We can probably all agree that a lot of fast food is not healthy. While there are certainly some healthy options at many fast food chains, these options often cost more than items like burgers and fries that are more commonly found on a value menu.

Usually doctors are all about helping people make healthy choices, but one doctor decided to speak up in defense of people who eat fast food. On Twitter, doctor Emily Porter shared that sometimes there is a huge price difference between eating at McDonald’s versus shopping for fresh food at the grocery store. In her tweet, she compared the price of the meal she had for lunch at McDonald’s to the price of raspberries at the grocery store.

I just got a double cheeseburger, small fries and large Diet Coke at McDonald’s for $3.25 so please stop fat shaming or blaming the single mom of 2 working for $7.25/hour for her “unhealthy choices” or high blood pressure when non-organic raspberries are $8.96/pound at Walmart.

— Emily Porter, M.D. (@dremilyportermd) April 14, 2021

Some people responded to her tweet assuming that it was impossible to pay so little for a meal at McDonald’s, but she has proof.

People acting like I didn’t pay $3.25 for lunch or lie about raspberries forget that I grew up dirt poor on a farm, my sister shops on double coupon day, & I do my own grocery shopping. McDonald’s has “$3 bundles,” a $1/$2/$3 deals, & an app with freebies. 56 cents/oz is $8.96. pic.twitter.com/BUbQzfdNW2

— Emily Porter, M.D. (@dremilyportermd) April 15, 2021

Now that we have that cleared up, let’s focus on the real debate that her post started on Twitter, the debate about whether or not it really costs less and makes more sense for poor people to eat fast food than to shop for fresh food and cook at home. Scroll down to view some widely different opinions.

1. Preparing healthy food requires money, transportation, time, mental energy, childcare support, cooking knowledge and skills, access to a functioning kitchen and tools, and kids who are willing to eat whatever you make. Not impossible for a family, but often not easy.

   — Yvonne Choong (@Choonghagen) April 14, 2021

2. Diet Coke, Doctor? Carbonated chemicals in a can. Have a small regular Coke if the meal’s an infrequent splurge. BTW, the giant rotisserie chickens at Sam’s or Costco cost $4.99. My husband and I get three meals from one of them- dinner, lunch, & homemade soup from what’s left.

   — mbsd29 (@mbsd29) April 14, 2021

3. I eat oatmeal for breakfast. The overweight co- workers order McDonald’s and ChicfilA. They have health issues, I dont.

   — Kate (@Kyfan58) April 14, 2021

4. Cheeseburger at McDonald’s around 1 dollar, salad at McDonald’s about 7 dollars. 🤯

   — ✌️❤️ 💯Liberal🌊🌊I’m here to give❤️ to your tweet (@KIKIiswatching) April 14, 2021

5. Ok but fresh veggies aren’t expensive?? I was a broke (and i mean BROKE), vegan college student and I made it work. I could only work three days a week and had barely enough to pay my rent. I also grew up poor af in a 7 person household and we never ate fast food.

   — maplesyrupandsilk (@maplesyrupands1) April 15, 2021

6. Fat shaming is just the new way of saying: “Why you gotta be so poor? Can’t you afford organic vegetables? And a gym membership. And 4 days a week to exercise for an hour. No? Well then get a better paying job! That’s on you!”

   — Faralyn Padilla (@FaralynPadilla) April 14, 2021

7. Anyone who wants to shame someone for making unhealthy choices due to economics or time issues should instead cook some meals for that family. Otherwise leave them alone.

   — Caldwells6tx (@caldwell6tx) April 14, 2021

8. Fast food is expensive. It adds to expensive health care due to processed foods, sub par quality. This leads to more strained resources. It’s a vicious cycle. There are healthy, natural, fast options. 1/

   — view from a ⛴️ ferry…on vacay 🏜️ (@ClassySaasy) April 14, 2021

9. No ma’am. That crap kills. A pot of beans with a skillet of cornbread is a less expensive and more healthier meal and last longer than mystery meat and never mold fries and battery cleaner soda ordered off the $1 menu at Mickey Dees.Do better, Doc.

   — MizFlagPin (@MizFlagPin) April 15, 2021

10. I met my DIL at a Wendy’s one day, then we went to her house. She broke down in tears – the place was a mess, fast food for the kids “You must think I’m the worst mom ever!” I said “I think you work 3 jobs with 3 kids and going thru college! Give yourself a break!”

    — Oh4F*cksSake (@Ohforfuckssake2) April 14, 2021

11. I agree- not any low income struggling families that I work with shop at Whole Foods. People that have time to Tweet about other peoples’ vices should use their time more constructively to look at their own choices and their negative impacts. Sure are a lot of stones being cast.

    — Katherine Arroyo (@LateKate2Deb8) April 14, 2021

12. $3.25 per meal or $13.00 for a family of four. A person can definitely cook a decent dinner for 4 people with $13.00.

    — 1=1– (@abcd123_abcd123) April 15, 2021