast food places than they do to 1 grocery store. And because poverty is so high, they can t afford to buy a weeks worth of groceries because they are literally living day to day. A friend of mine from McAllen sent me a job advertisement awhile ago and the business was paying $7.50 an hour. Stuff like that makes it hard for people to even have time or opportunity to change their mindset. While I agree that a mindset change is important, you should also know that many people in places like McAllen don’t have the luxury of buying a weeks worth of groceries or eating healthier like you do.
It's great that some people enjoy shopping for fresh ingredients and spending time preparing them. Hurray for them. I'm just not one of them and have no interest in becoming one of them. I can't stand grocery stores (stinky/perfumey people, screeching children, etc.) and *_FOR ME_* cooking is just tedious, time consuming and TOTALLY uninteresting. I *really do understand* how some people find great joy and reward in the whole foodie/cooking thing. Strangely, however, they tend to not understand how it simply does not fascinate me the way it does them. Even less likely is me spending my time in a garden playing farmer. It just ain't gonna happen for me, but you do you. That's just the way it is. Forgive me, or not, I really don't care.
If affordable, convenient, healthy options that didn't taste like grass, mold, fungus cardboard or dirt were available, I'd eat them.
@@StubbyPhillips I hope this changes one day for you. The benefits are just so much more apparent when you do this. Ive lost 60lbs so far, and I see them all the time. You can eat healthy without making it a food specticle. I usually just meal prep meat/veggie mixes that go with different dishes(93-7 ground turkey/chicken mixed with peppers, onions, brocolli, seasonings, etc) and make rice/ beans, salads with greek yogurt dressing, or buy whole grain Pita bread/english muffins once a week. Best advice I have gotten is make it as easy as you possibly can for yourself. Buy frozen fruits/veggies if it helps you save money. A lot of times, I go to the grocery store later in the evening so I miss the crowds. It is a change, but the benefits will come back to you tenfold if you do.
I get it. I’ve lived through the struggles of being low-income, trying to make better choices when it feels like the world around you is set up to keep you stuck in unhealthy cycles. It’s overwhelming, because so much overlaps-what you eat, where you live, what you can afford-and all of it affects your health. But the truth is, small steps do matter. Whether it’s making a meal from scratch, choosing fruit over candy, or going for a walk around my block, every step counts. And those small actions, over time, create real change.
We live in a country where fast food chains fill every corner, but vacant lots could have been community gardens. Why? Because America is a business, and our health is often the price we pay for profit. But here's what I believe: when we take intentional action, no matter how small, it ripples out. Self-love and showing up for ourselves are the foundation. The more we practice self-love, the more we’re able to show up for those closest to us-whether it’s our children, our families, or our friends. That’s how we begin to create the community we need, one that’s intentional and connected, rather than driven by convenience or profit.
In a country where convenience is marketed as the easier and better option, it’s hard to make intentional choices. But starting with any small change, no matter how small it seems, creates a ripple effect. That ripple grows, and eventually, it can change the course of your life and inspire others to do the same.
Thank you for making this video. As a father of two young daughters, i have recently taken an active interest in the health of my family. Both my children are fed at school twice a day and when I ask what they had for breakfast/lunch, they invariably tell me "pizza or chicken nuggets or pasta". All of which are processed or high in starch, which equates to glucose spikes in the body. This in turn creates insulin resistance = diabetes. The most incredible resource of info I found to combat this is from the Glucose Goddess aka Jessie Inchauspé, a French Bio Chemist. She suggests a few bio hacks which anybody can follow, regardless of financial means. They are so simple. I have been following her guidance now for two weeks and my own results have been amazing. It's been touch and go with the kids, but they are slowly adapting to eating a bowl of greens before anything else in the morning; even if it's just a few cherry tomatoes. The fibre protects you from sugars and starches the whole day and therefore glucose spikes which is the basis of obesity and all food related illness. Love & Power to all!!
Amazing that the channel is doing this !
I remember as a kid when our lunches in school drastically changed. There was a diverse option of food. Sure they had pizza, but it wasn't the only option. There was fresh fruit that was actually fresh. I grew up in an area known for our apples. Then into middle school everything changed. There was no more diverse options for lunch. It was this one thing that tasted awful and if you didn't eat it tough luck. The fresh fruit we had turned into inedible rot. Again, the region was known for our apples. At minimum you'd expect there to be fresh apples. Not even the apples were fresh anymore. It was just unhealthy slob. I ended up stop eating lunch outright at school. Either you ate the unhealthy filth. Or you starved. Which I was more than willing to wait till I got home to eat.
