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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
Suppose you're getting fast food. You're getting it to go, so what they hand you is a closed bag rather than a tray.

Is it rude to open the bag and look to see if all your items are in there, right in front of the employee who has just handed it to you? Is that considered a personal insult? Or do they take it for granted that sometimes items do get forgotten, and it's perfectly reasonable for a customer to want to make sure they have everything before they get all the way home?

I would take the latter attitude, myself, but then, I've never worked in the fast food industry. Any thoughts?

(And "Don't eat fast food" is not an answer. I'm asking an etiquette question, not nutritional advice, thank you very much.)
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
It is not rude.
 
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
 
I used to work at Popeyes, and it was expected that a customer would double-check their order. We were also supposed to tell each customer what we were handing them, so that they could catch any errors right away. It's not rude to check.

--Mel
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
I think you kind of have to, given that you'll otherwise likely be far away by the time you realize there are any problems. I mean, usually waitstaff will come back after serving and ask if it's okay as a matter of course.

You know, it never occurred to me that it might be rude. Now I'm interested.
 
Posted by arevoj (Member # 7347) on :
 
I would not be offended if you did it to me. I would, however, if I was you, move to the side a bit if there was a line so as not to clog up the queue behind.
 
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
 
I always check, I don't think it is rude.

When I worked at a service desk that cashed payroll checks many people counted the money again (even though I counted it to them). I never was offended, anyone can make a mistake...and it is better to catch it immediately.
 
Posted by Maliam (Member # 9915) on :
 
I would agree that it is not rude. It's kinda the same as if you were at wal-mart and the cashier put the bags in your cart and you cheack to make sure all the bags were taken. The cashier can get distracted and sometimes miss something.
 
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese:
You know, it never occurred to me that it might be rude. Now I'm interested.

It had never occurred to me before today, either. I just went to KFC for dinner, and I checked the bag after the young lady behind the counter handed it to me. As I was checking, she said, "It's all in there."

She didn't sound offended; quite the contrary, she sounded perfectly helpful, like she was just trying to reassure me. Still, as I was heading back home, I started thinking about it. It wouldn't be difficult for me to imagine someone in her position thinking, "What, he has to check my work? He thinks I don't know how to do my own job?" It just made me wonder if it would have been more polite for me to wait until I'd gotten outside to check.
 
Posted by Maliam (Member # 9915) on :
 
While some people might get a little pissy the would probly prefre you cheacking at the counter or just to the side cause then they can play it down and not make a big deal about it. Where as if you go out and come back more people are likely to notice. Granted it really shouldn't be that big of a problem to do it anyway you are comfortable with.
 
Posted by arevoj (Member # 7347) on :
 
Actually, her response sounds a bit rude in that it was not phrased as a question ("I'm sorry, did I miss something?") but rather a statement.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
If it were rude for you, then it would be rude for them to count the money you give them.
 
Posted by arevoj (Member # 7347) on :
 
Excellent point.
 
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
quote:
Where as if you go out and come back more people are likely to notice.
Good point. I suppose that would have made more of an issue out of it.

quote:
Actually, her response sounds a bit rude in that it was not phrased as a question ("I'm sorry, did I miss something?") but rather a statement.
Well, tone of voice makes a huge difference. Her tone sounded helpful rather than offended or belligerent.
 
Posted by arevoj (Member # 7347) on :
 
Yes, it does.
 
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
 
Not rude. I also always check change.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
I always check. The only fast food I eat anymore is once weekly at Taco Bell, and I've been gipped out of enough burritos to make it a point to always double check. It only takes a quick second to visually scan the bag and make sure there are the correct number of items in there. I just assume that the items are actually correct, even though somethings they still aren't, but I'm not going to tear my food apart looking for inaccuracies while I'm sitting in the drive through.

I've never been given even a funny look for it, so I assume they are okay with it, and understand that they too make mistakes. I work at a restaurant, and I make a mistake or two every shift, it happens to everyone. I don't get annoyed when servers double check to make sure the food I hand them is correct, I'd rather they catch my mistakes before they get to the table, in that same vein of thought, I'd assume the people working at the fast food window would rather you catch it immediately rather than get home with it and be pissed for something it's too late to fix.
 
