In today's culture, people judge food based on its convenience and taste. Processed and fast foods are quick, easy, and taste pretty good. Children, in particular, enjoy fast food and packaged snacks. Although this may seem like a good solution in this fast-paced society, it is actually a dangerous habit. Fifteen percent of children aged six to nineteen are overweight, and this figure is increasing (Back to School). Even if a child is not obese, they often do not eat healthily and are at risk of becoming overweight. Processed and canned foods as well as fast food have a negative impact on the health and future lifestyle of primary-aged children. First, consider the convenience factor. Processed and canned foods are easy to obtain and stay fresh for long periods of time. However, these foods are unhealthy due to the refining process and additives. “Refining destroys and devitalizes most of the benefits of food” (Jordan 1). The Ministry of Health still allows food blanching, even if there is a toxic effect. There are several different types of convenience foods available today. They share the same qualities, such as chemical additives, and lower nutritional value than real foods. The level of chemicals they contain differentiates them. The first is processed foods, which are real foods infused with chemicals and preservatives in order to keep food fresh longer. To achieve this goal, it is stripped of nutrients and loaded with additives that your body is unable to digest effectively (Jordan 1). The second type of convenience food is junk food. This contains very little real food and is made up of processed foods, fats, chemicals and preservatives. The chemicals in junk food are cheaper than real food, so they are cheaper to mass produce. T...... middle of paper .......org/articles/article_9824.cfm>.Ludwig, David and Suzanne Rostler. End the food fight. New York: HoughtonMifflin Company, 2007. “The 4 Most Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods.” » Reader summary. February 1, 2012. .O'Dea, Kerin. “Are low-fat foods still a healthy choice? » ABC Health & Well-being. April 27, 2011. January 31, 2012. .Romm, Aviva Jill. Naturally healthy babies and children. California: Celestial Arts, 2003. Green, Tara. “The mystery ingredients in fast food nutrition are industrial chemicals. » Natural news. December 3, 2011. January 31, 2012. .Zinczenko, David and Matt Goulding. Eat this, not that! For children. New York: RodaleInc., 2008.