With that said, I am based off the flawed metric known as BMI overweight. And I know I am. But part of me does wonder how I would be now if I ate the filth they served us as a kid. How bad could it have gotten?
Portion sizes are a major issue in America. Anytime I go to an actual restaurant where entrees range from 15-30 bucks, I’m always amazed at the sheer size of portions. The breakfast restaurant industry is the epitome of this. Three eggs, two pancakes, two slices of sausage, a muffin for 11.99. But as you go to nicer restaurants, spending anywhere around 35-50 per entree, it seems the portions are more on the normal side.
As a sequel, you could look into the meat industry in America. Many don’t realize that cattle bred in America, most of that meat does not make it to your dinner table. Most of the meat americans consume is imported. And more and more, it is being imported from farms in Brazil where the Amazon is essentially being chopped down in order to meet the growing demands of American meat consumers. There are one or two companies that have literally dozens of smaller companies underneath them, so tracking this issue is difficult. If you were to try. If you were to find a company raising cattle in the Amazon, it is not as easy as saying “ok, not eating their meat anymore” because they will more than likely have several other companies under their umbrella doing the same thing. Also, kids. Kids these days are growing up in this world + staying indoors. They don’t go outside and run around and play outside nearly as much anymore. Leading to a very high percentage of childhood obesity.
if you really wanted to go down a rabbit hole, wanted to dig even deeper, look into local municipalities working with local farmers as a way to put waste water to use. A lot of farms are utilizing utility company waste water as a mechanism for irrigation, essentially spoiling the soil. For example, a few farms in Michigan have been shut down due to how toxic their land has become. Forever chemicals being found in the soil where they are growing crops.
If we venture further into this rabbit hole, take a look at the sheer amount of foods and products that use palm oil and coconut oil. It is nearly impossible to avoid, if you wanted to. Most all popcorn brands, most all soap brands use palm oil. For example.
Proper unrefined 🌴 and 🥥 oils are actually pretty good, that's the funny part.
This is incredibly interesting for me to compare it with Europe, specifically Czech Republic, where I live. While fast food restaurants are increasingly popular, their main attractiveness comes from them being convenient when one is too busy to cook. However, they are actually quite expensive for us. All of these people in the video mention fast foods as being more affordable then a healthy home cooked meal which is not even close to the truth in my country.
They are quite expensive in the US too, grocery shopping and cooking is way cheaper. The problem is that there isnt a culture of cooking in relatively poor areas, so people dont have the will or knowledge to cook. The myth that fastfood is cheaper than healthy food is nothing more than a lie, and Im dissappointed in Yes Theory for promoting it, when its very unscientific and doesnt delve into the actual problem.
It's not true in the US either. People just like to say that cause it makes them feel better about their bad choices.
Many are just too lazy to cook and then clean it all up. Fast food is easy and everywhere.
Thanks for your replies. That’s pretty insane!
@@lubb213 Poor people know how to cook.. they get thousands of dollars in food stamps. Everything is a choice.
Wouldn’t be a perfect Sunday without a yes theory upload
The amount of oversimplification in the comments is depressing, particularly from people who are in health care. In the U.S., the Ag Bill plays an outsized role in food costs and obesity, and is largely ignored/not on the radar of citizens. It's the reason that foods like ramen and tortillas are dramatically cheaper than fresh produce. We subsidize farms to grow commodity crops like grains, soy, dairy, and less than five percent of those subsidies go to production of fresh produce. People claiming that "anyone can eat healthy, they are just being lazy" are privileged and delusional. Ozempic has been shining a light on the complexity of obesity and the over-simplification of traditional approaches from the medical field. It's a complex issue, and it is directly tied to income in most cases. We have a system and an infrastructure that encourages obesity in low income areas.
Meal prep takes some discipline, tenacity, perseverance, and planning ahead. It is a habit that requires dedicated focused conscious effort every day.
So true. And, one person doing it well for an entire family is a part time job in itself.
Being someone who only eats kosher has always made me grateful that I cant eat at most fast food restaurants. Having to make my own food for every meal definitely makes you healthier in general.