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
 
I guess I am in the minority. I do think it is rude to check right in front of the person. I usually take the food, turn my back, start walking out and then check. I did forget to check last night, though. I asked for a salad with no bacon and nuts. The girl next to the guy cashiering said she would make it for him and she confirmed, "So, you just want want cheese and tomatoes on that." I replied, "Yes." I get home and what do I find? A salad with thousands of little nuts and bacon bits. It took me 10 minutes to pick out that bacon (I was cringing the whole time). I just dealt with the nuts. They also forgot to give me a roll. I was livid.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
I always check, because I always have special orders (I hate raw tomato, and we usually have asked for a toddler toy with a kids' meal, among other things.) No one has ever taken it as rude. On the contrary, they're happier when I find things wrong right then rather than having to come back two minutes later.
 
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
 
My brother and I have been 'short-changed on food' maybe a dozen times at drive-throughs, so we check. They've never accidentally given us extra fries.
 
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I too think it's slightly rude to check right in front of the person, so I step to one side or wait until I'm outside to check.
 
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
I think it would be rude if you double-checked your order by lining up all your chicken McNuggets on the tray, gave them names and made them sound off, von Trapp family style.
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
I had assumed you all were talking about the drive-thru, though I'm not sure why.

I certainly do step out of the line of traffic once I've received my food. If you want to check it, though, makes sense to check it at the counter, even if you are off to the side.
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
I always check, whether at the drive-thru or inside. I also never order something without a least some minor modifications (I don't eat vegetables, and I don't like most condiments unless they're applied by me in specific dosages). It's been my experience that my order is wrong 30-40% of the time, so it'd be foolishly optimistic of me not to check.
 
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
 
I always check. I even check the quality of fries. For some reason, the fast food workers in my town think that because you are in the drive through, they can get away with giving you three day old fries.
 
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
 
On drive-thru, I check it while still in the drive-thru window. My order has been screwed up enough times that I'm not leaving the window until I'm sure it's right. It only takes a few seconds.

Like the time my daughter asked for a hamburger with "no pickle" and instead got a hamburger with ONLY pickle -- lots of them.

FG
 
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
 
There is a difference between checking to see if you've got the right number of burritos and checking to see if they left the tomato off your hamburger or the nuts off your salad. It takes a lot longer to pull something out of the bag and unwrap it. If you need to check the latter, I think you should move out the way. Even if it's not rude to the cashier, it is rude to the person behind you that you're holding up.
 
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
 
I usually use the drive-thru, and I check after pulling away enough for the next person to get to the window. For some reason, though, my order only gets screwed up if I'm with my mom. This can be problematic because while I'd handle it fine on my own (I don't get upset but just go inside and politely ask that it be fixed) my mom gets really annoyed and angry and makes a really big deal about it.
 
Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
 
Around here, nearly every fast-food place does not give you your meal at the same time you order it, so the "move aside" thing isn't really an issue. You're generally the guy getting his order at that moment, so you're free to stand there at the counter and go through it if you want.

Half the time the person doesn't bother to wait around while you go through it. They smile, give you their "Have a nice day," then go on about their business while you riffle through the bag.

At Primal Curve's suggestion, I feel I shall now use this time I have to go through the bag, that apparently not everyone has, to stage full-on musicals with my food. I will use songs from the Ender's Game: The Musical thread.
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
quote:
If it were rude for you, then it would be rude for them to count the money you give them.
I think this is the definitive answer.
 
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
El JT, you don't eat vegetables?

Ever?
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Primal Curve:
I think it would be rude if you double-checked your order by lining up all your chicken McNuggets on the tray, gave them names and made them sound off, von Trapp family style.

[Laugh]
quote:
Originally posted by docmagik:
At Primal Curve's suggestion, I feel I shall now use this time I have to go through the bag, that apparently not everyone has, to stage full-on musicals with my food. I will use songs from the Ender's Game: The Musical thread.

[ROFL]

Suddenly, I'm sad that drive-thru fast food is not an option for me.
 
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
 
I like it when they screw up my order, assuming I'm not in a rush. One can usually get a free dessert as a result.
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by imogen:
El JT, you don't eat vegetables?

