Taking it to the Streets

Are you one of the people who buys foods on the street? Foods that are ready-to-eat or drink sold by a hawker or vendor at market, outside the school, or place near your home. Foods that may be both advantageous and disadvantageous to your health.

Most street foods are classified as a ‘finger food’ and ‘fast food’, and cost cheaper than restaurant meals. According to a 2007 study, 2.5 billion of people eat street food every day. People may purchase street food for a number of reasons such as to get flavorful food for a reasonable price in a sociable setting to experience ethnic or for nostalgia.

Aside from banana cue, barbecue, fish ball, balut, kwek-kwek, isaw and betamax, calamares is a new street food being enjoyed by Filipinos especially in the crowded city of Metro Manila. It’s good to savor and eat the newly cooked street food. Calamares can be eating with sweet-and-sour dip.

Yet, there are dangers lurking when eating street foods. It is often higher in sodium because it is not hygienic. Those people who purchase street food may fall ill and get severe kind of health problems after eating. It also invites obesity because street foods are often higher in fats and calories. The person who cooks street food cannot control the sugar, fats and salt content. Street foods are also often processed.

In the other hand, street foods are easily available and it’s not expensive. It doesn’t take so much time to prepare. You can also eat everywhere. When homemade is not available you can easily buy it from the streets.

That’s how street foods are. It’s still your choice, whether you will buy the product or not. But remember health must always be your priority.