I'm an American living in Mexico. Now don't get me wrong, Mexico is one of the fattest countries too, but for slightly different reasons, in my opinion. I can walk almost everywhere here in Mexico. Ultra processed foods are not lining the shelves at your average grocery store (tv dinners, frozen pizzas, etc. are almost non-existent). While American fast food chains are prevalent here, you are mostly going to eat something homemade on your average day...and made with fresh ingredients. The problems in Mexico are the following: allowing Americanization, corner stores every 5 ft (aka, easy access to candy and snack cakes), portion sizes, and very high consumption of animal products that are cooked with too much salt and fried, even if it shouldn't be fried (like why does soup need oil??). While the US and Mexico have similar obesity rates, the obese Americans are way more obese than the obese Mexicans.
We have know what is causing it for years. The low fat diet craze only piled on sugar. Fat isn't the issue. Sugar and corn syrup are.
And whole food keto can fix it.
Sugar and refined carbs are the enemy
Too many calories, not enough movement.
@@humanbeing8400 movement would not solve anything. it's calories wholeheartedly. humans are MADE to store fat and efficiently use energy. you'll lose weight for a while then plateau again. you need to eat less to lose weight. caloric deficit is the only way.
exercising helps you in numerous other ways, but it does not help your weight long term. check out Kurzgesagt's videos on it.
@@humanbeing8400 Not all calories affect the body the same.
I'm a Lupus Warrior. As I've gotten older, I'm 65, my chronic health issues and age, have extremely limited my mobility. My diet is horrible now, anything easy to prepare or no prep. The elderly, disabled and poor in the US have the worst diets!
Have you seen what they get in nursing homes?? It's stunningly bad.
I'm from the RGV and it's a weekly issue trying to figure out what we can go out and do with our kids because all we have are restaurants. The vast majority of us here are also Hispanic and our foods aren't necessarily the healthiest. If you look into it you'll also notice that the surrounding cities are some of the poorest in the state of Texas as well and fast/cheap food is easily accessible here.
Thank you for this. I have a 4 year old granddaughter who is being fed lunch and snacks at school that her parents would rarely or ever promote. I'm astonished that schools think processed food support a learning environment and feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the situation. I'd like to think I could have a positive effect within the system, but this is a big city with complicated politics and I don't really know where to begin. I'm inspired to try, though. Thanks again.
There's a book called The Omnivore's Dilemma that's all about where our food comes from and what's in it. It completely changed how I view the food in grocery stores and made me want to choose my food differently than I had been.
Recently moved from a city suburb to a more rural town for work. I am legitimately going to start growing some greens in my studio apartment because the produce here is so terrible. Makes total sense why people don't eat more of it in rural America.
and the produce is often contaminated with listeria or e coli bacteria
" Production line "...what an intelligent sentence !
Thats exactly what is happening from the moment
a new human steps into this earth.
From birth untill death everything is fixed...
Thats how dairy , meat and veggie farms are running...
If you just stand as a mirror in front of human societys
you can see clearly society is farming human beings
As a person who lives in McAllen, we do see your point and I’m super stocked to see y’all in my hometown and shining a light into these topics. Like you said it’s not just on city it’s American, where we are taught that this is the norm because it’s more about the business aspect.
You see is that we eat so much processed foods, you get sick you go get medical help, and they help just to fix it temporarily and then you go back again all while the hospitals get paid, and along with the government who make more money. Which technically is like the saying, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
Hi, im going to look through your recipes. Its so encouraging that you take expense into what you are putting together for us. I cant usually afford healthy foods for my kids.
Thank you so much for covering this Yes Theory.
I am so passionate about solving this issue.
Make America Healthy Again!
Thank you for making this video. Its abt time someone shines a light on this problem
im from Monterrey, México..... 2 hours from mcallen..... mostly every citizen with high adquisitive position go to mcallen to go "fast shopping" but that also includes indulging in chain restaurants that are not in mexico. Theres TONS of bunch of sugary, greasy, etc... options EVERYWHERE in mcallen, it´s overwhelming.......
Definitely a different type of discomfort this time, but a welcome conversation to be had. Thanks for the exposé!
So good to see YT cover this huge issue...and with my favorite health podcaster too!
This is an issue that needs more awareness. Thank you for putting this together.