Ever?

*shrug*

I ate a pickle once. I didn't do anything for me.

I don't eat any vegetable except corn, and (if forced by circumstances or extreme hunger) green beans. I will not, under any circumstance, eat lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olives, artichokes, spinach, cabbage, squash, brussel sprouts, okra, or mustard greens.

I think it's partially the taste, partially the texture (I don't like cold, wet, soft food in general), and partially psychosomatic.
 
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
Do you take multivitamins?
 
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
How about potatoes? Sweet potatoes?

(They're vegetables too, y'know. *grin )

Seriously, I find it bizarre. But each to their own, and all that.


(I know you're about my age. I know you're perfectly capably of taking care of yourself. But.... but... In Australia we have a "5 vegetable and 2 fruit a day" servings policy promoted kind of heavily. I'll stop now.)
 
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
 
quote:
I don't eat any vegetable except corn,
My wife tells me that corn is not a vegetable. I refuse to believe her because that would mean the vegetables I eat could be counted on one hand.

Of course, that would take you down to zero. Maybe you should go with that so you can achieve perfection.
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Im, we have something similar here. And I'm resisting lecturing him on his health as well. But he's an adult. So he gets to make lousy diet choices, just like the rest of us. [Wink]
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
Tom, no, but I've been meaning to start. The few colds a year I come down with could be traced to vitamin imbalances contributing to a weakened immune system, I'm sure.

Any recommendations?

Im, I love potatoes. Not crazy about sweet potatoes, but I'm well covered in the starch area.

rivka, I'm not so sure it is a lousy diet choice. I mean, my weight is good, my cholesterol and blood pressure are low, I have a full head of hair and a mouth full of teeth, and I'm rarely sick (and have never been seriously ill). I mean, sure, I could do better, but who couldn't?

I do eat fruit, though. I love bananas, apples, and oranges.
 
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
 
You should also check your receipts at a drive-through, if you're not paying cash. We've occasionally been over-charged by an even number of dollars--wonder where those ended up.
 
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
JT - Well, fruit is good. [Smile]

In terms of diet, seriously though - that means you eat meat, potatoes, dairy and that's it, right?

It's not that healthy. But, if you have a healthy weight and BP and cholestorol, then - *shrug* - why not?

(There is why not, but as before, you're my age. I'm not lecturing.)

And I sure could do better. *grin.

(Rivka , I figured you would - I was just... struggling with the concept of no vegetables.)
 
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
Mostly, the only fast food I get is the Wendy's dollar menu items(baked potato, nuggets, salad, etc...). I'd say about 70-80% of the time they forget one or more sauces, or give me the wrong sauce. I'm not joking with that percentage. it's super frustrating.

There's also a direct correlation between me checking for the sauces and them being there. Meaning, if I check, they're always there. When I don't check, there are sauces missing. ALWAYS. The reason I don't like to check is because I almost always go through drive-thru, and I don't like holding up the line. But I also hate having to pull around and then go inside and ask for my sauce(kills the point of going drive-thru), or worse yet, finding out when I'm home.
 
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
I was inside the restaurant. There was no one behind me anyway, but, as docmagik pointed out, they didn't hand me the food while I was still in the order line. Even fast food takes a few moments to get together, so you order it and then get out of the way.

quote:
I don't eat any vegetable except corn[. . .]
That's a grain, not a vegetable. Think "wheat" and "rice".

quote:
I will not, under any circumstance, eat [. . .]tomatoes[. . .]
That's a fruit.

quote:
[. . .]olives[. . .]
Also a fruit.

quote:
[. . .]squash[. . .]
The gourds are also fruits.

Not trying to convince you that you do actually like those things, of course. You know what you like. [Smile]
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
quote:
It's not that healthy. But, if you have a healthy weight and BP and cholestorol, then - *shrug* - why not?

(I was just... struggling with the concept of no vegetables.)

I wouldn't say that it's not that healthy, because I don't think my diet is unhealthy. I would say it's not ideal. Which I'm fine with.

And believe me, you're not the only one who struggles with the 'no vegetables' thing -- I've never had a first date where it wasn't a prominent conversational topic.

