Are junk food deals a bad influence on you?

gimli on 25/05/2017 - 21:46

Hi ozbers,

Recently I've been pretty busy with work and often away from home for work.

I've lived alone in the past and would rarely by junk foods or fast food.

But I've noted this year I have been having much more fast food or junk food. Whenever I see a KFC deal or icecream deal I think hey that's a good idea.

I used to think it's just people's responsibility​ to eat sensibility and didn't think they could blame advertising. But what I've come to realise is that when you have other things going on in life you are definitely more vulnerable to advertising

I'm wondering should ozbargain have a nice to disable specific items from your feed e.g fast food and alcohol.

Tldr - do you think ozbargain influences the way you eat.

Cheerios
Gimli son of Gloin

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • supnigs super skids on 25/05/2017 - 21:57

    if your only friend is ozbargain then yes.

    • gimli on 25/05/2017 - 23:03
      +2

      Lol. I guess there is some truth in that.

      if you eat alone frequently then yes.

      • cloudy on 28/05/2017 - 11:54

        I certainly will eat more junk if it's also so cheap, I know it's bad but when I see $1 tubes of Pringles I just stock up like a warehouse, and proceed to eat it all too quickly too.

  • Baebs on 25/05/2017 - 22:06
    +1

    A big problem for me is cravings; if i'm really hungry and busy during the day I get an incredible craving for junk food. Now I make sure to have fruit -banana + pear to delay my hunger before lunch.

  • PJC on 25/05/2017 - 22:06
    +2

    Not at all. I will not associate guilt with food.

    • gimli on 25/05/2017 - 23:01
      +3

      Not so much about guilt but health.
      Don't get me wrong I see nothing wrong with enjoying fast food. The problem is with eating excessive amounts which is what some of the bargains ESP kfc promote.

      The other thing is that you are constantly reminded about fast food options which may lead you to eat it too often.

      • PJC on 26/05/2017 - 02:08
        +2

        You know how much is excessive for you. Trust yourself.

  • retiredfeline on 25/05/2017 - 22:20
    +1

    Not a problem because I buy what I like and junk food is seldom what I feel like eating.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/05/2017 - 22:25

    id rather have a KFC/oporto/nandos meal than a Maccas or HJ meal
    mainly due to chicken being a protein with some salt and pepper added.

  • airzone on 25/05/2017 - 22:57
    +3

    You control what you eat. Not this website.

    • gimli on 25/05/2017 - 23:02
      +1

      I used to think the same. But I think there are times when you are more vulnerable to external influences.

    • Diji1 on 25/05/2017 - 23:03
      +2

      Incorrect. Merely being exposed to words causes changes in behavior and you have no way of knowing if any decision you made came about because of it.

      • gimli on 25/05/2017 - 23:06

        I read in some book that in a psychology study after seeing Macca's logos or maybe ad there attention span reduced on average.

        I guess there are definitely effects of ads on your mind and the outcome depends on what else is also going on at the time.

      • PJC on 26/05/2017 - 02:11

        Every sensible person develops a factor of discrimination.

  • Diji1 on 25/05/2017 - 23:04
    +2

    Yes.

    Here's the thing: no one consciously believes they're influenced by advertising and yet trillions of dollars say otherwise.

    Therefore it is the position of the irrational person to consider themselves immune to advertising because they have no way of knowing. The only way you can be immune is no exposure at all.

    • cloudy on 28/05/2017 - 11:54

      This man speaks truth.

  • garetz on 25/05/2017 - 23:19

    Most people are not aware the affects of advertising have on you, once you are aware however you can actively ignore it. However the people who are aware, but think are unaffected, are probably the ones that are affected the most, as it is subconscious.

    Just actively ask yourself every time you eat, if this meal is healthy, and not worry as much about getting a cheap deal, then that will affect your eating habits.

  • eagleoftheeast on 26/05/2017 - 03:22
    +1

    Hungry jacks stunner deals
    All domino's pizza

  • Mitchel on 26/05/2017 - 08:02
    +1

    HJ Stunner, Mc Golden Meal, Domino's deals. All bad for me.

    Often I find myself purchasing an extra item because it is "good value".
    I know that this is only because they have set the idea of the "price" previously and then by lowering it, I think it is good.

    The post consumption regret is always depressing. "Why did I eat all that, again. Why are you paying interest on something you didn't need to consume?" are frequent thoughts in my head.

    • PJC on 26/05/2017 - 09:20

      Swings and roundabouts. Eat less than usual for the next meal.

      • Mitchel on 26/05/2017 - 12:51
        +1

        True, but most of the time I over eat for dinner.

        So it's a bit hard to eat less for breakfast the next day…..

        • PJC on 26/05/2017 - 15:13

          There are many ways to associate guilt with food.

        • Mitchel on 27/05/2017 - 08:48
          +1

          @PJC:
          Beating your neighbour to death with a piece of broccoli?