I live in Finland and a pack of macaroni costs 0,40€ and theres is enough for 2-4 meals and tuna fish, meatballs and noodles on similar price range (even tho not very healthy either) thats what i eat when i dont have lots of money. Fast food is a luxury and I eat it only when I get more money during a good month. Thats why its weird to hear that fast food is the most affordable compared to cooked cheap meals. Maybe the prices are very different in America I have not lookied into it.
Finally have feeling that Yes theory is shifting back :) nicely done
The school lunch issue is incredibly complicated and the primary issue is in fact in funding. Funding for the National School Lunch Program gives a grand total of $4 to schools for each free meal given to students that qualify. This $4 has to stretch to not only cover the food but cover the costs of transportation, storage, and preparation of that food. This also has to cover the wages of those preparing the food. Schools teach children how to eat healthily, it’s part of national health curriculum. Students know how to eat well, they simply do not have the option available to them. The issue is in a lack of federal support for the Department of Education. Students living in poverty cannot easily opt out of these meals as these are often their most reliable source of nutrition. The issue is in the governmental structure, not in personal choices of children that are victims of the system. This video is not focused on this issue, but I think we cannot talk about school lunches as if they are part of this larger problem when they are in fact a product of the federal government’s lack of care and consideration for the wellbeing of this country’s children and their education.
Don't blame "the government", blame CONGRESS - they make the laws & fund the programs that the government administers. It ALL starts from Congress, which is more afraid of the oligarchs and corporations than of the people they're supposed to serve.
@ 1000% congress is complicit in this
As an RDN, hispanic households staple foods are cheaper and high in carbs, flour tortillas, 3 to 4 times a day is not good. Sodas consumptions is probably higher than most and nutrition knowledge deficit is also a major contributor.
I absolutely hated school food. It was almost impossible to get a healthy meal. They would dump this nasty processed food into us and then get mad that we would crash and fall asleep in class after lunch.
I'm so gratefull chanells like this exist . You are wonderfull . Manny Blessings .
We also have little to zero idea how plastics in our bodies have been affecting our hormones for decades.
No freaking way that yall were here in my hometown McAllen,Tx 🤯🤯🤯
Perfect timing for RFK JR!!! MAHA!!
Di you think the oligarch running the once & future president are going to allow industry to suffer on behalf of people's health? RFK is like a stopped clock, right twice/day - bringing back polio isn't gonna fix anything, and most people don't have vehicles/freezers big enough to collect & store dead bear cubs.
Even here in South Africa it’s expensive to eat healthier but fast food is quickly becoming more expensive so it’s becoming cheaper to cook at home even if what you are cooking isn’t “healthy” it’s still cheaper.
I love watching y’all’s channel thank you for working so hard to make these amazing videos!!
So good! It was amazing getting to help out and shoot the interview with Dr. Casey Means. Keep up the amazing work, Yes Theory team!
Thank you for helping brother ✊🏽🙏🏽
@@YesTheory absolutly anytime 🤘
Wow to find out it’s in the city I grew up in is so crazy I wouldn’t ever think Yes Theory would go
nah fr😂
Something very few people talk about is food banks and feed America food bags for kids. 90% of items available for those struggling to eat that they receive from places offering to help are packed with preservatives and unhealthy sugar.
They get thousands of dollars in food stamps. They can buy vegetables and fruit.
AND people have no idea how to cook whole foods (and many don't even have the equipment to do so).
Affordable choices are the problem, not the fast food
This is a lie, its much cheaper to buy groceries and make food than it is to buy a $15 menu from mcdonalds three times a day. Many studies have shown this, not that you need studies to know that if youve ever made your own food and think for a couple seconds. Its a cultural problem within poor areas, which unfortunately is hard to fix and which is also quite profitable for these companies. However these companies really arent at fault, its the culture that is at fault.
Wrong. Healthy food has been and always will be cheaper per calorie. People are just lazy, and the big corporations take advantage.
not true at all. i use to do hello fresh- basically they deliver meals to you. each meal sits between 10-12 dollars. if you go fast food you will easily pay close to the same thing. i can walk into publix right now and buy an order of fresh made sushi which is miles healthier then any fast food for 8 bucks. please stop talking and spreading bs. and fyi i use to be legally obese. i stopped drinking soda (which is the big killer) and stopped going out to eat as much and ive lost 30 pounds in the last 5 months and have gone from 225 to sitting between 185-190 pounds i know way more about diet and food options then most.
i can easily plan you a week of good quality meals for the same cost that it would be to go out to fast food. that argument is just an excuse. the real problem is people are lazy. they dont want to spend the time shopping, they dont want to spend the time cooking a meal, then having to clean dishes, people dont want to spend time looking at all their options.