Edit: Verily, I'm well aware of all that. Point being, I use the classifications that most people use, to save myself from having to correct people about what family all their foods belong to. I'm perfectly aware that saying tomato is a vegetable is incorrect. I'm also aware that most of the population calls it that, and this is a case where I'm happy to cater to the masses.

Glad you're back, by the way. I haven't seen you around in a while.
 
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
I'd say it's not healthy - if not now, in the long run.

But then, the glass of red wine I am drinking while posting this is also not healthy (given I've had a couple of glasses with dinner earlier) so - meh.
 
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
 
I used to hate most veggies. Ever since I gave up red meat, I can't seem to get enough of them. I have tried so many new ones in the past few years. I really like them too.
 
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
 
Personally I never check. But then I'm not usually particularly upset if something is forgotten, and it's actually been pretty rare. I can only think of two occasions in the past two years.

But as a person who works at a fast food place (a Subway), this is my biggest peeve:

"Hi! How're you doing today?"

"I'd like a turkey with lettuce and tomato."

"What kind of bread would you like that on?"

"A turkey! With lettuce and tomato!"

"What kind of bread?"

*looks blank*

*points to prominent sign illustrating bread*

"Uh, this one."

"And would you like that to be foot-long or six-inch?"

"I said white bread!"

"Yes, and would you like a big one or a little one?" (with hand gestures)

"Oh, big."

"And would you like American, pepper jack, cheddar or mozzarella cheese?"

"Just lettuce and tomato."

*puts on lettuce and tomato*
*closes sandwich*
*wraps up sandwich*

"Oh, and could I have bacon on that? And mayo?"

*growls to self*

I know that it's not that customers can't hear me. Polite customers answer my actual questions just fine.

But the vast majority of customers don't bother with anything I ask them because they're convinced that they know the ordering process better than I do, and then waste my time and theirs telling me things I don't need to know yet, may never need to know, and probably won't remember if I later need to know them. If they would just follow my verbal cues, we would both rest easier.

And furthermore, when I ask how you are, I would like an acknowledgment. I mean, I'm obligated to ask, yes, but it's nice if you pretend like I'm a person.
 
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
JT, matt does the same thing. He will occasionally eat green beans, though, if they are prepared. Other than that, he considers mashed potatoes to be the greatest vegetable.
 
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
 
Kat, do you find that - odd?
 
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
He's very slim, never sick, and plays basketball easily. I don't find it odd. I do find it infuriating. [Razz]
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by imogen:
I'd say it's not healthy - if not now, in the long run.

But then, the glass of red wine I am drinking while posting this is also not healthy (given I've had a couple of glasses with dinner earlier) so - meh.

How so? This question, by the way, is usually were the discussion hangs up. Most people are convinced that dire consequences are forthcoming if I don't eat vegetables, but, when asked to clarify those consequences it's usually a bit fuzzy.

The most convincing argument I've heard so far for needing to eat more vegetables is that it will significantly decrease my risk of colon cancer.
 
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
There are a ton of benifits you miss out, because you are limiting what nutrients you are taking in. That could (and will, eventually) affect not just your overall health, but things like your hormonal balances, and that can affect everything from moods to specific health issues.


A lot of modern medical research is focusing on how hormones affect the rest of the body's systems, and we are finding out how little we really know about how things works.


Start taking a multivitiman right away of you can't force yourself to start eating veggies. [Smile]

It will help prevent a lot more than a cold or three. [Wink]
 
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
There are a ton of benifits you miss out, because you are limiting what nutrients you are taking in. That could (and will, eventually) affect not just your overall health, but things like your hormonal balances, and that can affect everything from moods to specific health issues.


A lot of modern medical research is focusing on how hormones affect the rest of the body's systems, and we are finding out how little we really know about how things works.


Start taking a multivitiman right away of you can't force yourself to start eating veggies. [Smile]

It will help prevent a lot more than a cold or three. [Wink]


Linky!
 
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by dean:


And furthermore, when I ask how you are, I would like an acknowledgment. I mean, I'm obligated to ask, yes, but it's nice if you pretend like I'm a person.