        • PJC on 27/05/2017 - 09:55
          +1

          @Mitchel: Well, perhaps a stick of celery.

  • jjjaar on 26/05/2017 - 08:07
    +1

    Only supermarket deals (like half price biscuits). But yes, if they're on sale, I'm probably gonna buy them. That's why I avoid the store that has the deals on biscuits and go to the other one when needing to buy actual food. Well, try to.

  • GOFYS on 26/05/2017 - 09:06

    I think someone once wrote "The media is the message"
    The McDonalds Angus burger is the epitome of it. Once a glorious sourdough bun with abundant onion and other sauces, now it just a typical junkfood sugar bun, with fake sugar chili sauce, all at a much higher price.
    Marketing teams spend their lives squeezing costs out of production to fund advertising. Where can that end?
    anyway, back on topic KFC regularly puts out their 9 for 9 or 10 for 10. Every 6 months or so we buy it, love th efirst couple of pieces, then start trying to squeeze out the fat through papaer towels, then start feeling violated, and go off it for another 6 months.

    • gimli on 26/05/2017 - 09:11

      The KFC thing gets the whole supersize problem. Where you end up eating more than you would

      • [Deactivated] on 26/05/2017 - 09:24
        +1

        i came in for a 3 pieces feed at kfc, ended up eating 20 pieces, 2x 1.25l pepsis and 4 large chips., i made it healthy as i ate a coleslaw as well

  • Archi on 26/05/2017 - 09:09

    I have an equal weakness and vulnerability to expensive and opulent food. however my wallet says $3 cheeseburger meal every time.

  • Gronk on 26/05/2017 - 09:21

    There are 2 things which I find make it easier to avoid junk food -

    1. Amount of calories per kg by comparison to real food
    2. Almost always made with the lowest quality ingredients available in order to keep costs down

    On average we're meant to eat around 8700kj (give or take) each day, it's not hard to do that in a single meal somewhere like Hungry Jacks ;)

  • Halo375 on 26/05/2017 - 09:25

    Awareness influences your choices. If you weren't aware of a particular deal then it would be less likely to be considered. A better choice would be to try to shop once a week - that way you know you have food at home waiting for you and you'd be less inclined to buy something along the way.

  • cupcake on 26/05/2017 - 09:33

    Is there ever a time when you don't feel like hot chips?

  • Baysew on 26/05/2017 - 10:33
    +1

    Cheerios
    Gimli son of Gloin

    Nifty piece of product placement there.

  • outlander on 26/05/2017 - 11:59

    Bad influence, not sure. I mean I did eat a big mac meal yesterday just because it was advertised here, but then I did go for a 5k run beforehand to justify it. I think those sort balance out

    You're right about it attacking you when you're at your weakest. If you don't want to eat junk food, there are steps you can take. Biggest one is how easy the choice is. Fast food thrives on the idea that it is fast, while "healthy" food often suffers from a perception of being time consuming, complicated and difficult. Change the equation, and you can change the level of desire

    I think it's good that you're seeing it for the larger lesson. I don't think most people realize, but everybody is working to optimize their situation according to their perceptions, perceptions which often flawed and vulnerable to manipulation. Passing judgement on others without consideration of that is unproductive. In the end, we're all scum to someone

  • mick123 on 26/05/2017 - 12:00

    Absolutely not.
    If you are aware that something is not necessarily good for you and you voluntarily consume it, the only one to blame is yourself.
    Same goes for pretty much any vice.
    The same is true for the other way too (do/consume something good = reward yourself).

    I am not saying to not have junk food (as it could also be considered a reward for eating healthily otherwise), I am just saying personal responsibility is becoming so rare these days, everyone is trying to blame anything and everything for their problems/decisions.

    • gimli on 26/05/2017 - 12:04
      +1

      I think it does come down to personal responsibility but what I'm saying is deals here and advertising make it harder.

      Even if you have someone bugging you to do something bad it does end up being your responsibility. But getting rid of that person may help you be more responsible.

  • inherentchoice on 26/05/2017 - 14:30

    I will start my diet later when the fast food and cheap ice cream deals end.

  • try2bhelpful on 26/05/2017 - 19:50

    Fast food deals don't entice me at all. Ate the rubbish in my youth and not tempted to go back. My problem is I'm attracted to proper restaurants and Lune croissants call to me on week days. I have the next level up problem, I won't lower myself to eat fast food but I can't get off the restaurant treadmill.

  • aerona on 26/05/2017 - 22:19

    Why is there no option to hide fast food deals? I have suggested this for years

    • gimli on 26/05/2017 - 22:23

      I think there needs to be an option to hide certain tags whether they be fast food or alcohol or adult products

    • Bad Wolf on 27/05/2017 - 21:28
      +1

      Hide deals from suppliers
      Example and link to full post.

      Just think of all the fast food outlets and hide then one at a time, will greatly reduce the amount you see on ozbargin.

      I've not tested this. I want to see everything and make my own decisions.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/05/2017 - 09:56

    No

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