@@zesolodar Whaaat? Have u heard of supermarkets? U can buy raw food for cheap! Just be organized and not lazy
I can survive off of $180 of ground beef a month. Even with it bring sky high right now. And carnivore gives me perfect health.
I’m so happy that the yes theory crew are of different origins (including US). But for this topic in particular I’m grateful for Ammar and the fact he has experienced US but he is NOT from there. What he said about the US being the largest exporter of culture is so true. I realise it’s not groundbreaking, but even so, people aren’t speaking about the damage that America does to itself and how the ripples go way beyond its borders causing victims elsewhere as well.
I've learned a few things in the few years I have roamed this earth. Most people already know the "right thing" but struggle to do the "right thing" particularly when it comes to lifestyle choices and habits. Which is why it makes sense that these food industry tycoons are being blamed for being manipulative, because they understand once certain habits are established they're hard to break. But in all honesty, the reality is, what Yes Theory has covered will unfortunately rob people of their own agency or ability to choose, despite the being another source of information about the right thing. Because the likely scenario is that when people have someone or something else to blame for their own choices, they will absolve themselves of the accountability over their livelihood, "it's McDonald's fault I am so fat, with their evil scheme" and not "well, I, John, chose to eat a burger today, so I, John am responsible for the consequences"
So in all reality with this video along with countless other sources which have made themselves open and available, people are now, more than ever, far more responsible for their caloric intake, exercise, diet, etc.. especially in a world where regardless of if some Ihop is unhealthy for Americans, people in another country would gladly be thankful that stack of pancakes. The privileged need to take a lot more responsibility for their health, and even on the idea of it, despite it being a morbid thought, you're gonna die anyway. Live healthily to enjoy as much as life as you can but not because you want to escape an inescapable reality, do it because you value a lot more than just "trying to live a long life".
I respect the idea of accountability. We are all accountable for what we choose to do. What if you didn't have a choice, though? Supposing that the ultra-processed food in supermarkets was all you could afford. Additionally, that food is as addictive as possible. We don't blame drug addicts for being addicts, but we do blame food addicts. No one needs to take hard drugs, but everyone has to eat to live. It is vicious and cruel what food lobbyists, in conjunction with big pharma has done to millions of people. We all tend to eat what and how our parents did. Just imagine two or three generations of people who grew up on boxed macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. What does "healthy eating" even mean to them? It's very hard to break the habit of easy "instant food" and teach an adult to like veggies, drink water and avoid over-processed carbs. There are socio-economics at play, not just "take responsibility."
@ my point is, if that’s all you can afford, eat it while being aware of how much of what you eat. You can control that. The world is far more dynamic than the black and white perspective about the net effect of eating what you can afford depending on how you structure your diet. I guess because we live in different societies and with different realities our perspectives will differ but where I am from we def blame addicts for their addiction. I can’t speak to how empathetic that is or even helpful but where I live people definitely don’t have them as “blameless” and it’s the same for this particular topic. My country is poor, we eat what we can, we know the food sucks, so we do what we can however we can to manage the portions. Some people go overboard of course but that’s not because they can’t manage it better, it’s because that’s simply their choice.
Yeah, I refuse to believe that obese people don't realize that eating an extra large Arby's meal is going to be less healthy than a baked chicken with vegetables. They aren't stupid, they just struggle with accountability.
i don't think most people know what the "right thing" is considering there's still a major stigma against saturated fats and dietary cholesterol
the basics, sure, but not the specifics
Go walk in a single mom with 3 kids and a full time job's shoes for a year then talk to us about personal responsibility and choice. Most of that heavily researched addictive & subsidized chemical mess Americans eat shouldn't even exist as a choice, it's toxic. But it makes $ for the shareholders & the politicians they bought.
Super amazing conversation! Would love to hear about more solutions like growing your own produce to reduce demands at stores and receive higher quality foods!!
