Isles top fast-food spender in nation
 |
StoryChat: Comment on this story |
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
|
||
 |
|
|
Folks in Hawai'i spent an average of $609 per person at fast-food restaurants in 2002 — more than the residents of any other state — according to U.S. Census data released yesterday.
But don't give up on our arteries just yet. It turns out that the census people counted more than just drive-through burgers and fried-food emporiums in their tally. Hawai'i came in tops when the federal number crunchers calculated the per capita amount purchased for all take-out food.
So that includes the international buffet of take-out: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, salads, and more. And state health director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said that information puts a whole different look to what's for dinner in Hawai'i.
"When you hear (the survey data) a lot of people will think of McDonald's only, those hamburger places," Fukino said. "But here in Hawai'i, fast food is much more diverse."
She said she isn't surprised that many of us opt for the convenience of ready-to-eat food, whether it's a bowl of chicken pho, grilled fish with tossed salad or more traditional fare.
"It really is a reflection in some ways of how we have to live in Hawai'i with two wage-earners in a family and sometimes three," she said. But while the popularity of convenient food has been growing, so has the variety, Fukino said.
People are choosing to eat healthier and many restaurants offer healthy options. In recent years, healthier options have become routine: "There will be tossed salad, brown rice, more mixtures of vegetables and fruits that are available no matter where the individual is purchasing their food."
Fukino said the state strives to encourage healthier food and more exercise in a step-by-step manner and not an extreme switchover. "It's a gradual process of educating your taste buds," she said.
The economic census is conducted every five years — those ending in 2 and 7.
Other states spend much less on take-out with folks in Kentucky forking over $498 each year and those in Tennessee spending $474 annually. And the people of Vermont spent less than half of what we did: $263 a year.
As for the census takers, they point out that every state leads the nation at something:
SNACK TIPS
The state Health Department puts out a variety of tips for healthier living, including recipes that can be found online at www.healthyhawaii.com
Here are 10 of their snack tips:
1. Store cleaned, cut-up vegetables, including bell pepper strips and broccoli, in the fridge at eye level and keep a low-fat or fat-free dip on hand.
2. Try baked tortilla chips with black bean and corn salsa.
3. Stash bags of dried fruit at your desk for a convenient snack.
4. Try hummus and whole wheat pitas.
5. Keep a bowl of fruit on your desk or counter.
6. Drink a fruit smoothie made with whole fruit, ice cubes and low-fat or fat-free yogurt.
7. Top a cup of fat-free or low-fat yogurt with sliced fresh fruit.
8. For quick and easy snacks, stock up on fresh, dried, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables.
9. Pick up ready-packed salad greens from the produce shelf for a quick salad any time.
10. Encourage your child to choose his or her own fruit when shopping.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
From the editor: StoryChat was designed to promote and encourage healthy comment and debate. We encourage you to respect the views of others and refrain from personal attacks or using obscenities. By clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. |
