Evanjelina Arredondo
October 7, 2011
English 104
Synthesis Final Draft
Page 1 of 6
Today in America a controversy has cooked up about the best way to promote healthy
eating. It has come to the point that a school in Chicago has banned students from bringing their
own lunch (4). According to “What You Eat is Your Business,” by Radley Balko he states that
people should be allowed to eat what they want. In “Don’t Blame the Eater,” by David
Zinczenko he states how individuals should take their health into their own hands of matter.
Yves Engler author of “Obesity: Much of the Responsibility Lies with Corporations,” talks about
different examples on how to reduce obesity such as limiting food options. I believe consumers
should be taught to eat more responsibly to improve the health of America’s weight crisis.
Balko strongly argues that the government should not come in between you and your
waistline. For instance, state legislatures across the country have started to ban sodas and snacks
from vending machines and school campuses. Balko believes this is not the correct way to fight
obesity. He believes the government should be working on teaching us responsibility of our own
health. Balko says, “We’re doing just the opposite,” (1). Similarly, to the school in Chicago that
banned students from bringing their own lunch from home. Sometimes the lunch from home can
be much healthier than the lunches at school. Also, students should not be limited to what they
can eat at school, they should be taught to make healthier choices. According to health-food
advocates, taking decision-making away is not the best way for change (4).
Zinczenko states that individuals should take the responsibility of their own health. He
talks about his bad eating habits as a child. He says, “Lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily
choice between McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut” (2). Then,
Zinczenko explains that as he got older he learned how to manage his diet. He also states that the
Evanjelina Arredondo
October 7, 2011
English 104
Synthesis Final Draft
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lack of information about what we’re eating can be a cause for peoples’ health. He includes that
there are no calorie charts on fast-food packaging, like there are on grocery food. Not only that,
but that some fast-food that does provide calorie information is only because of request and it is
sometimes hard to understand. Although, Zinczenko may provide some valid points he
contradicts himself too. He compares kids suing McDonald’s for making them fat to a men suing
a Porsche for making him get a speeding ticket. He says, “Whatever happened to personal
responsibility,” (2). In other words, consumers should not blame labels for being hard to read nor
having a calorie chart. What consumers eat is their choice, even if it does not have a label.
Similarly to Balkos argument about individuals having the option to choose what they want to
eat.
Engler talks about different examples on how to reduce obesity such as limiting food
options. He suggests a smaller quantity on fast-food marketing. In addition, he believes junk
food should not be allowed in schools. Engler clearly says, “To combat the obesity epidemic we
need tighter limits on fast-food marketing. Junk food companies should be kicked out of
schools,” (3). Although, this may reduce obesity in America it can also cause a bigger
controversy. Considering, some people rely on fast-food because it is the only thing they can
afford to eat. For example, the author Zinczenko says he used to eat fast-food on a daily basis
because it was all he can afford to eat. Not only that, but people should have the freedom to eat
what they want and should not be limited to what they can eat. Some individuals may even feel
comfortable being fat, even if their health is at risk. Engler also says exercising opportunities
should be increased at work. This can be a concern for some places that do not have the time or
money to spend on exercising. Engler suggestions may reduce some obesity but may also have
Evanjelina Arredondo
October 7, 2011
English 104
Synthesis Final Draft
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some people starve if they do not have the option to eat fast-food. For instance, my neighbor in
Chicago has eight kids and being able to feed them fast-food is sometimes her only option.
Balko’s argument adds to my argument because he sides mostly with what I believe. For
example, he believes getting rid of vending machines and sodas from schools will not help
obesity decrease. In fact, he believes the government should be teaching us to be responsible for
our own health. Balko’s states, “ Instead of manipulating or intervening in the array of food
option available to American consumers, our government ought to be working to foster a sense
of responsibility in and ownership of our own health and well-being,” (1). I believe this is the
best way to reduce obesity because it will teach the consumer to be responsible for their own
good. Limiting to what they can eat will only raise fire in a forest beginning to burn.
Zinczenko’s statement adds and weakens to my argument. His statement adds to my
argument because he talks about his own health crisis and how he became healthy by becoming
responsible about his well-being. His story about himself as a child towards a college student
reflects how anyone can become healthy by just being responsible. Meaning that, they should not
have the government come in between you and your waistline. Zinczenko statement weakens my
argument a little because he states that fast-food do not always have a food label to show
calories. Although, this may be true he contradicts himself at the end by saying consumers
should be responsible of their own health.
Engler’s suggestions add to my argument because his point just gives me more reasons
towards why food options should not be limited. Although, his suggestions may be a solution to
reduce obesity I strongly do not believe people should have less food options. Engler suggestions
Evanjelina Arredondo
October 7, 2011
English 104
Synthesis Final Draft
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allow me to elaborate more and think of several reasons to support my argument. For example,
without his suggestions I would have not thought about how limiting fast-food can actually affect
some people in a negative way. For example, my neighbor not being able to afford a meal for
each of her eight kids.
The credibility for Balko’s article is bit logic because he provides a statistic to support his
argument. I’d say most of his argument is ethos though because he does not seem to have any
emotion towards it but he states his position on obesity. Zinczenko’s credibility for his article is
pathos. He talks about his personal experience with weight and how he learned to manage it
reflects his personal feelings towards obesity. Engler’s suggestions on how to reduce obesity is
partially logic because he includes statistics on why it is such a big issue. For instance, he states
“Obesity is one of today’s biggest health crises- 1 in 4 of the world’s 4 billion adults are
overweight and 300 million are clinically obese,” (3). Although, he states statistics to make his
article logic, it is also pathos. He states his personal opinions on changes that should be made to
decrease the number of obesity.
Overall, obesity has caused a big controversy among different ways to improve healthy
eating. Balko says consumers should have the choice to eat what they want without the
government limiting food. Zinczenko states individuals should take the responsibility towards
what they eat without blaming food labels. Engler suggest different changes that should be made
to possibly help obesity decrease. All three articles may state some strong points that may agree
or disagree with my argument, but neither changed my opinion on how to promote health. I
Evanjelina Arredondo
October 7, 2011
English 104
Synthesis Final Draft
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continue to strongly believe consumers should be taught to eat more healthy, the consequences
of eating bad, and to be more responsible of their own health.
Evanjelina Arredondo
October 7, 2011
English 104
Synthesis Final Draft
Page 6 of 6
Works Cited
1. Balko, Radley. "What You Eat Is Your Business." Rev. Of Book, They Say I Say 23
May. 2004: 157-161.
2. Zinczenko, David. "Don't Blame The Eater." Rev. Of Book, They Say I Say 23 Nov.
2002: 153-156.
3. Zinczenko, David. "Don't Blame The Eater." Rev. Of Book, They Say I Say 23 Nov.
2002: 153-156.
4. Gay, Mara. "Chicago School Bans Bag Lunches to Get Kids to Eat Less Junk Food."
(2011): 1-1.