It's a systemic failure unfortunately especially with people like Virgie Tovar preaching that being fat is a good thing and you don't need to be healthy or in shape. But the solution is in fact, not only educate yourself, but eat less and move more. If you're addicted to heroin, the solution is to fight the addiction and stop consuming it. Not justify its use.
Exactly.. yes there are fast food places everywhere but there are also bars everywhere and we aren't all drunks... or fat. Fast food was never meant to be a lifestyle. It was meant to be something you grabbed if you had no other choice. Going to McDonalds was a treat for us back in the 80s. We went like once a month and I would get excited each time. Of course now they are pretty gross now but they were a lot better in the 80s.
This is incredibly interesting for me to compare it with Europe, specifically Czech Republic, where I live. While fast food restaurants are increasingly popular, their main attractiveness comes from them being convenient when one is too busy to cook. However, they are actually quite expensive for us. All of these people in the video mention fast foods as being more affordable then a healthy home cooked meal which is not even close to the truth in my country. In fact fast food is more of a treat here, and when you are low on cash, you are “punished” by needing to cook. While cheaper ingredients can also be quite unhealthy, it is not as bad as the fast food diet in America.
It's the same in America. Two pounds of bananas is the same price as the cheapest value item, and a pound of flour is cheap too. Not sure wtf they are talking about.
@ then perhaps they just “believe” fast food is the cheapest option because they were told so. But it is quite strange they use it as an excuse without actually testing the expense of a home cooked meal.
Anyway, the horrors of a high school cantine are truly terrifying compared to cantines I am used to (which are unhealthy, but seemingly a paradise compared to what was shown in this video)
@@davidstehlik5365 CNBC did a report on "Why fast food has gotten so expensive" and it reveals a lot about how fast food is becoming unaffordable for folks in the lower income bracket. I think a lot of people equate eating healthy to a meal of organic superfoods, which is indeed very expensive.
@@Zero-hs5txyes, but that is not what healthy food has to be.
@AYVYN I guess that's often a problem in such discussions. Do people who say cooking fresh would be more expensive really cook the natural way with fresh organic goods, or do they use a lot of convenience / industrial prepared products which are a) not healthy again and b) often much more expensive due to advertisement / branding?
I see the same sometimes here in Europe when people discuss groceries prices. Here in Germany they're luckily pretty cheap compared to many other countries (especially when considering the average income), but many people who complain about rising prices are often so fixed on industrial branded stuff where they just waste their money for big marketing. Or the weird trend of cooking boxes, where they pay much higher prices for tiny potions.
Also a lot gets easier and cheaper by cooking larger volumes.
Amazing video. Thank you for using your platform to raise awareness and educate our communities
never heard anyone answer the question, that yes if the "unhealthy" foods are more calorie dense and the point is to save money (which i also doubt people just wont admit that its tasty and the cheap alternatives that are healthier arent as pleasant), then why dont they just eat one or two meals a day. its litterally a choice, sure its harder the tastier and more accessible it is. im not saying dont have compassion for people who struggle with obesity, but acting like yes men arround them feels like enabling their addiction like any other and is morally corrupt in my book.
You missed the point entirely, maybe on purpose?
Thank you for taking us on all your amazing adventures and explorations! It’s been a great year for you! ❤
This is SUCH an important conversation. Now if only TH-cam would put this on trending. Another great video, Yes team!
Thank you for the links!! Especially the exercise ones. Something you can do at home without equipment, and time efficient!!!
I remember watching a series where Jamie Oliver came to the US to help improve the quality of school lunches as he had been doing in the UK but parents became very angry and defensive that he was trying to tell them how to feed their children, it was very sad to watch.......
Yep, "America first, even if it kills us and our kids"... that was so sad.
love that you guys are highlighting this problem. well done x
when i found you guys, years ago, i was living on the road and absolutely thought i was SOOOO not your demographic. no longer true - you have a huge demographic and it's good to be here. never.stop.
thank you for this video and merry christmas to all of you and your families..God bless in the new year
When I shop online for my groceries and type in ‘healthy’ the first page is covered in processed foods.
Good end of the weekend watch right here, ty!
I support you guys doing more kinds of journalism vs pursuing your "Yes Theory." Keep both sides, but this is clearly where Amars heart is right now. He wants to help make change in different ways, and on a larger scale.
As a German I can't understand how going to a fast food restaurant can be cheaper than cooking yourself. I pay food for 1 or 2 day for like 10€ in the supermarket.
