This disagrees with my daily experience in Europe, so I conclude it's a US-specific thing.
It is. Having lived in both places, it's astounding how expensive good food is in the US and how cheap crap food can be. $1 for a single apple or for a McD burger? Tough choice.
Add to that the fact that most of the US poor are time poor as well. Working 3 jobs and/ot commuting 3hrs per day doesn't leave a lot of time to prepare meals.
Probably healthier to eat two double cheeseburgers than 5-6 bananas too. Bananas are really really really packed with sugar.
14 grams per 100 calories (banana) versus 7 grams per 440 calories (McDonalds double cheeseburger).
Now whether it's healthy to eat 800 calories for breakfast ... eh, probably not. But that's a different problem. Also depends on what you intend to do all day. Physical labor? Eat away. Sit at desk? Maybe try a quarter of a double cheeseburger instead :D
So I dunno. Bananas are not the best example, great after and pre workout, not thaaaat great as something you'd eat all the time.