Fast food is very popular and saves time for busy working people. However, many experts say that it is not completely healthy.

Do you know a person who has never been to McDonald's? McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer serving millions of people in more than 100 countries each day. McDonald's restaurants sell what is called "fast" or "junk" food — hamburgers, chips and so on. Such food is very popular, especially with children and teenagers.

Personally, I adore hamburgers, cheeseburgers, apple pies, muffins and fruit cocktails. This food is tasty, cheap and ubiquitous. What is more, going to McDonald's saves much time and effort. I don't have to go to a supermarket, prepare meals and wash the dishes when I eat out: Besides, I like the holiday atmosphere of McDonald's. There I can relax, enjoy the food and celebrate some event with my friends and relatives.

But experts say that fast food makes people overweight and even obese and elevates the risk of diabetes and cancer. If your food includes hamburgers, chips, hot dogs, pizzas and fizzy drinks like Coke, Pepsi, Sprite and others, you are facing a serious problem threatening your health. Such food is full of chemical additives. For example, a can of Coke contains about eight tea­spoons of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Moreover, there is a risk of food poisoning.

To sum it up, we should think more about our health. We should try to avoid fast food and eat more fruit and vegetables. Those people who don't care about what they eat may face serious problems. So let's remember about our health and make the right choice.

Some people say that genetically modified (GM) food is dangerous to their health. Others believe that it is absolutely harmless and has a number of advantages.

Nowadays people are getting more and more concerned about the food they eat as it is closely connected with the way they look and feel. That is why there are so many arguments about the safety of genetically modified food.

Genetically modified crops have been developed by changing the plant's genetic structure in order to help the plant resist against different diseases or produce larger crops. Personally, I try not to buy GM food as there is no scientific conclusion so far to prove its safety for human consumption. We don't know what unforeseen consequences there might be. I prefer not to risk my health because scientists are not sure if GM food is absolutely harmless or not.

However, a lot of people are not worried about the negative influence of GM food on their health. Besides, producers of this food say that it has a number of advantages in terms of price, durability and nutritional value. They also say there is no risk to human health, although possi­ble side effects connected with the use of GM products have not been studied.

Can we trust producers of GM food? I don't think so. Unfortunately, in Russia the law does not prohibit the use of GM products. I believe that it's up to you to decide whether to buy GM food or not. Anyway, producers of this food must mark their products if they contain GM ingredients.

Some people say that food is our friend, while others think that it may become an enemy.

Can we live without food? The answer is definitely "no". Food is essential to our body which is continually wasting and requires new energy. Experts say that food has some special powers that can control our lives, for better or for worse.

To my mind, food is our friend if it is healthy and taken with due regard to the exercise and waste of the body. I believe that if you eat the right food, you can manage your mood and boost your brainpower. For example, when I feel blue, I treat myself to a bar of chocolate or an ice-cream and become more cheerful and energetic. When I am to take a test, I eat a handful of nuts or a banana because such food helps me concentrate.

However, sometimes food may become a real enemy. Unfortunately, some people don't pay attention to what they eat. If their diet includes fast food and fizzy drinks, they can do much harm to their health. People who are fond of hamburgers and Coca-Cola often suffer from diabetes, cancer and tooth decay. Moreover, they may become overweight and even obese.

To sum up, food that contains vitamins gives you a psychological lift and helps you improve your health. But food that has a hefty amount of chemical additives, fat, sugar or caffeine makes you fat and draws energy away from your brain. I strongly feel that if you take control of your food, you will be able to take control of your life.

Nowadays more and more people become vegetarians. Others say they can't do without meat or fish.

Being a vegetarian is rather popular nowadays. Some people say they don't eat meat and fish because it is healthy. Others follow the example of their favourite actor or musician. Is it worth becoming a vegetarian?

Personally, I think that people should eat both meat and fish. Our ancestors would not have survived if they hadn't hunted and fished. Meat and fish are nourishing and they contain vitamins that make us stronger. Besides, fish is good for our brains.

However, quite a lot of people say it is cruel to eat animals. They feel sorry for pigs, chickens or rabbits that are kept in cages. Vegetarians are convinced that killing animals is a crime. So their food consists of vegetables, fruit and nuts. They say that such a diet does much good to their health and contains all the vitamins, minerals and protein they need. But I think that if all people eat only plants, there will not be enough food for everybody. What is more, most fruit and vegetables are harmful because they are full of pesticides.

So it is up to you to decide whether to become vegetarian or not. Personally, I believe that we should eat different food but at the same time we should know where to stop.