Tuesday, September 22, 2009

How to Avoid Fast Food!


Its not always easy to eat healthy on a busy day when your running from one place to another but it is not impossible. The first step to avoiding the fast food temptation is to plan ahead. Pack well balanced lunches the night before a busy day in order to prevent eating out or even keep a few healthy snacks (granola, nutrition bars) in your car in order to avoid cravings and to hold your appetite off until you can eat a real meal. Everyone knows that you should always drink plenty of water, so try keeping a bottle with you or in your car at all times.

For those who may find planning ahead difficult another alternative to stopping at the first burger joint you see would be to stop at a convenience store instead. Gas station quicky marts do not sound like the best place to buy your food, but if you are on the go and want to eat relativity healthy you can you can commonly find acceptable snacks to hold you over. Look for things like small packs of nuts granola or nutrition bars and single serving packs or whole grain cereal, some of these places even have a section with fresh fruit! Try to combine snacks so that you get a balance of protein and carbs which should help stop some of your junk food cravings.

Lastly if you find it impossible to avoid fast food all together, at least be willing to compromise what you order. Menus these days have added healthy alternatives like fruit and yogurt parfaits or side salads. If you still are finding yourself at the drive through line try to at least substitute your fries and soda with some healthy alternatives, but watch out for calories and fats in dressing if you decide to go with the salad. If you need to order a cheese burger try ordering a classic rather than a double or quarter pounder.

Most importantly just be aware of what you are eating, try to plan ahead as much as possible, avoid processed foods and saturated fats, and stay balanced!

7 comments:

  1. Terrific tips from a RA! You provide practical and healthy suggestions for your readers. Be sure to proof read your profile, as well. Good work!

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  2. I started to get into a fast food binge myself. I used to drive by a McDonald's every night going to work and I would stop in for a snack. After a while I realized that it probably wasn't the best idea. If you ask me the best way to avoid fast food is to watch Super Size Me. I didn't eat fast food for about 2 years after seeing that!

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  3. I used to work twelve hour shifts and during my 20 minute breaks, the only option for food was a McDonald's next door so I would always get that because it was fast and convenient. After about two weeks, I got sick of the greasy food and decided to bring my own healthy choices (carrots, granola bar, or fruit) from home--I wound up saving a ton of money doing it that way. I was able to sustain more energy and was a lot more positive by the end of the day with real food as opposed to Mickey D's. And yes, Erik, I agree that Super Size Me did influence me to not eat fast food for a good amount of time.

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  4. That's really good tips for people that don't exactly like to plan ahead or just plain old have a lot going on in their lives. And I Like how you broke down the better types to have.

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  5. Great advice! I honestly cannot remember the last time I ate fast food...Ive been spoiled with really good and healthy home cooking my whole life so I find that stuff intolerable and disgusting. But this past summer I worked in a tiny ocean-front food stand that served ice cream and fried food, and I used to bring carrot sticks with me to avoid eating fries and soft serve all day.

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  6. Awesome advice! After watching Supersize Me, like Erik and Alyssa said I had no desire to eat fast food for quite some time. To this day it is rare for me to go to a fast food place. I personally think its a waste of money on something that isn't going to do you any good in the long run. I try to always make sure to keep a few healthy snacks with me, to try and prevent the hunger strike!

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  7. This is a great post. I often find myself stopping at fast food joints because I do not plan my meals and snacks ahead of time. Not only is it healthier to plan ahead but much more convenient and cheaper. By bringing your own food you are allowing yourself more time to relax during your break or free time because you are not spending your time in lines waiting for food. By shopping for food you are also able to spend money on food that will last you more than one meal, saving you money in the long run.

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