I actually have the opposite problem at the pizza hut on campus. The cashier will ask how I am, I'll reply with something like "I'm good, how are you?" and I'll get a blank look until I tell them what I have in my hand. At this point I've pretty much stopped answering the question, and just say Hi and tell them my order.
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by zgator:
There is a difference between checking to see if you've got the right number of burritos and checking to see if they left the tomato off your hamburger or the nuts off your salad. It takes a lot longer to pull something out of the bag and unwrap it. If you need to check the latter, I think you should move out the way. Even if it's not rude to the cashier, it is rude to the person behind you that you're holding up.

Ah, see, here there are always three walk-up cash registers, and then extra counter space with room to put out at least four orders. So there's never a line to collect your food (drive-thrus get most of the traffic.)

Also, it takes me precisely 3 seconds to check if my burger has tomato-- since they usually write it on the wrapper and if they don't, it's a very visible item. I do it while counting items. Now, checking for mustard or pickles, if they don't write it on the wrapper, that's a little trickier.
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
quote:
And furthermore, when I ask how you are, I would like an acknowledgment. I mean, I'm obligated to ask, yes, but it's nice if you pretend like I'm a person.
Ick. It's one of my pet peeves to be falsely asked how I'm doing today.
 
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
 
It's not that you have to reply with how you are, but a returned-greeting like a simple "Hi" would be nice. And, unfortunately, I get written up if I don't ask every customer how they're doing. If I simply say, "Hi! What can I get for you," I'm still in trouble.

And I am not at all stymied if someone does answer with, "I'm fine. How're you?"

I simply say, "I'm fine too. What can I get for you today?" And all my coworkers are the same.

My boss, Kat, sometimes likes to reply like this:

"Hi, how are you doing today?"

"A six-inch turkey on wheat with double American cheese."

"Well, that's a funny way to be feeling. Now what can I get for you?"

But my Subway is populated by smart under-achievers.
 
Posted by arevoj (Member # 7347) on :
 
My standard reply to "Hi, how are you doing today?" is "Fine, thanks. Hope you are." It seems to break the cycle of obligation to answer the question of how this person I do not know is doing, which is probably not much of my business in the first place. And, to me, it feels less rude - no, rude is not the right word - less abrupt than saying simply "Fine, thanks." Although, I do reply that way on occasion.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by arevoj:
My standard reply to "Hi, how are you doing today?" is "Fine, thanks. Hope you are." It seems to break the cycle of obligation to answer the question of how this person I do not know is doing, which is probably not much of my business in the first place. And, to me, it feels less rude - no, rude is not the right word - less abrupt than saying simply "Fine, thanks." Although, I do reply that way on occasion.

As a missionary every once in a while I would get the following,

"Hi how are you doing today?"

"Fine until you showed up."

My response was usually something like,

"Do I really smell that bad?"
or
"I can't help how I look, its my DNA."

Even the most simplistic of humor cracked up Taiwanese people and so it was relatively easy to break the ice with just about anybody.

I always wanted to respond with,

"Well I can think of a way to make us both happy."

and then just walk away. But I felt like that would have been overtly rude.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
quote:
Ick. It's one of my pet peeves to be falsely asked how I'm doing today.
I have to answer the "how are you?" question about 30 times when I go to work. All the servers ask me, then the cooks, to which I have to answer in three different languages, and usually I've only just woken up about 20 minutes ago. I know they honestly are asking the question because we're all friends and everything, and they'd actually want to hear a story if I had one about how crappy my day is going, but I DESPISE having to answer the question so flingin flangin many times!

Even worse is when you are walking towards someone who is walking by you and they say "hey how are you?" before you can, and you don't have a chance to answer and ask them back because you've already moved beyond each other. Then you look like a jerk for not reciprocating.

Niceties aren't all they're cracked up to be.
 
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
 
I think we have started another topic.

I think most people say it out of habit. Rarely are people (from what I see) really interested.

dean,
You have a particularly interesting workplace for a food establishment. Usually I get a, "Welcome to So-and-so. Can I take your order."
 
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
 
When I was a cashier at a grocery store I always thought it was funny when I would ask them how they are and they'd respond with something like "Oh! well I'm sooo glad you asked...First of all..." and then they proceed to treat me as their psychologist and tell me their life problems. [Big Grin] I enjoyed it though, it made my shift a little funnier.