Their fast food chain restaurants are much cheaper than the same ones in EU. Mac, here in Croatia costs more than a decent meal in a restaurant.
They serve subsidized chemical stews that are heavily researched to increase addiction, that's how.
A huge part of that problem is Corn Fructose. Almost every food you buy in the store has that in it. And it is notoriously fattening. One reason nothing is done about it is the "Corn states" lobby. And another it is cheap and companies use it in almost every processed food. There is a lot of blame to go around. But that one thing is a huge part of this problem.
Here lately it is getting even worse because food prices are getting so high. Trying to eat healthy is getting harder to do. I don't buy a lot of highly processed foods. I try to cook with fresh veggies whenever possible. But it is getting more and more expensive to do so.I grow a garden in the summer and try to put by what I can, but I really don't have room to store enough to get through until the next harvest season. I feel bad for people with lots of kids and no space for a garden!
I think another point that was missed is the low income of people in the area. A lot of people are on food stamps which allows you to buy almost anything food wise in a grocery store. Chips, ice cream etc can be purchased.
So can meat, vegetables and fruit. It's all a choice.
@@humanbeing8400 - well, it'll go a lot less far buying whole foods vs processed box foods. Just take a full and frank look at the food system (including subsidies), follow up on what YT showed you - they weren't lyin'.
For me fast food is a treat, because it's more expensive than cooking (here in belgium at least). I have eaten fast food for 3 days now because I had leftovers and ate with friends but my stomach feels so bad lol I can't imagine eating it all the time and those people will probably have a lot of shortages in vitamins and so on☹️
I found you guys and your channel a couple of years ago and I just love your videos. You have made me think, you have taken me to places I would never have thought to go and talk to people I would never have met. Well done gentlemen. Pleas keep up the great work. Happy New Year.
appreciate all that you guys do!!
It’s literally a false statement to say that fast food is cheaper than fresh produce. No one can tell me that fresh potatoes spinach carrots onions celery chicken pork costs more than eating at McDonald’s every meal. The numbers do not back this. The ppl who use this as an excuse most likely don’t actually know HOW to cook healthy affordable dishes. Those are two very different things
@5:28 you can see the Mexican bottles of Coca Cola that have the black octagon labeling for excess sugar or other unhealthy amounts of ingredients. Just thought it was funny to see that in this video.
Crazy how they warn you in Mexico but here in the US they just expect you to understand it isn’t healthy
Mexican Coca-Cola contains pure cane sugar, which isn't ideal, in the least but is better than highly fructose corn syrup.
You guys are doing amazing work. I love watching your content. Keep it up!
I believe this is the very topic we needed to hear before the year ends. May it be an inspiration for the years to come ✨
Thank you for this, YesTheory❤
I'm from mission tx it's so crazy to see we've made it to a yes theory video but about being the most obese city in the world 😂
As a West Papuan live in Indonesia, fast food are very pricey here. It’s like a treat, at least for me. It’s cheaper to just buy raw ingredients like veggies, tofu, tempeh, rice, sweet potato. Also the Indonesian diet is very healthy like gado-gado or lotek that consist of many veggies and ricecake. But Indonesian worst food culture is gorengan (fritters) we fry everything with batter and there’s so much oil. Thankfull that you guys cover this issues.
When I listen to stories like these I feel so lucky to live in a country like Italy where food and health are essentially a cultural thing and no matter how hard companies try to break it, they fail!
This is actually crazy, there has to be a limit
Good message, tip of the many layers of lies that surround us and that we need to reveal, so to live way better than it is now.
I am from McAllen TX and I can tell you exactly why we are the fattest. 1. The food is the best, you combine TX BBQ and texmex cuisine you can smell the charcoal grill going in every neighborhood on the daily, and Stripes (Local Gas station) Tacos are the biggest best tasting food that is cheap/quick and convenient all types of buffets everywhere. 2.Genetics, We are 90% Hispanic on the boarder and tend to have a rounder structure lower in muscle and higher in fat (Most don't like to think about it but it's probably the biggest reason in the ranking. And 3. The love language down here is food. Sporting event? BBQ with all the fixings and an icechest of beer. Baby shower? Same. You want to do something nice? Bag of sweetbread. Went to church? Lets celebrate by going to eat after... ect.