I even had a conversation with a customer once where he asked me if I really wanted to know how he is doing and about how all of his European friends always tell him that we (I assumed by "we" he meant people that live in America) ask that question so dishonestly. [Big Grin] It was an amusing conversation. I enjoyed strange customers. Alot of my coworkers didn't, but when I have nothing else to think about it's always fun to have conversations with random people. I still remember alot of the customers that I had funny conversations with.
 
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
 
It is a kind of funny work environment. It helps that the franchise is so small-- only four stores-- and that the owner is a very cool guy. His daughter works in my store, and she's an indie-music person with a zillion piercings and a great sense of style. My boss's boss, with whom I've been working a lot lately because we've been so short-staffed, likes employees to talk back to him just as long as they always do their work. I make fun of the fact that he's color blind and he tells me that he ought to fire me and hire rats and roaches because they'd do a better job. And we have at least one regular who, when he comes in, we tell him to go away because we hate him. And then he accuses us of being racist jerks and threatens to sue us all. So, yes, we do have a really good time. However, that doesn't change the fact that we can't really joke around and be silly with the average customer, and we do have rules like having to ask everyone how they are.
 
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
 
I generally amuse myself by telling customers what I think that they'll order and seeing if I'm right or not.
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by El JT de Spang:
rivka, I'm not so sure it is a lousy diet choice. I mean, my weight is good, my cholesterol and blood pressure are low, I have a full head of hair and a mouth full of teeth, and I'm rarely sick (and have never been seriously ill). I mean, sure, I could do better, but who couldn't?

I do eat fruit, though. I love bananas, apples, and oranges.

Darlin', denial ain't just a river in Egypt. Fruit helps -- quite a bit -- and so will a good multi-vitamin/mineral supplement (brands don't matter much, advertisements to the contrary). But colon cancer is only one of a number of cancers that has been linked to inadequate veggie consumption. Not to mention the problems caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies (a supplement will help with most of those).

I guesstimated the answers to the questions, but this gives you some idea of what you should be eating.
quote:
Compared to people who eat only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts—as part of a healthy diet—are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases. These diseases include stroke, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and perhaps heart disease.
Right now you are young, otherwise eat ok, and get exercise. So I believe you're not feeling the effects. But by the time you're 50-60 (assuming your diet doesn't improve noticeably before then), I'm betting you will.

Then again, I will probably develop type II diabetes by the time I'm that age, so . . . [Dont Know]
quote:
Originally posted by Verily the Younger:
That's a grain, not a vegetable.

. . .

That's a fruit.

. . .

Also a fruit.

Botanically, you are correct. Nutritionally, you are wrong. Corn cooked on the cob or nibblet-style has vitamin C, fiber, and a little iron. Nutritionally, it is classed as a vegetable. (Dried or turned into flour it loses its vitamin C, and the milling process removes most of the fiber. At that point, it's good mostly as a source of carbs (and still has that iron), and is classified as a cereal grain.)

Tomatoes, squash, etc. are certainly botanically fruits (i.e., ripened fertilized plant ovaries). But nutritionally the distinction is more commonly based on sugar content and vitamin/mineral levels. Nutritionally, they're veggies. And rhubarb, which is botanically certainly NOT a fruit, nutritionally is.
quote:
Originally posted by brojack17:
I think we have started another topic.

Welcome to Hatrack, where thread drift is an art.
 
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MidnightBlue:
quote:
Originally posted by dean:


And furthermore, when I ask how you are, I would like an acknowledgment. I mean, I'm obligated to ask, yes, but it's nice if you pretend like I'm a person.

I actually have the opposite problem at the pizza hut on campus. The cashier will ask how I am, I'll reply with something like "I'm good, how are you?" and I'll get a blank look until I tell them what I have in my hand. At this point I've pretty much stopped answering the question, and just say Hi and tell them my order.
See, I lack the gene that has me add, "You?" to the end of my response to that sort of question...which always leads to an awkward silence (especially if it's a business-related phone call). I realize that out of politeness I should say, "I'm good, you?" or something along those lines, except that whenever I'm in that situation, it just doesn't occur to me to say that.

-pH
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
It's not genetic; it's a learned behavior. If it bothers you (or those you interact with), I'm sure you can learn it.
 
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
 
We always, always check. Inside I step aside and check at the counter, in the drive-in I open the bag enough to check the number of items.

The local fast food places can be depended upon to screw up an order every other time or so, and once we get home we don't want to go back. We always check.
 
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
 
(I'm perfectly aware that it's not actually genetic. [Wink] )

I really don't see the point in learning it because I think an extremely cookie-cutter approach to being courteous and interacting with people is generally a bad idea. When it comes to clients and customers, I usually convince them that I care about them as people pretty quickly. I just wish they wouldn't ask!

In a social setting, it's also not in my nature to go out of my way to ask people questions about themselves up front; I feel like I'm interrogating them. So instead, I wait to see what kind of information the person offers. From there, it seems a lot more appropriate to ask subject-related questions. Unfortunately, I can come off as really self-absorbed. In actuality, I just want people to offer up information. Oh man, the most awkward question anyone could ever ask in a dating situation: "So, is there anything you want to know about me?" ....*stare* Is this a job interview now?

Oh, it's also awkward when you're at work and in the middle of doing something, and someone starts talking to you. Do you stop what you're doing? If you don't look at them, they think you aren't paying attention, but you're keeping people waiting by not finishing what you're up to. [Confused]

-pH
 
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
quote:
The most convincing argument I've heard so far for needing to eat more vegetables is that it will significantly decrease my risk of colon cancer.
And that's no small thing - trust me, you want to avoid colon cancer if you can.

Then again, I love vegetables and eat green leafy ones now, also did so as a kid growing up so there's never been a time in my life when I didn't eat veggies. Didn't prevent said cancer, though. [Frown]
 
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
 
Steamed broccoli makes a delicious snack.

-pH
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Very true. It's pretty good raw too.
 
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
 
But raw, you can't coat it in parmasean cheese that easily!

-pH
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
No, but it works well plain. Or with just a dab of ranch dressing.
 
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
 
Parmasean and black pepper. Better than French fries!

-pH
 
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
 
Trees and Snow
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
quote:
Right now you are young, otherwise eat ok, and get exercise. So I believe you're not feeling the effects. But by the time you're 50-60 (assuming your diet doesn't improve noticeably before then), I'm betting you will.
I expect diabetes to be cured or easily treatable by then. Same with most cancers, but I'm less sure about that happening. As for strokes and heart disease, if I minimize my other risk factors (which are considerably lower than most people's, at least for now) I feel pretty good about my chances there, too.

I'm sure things will be different when I have a family to support -- for one thing I'll take out a big life insurance policy.

Anyway, I bought a multivitamin at the grocery store yesterday (been meaning to for months).
quote:
Didn't prevent said cancer, though.
Exactly. It's more about genetics than anything else, I'm afraid. You can do everything right and still get cancer, and you can do everything wrong and live until 90. Not that I'm advocating that. I'm just sayin.
 
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
 
It drives me insane when people ask how I am as a greeting. I always answer "Good, how are you?" and then the person gives me a weird look and is like, "Fine," with the 'you're a creep with no social skills' coming through really clearly. Which probably doesn't sound like that big a deal, but I'm horribly shy, and usually working up the courage to say anything at all is the best I can do. So then I spend the next hour or so depressed because I don't have any social skills.
 
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
 
I do remember back to my first job (Wendy's). There was a regular who came by. When you asked her how she was, she would say, "Great, I can curse in seven different languages."
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by El JT de Spang:
Anyway, I bought a multivitamin at the grocery store yesterday (been meaning to for months).

Good. [Smile]
 
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by El JT de Spang:
You can do everything right and still get cancer, and you can do everything wrong and live until 90. Not that I'm advocating that. I'm just sayin.

Yep. It's a matter of putting the odds more in your favor or less, though. The extent depends on the question at hand. For some medical things, that's a lot.
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Broccoli is one of the most delicious things in the world. I love it.
 
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Agreed. [Smile]

Asparagus is yummier, though. And we're having some tonight.
 
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
Spinach served Chinese style is the best vegetable of the green variety.
 


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