People’s lives have become so busy and rushing around, that we no longer eat the way we should.

In some places, there is a McDonald’s or other fast food restaurant on every major corner. Watching TV, you see a commercial for some kind of food place almost every time commercials are on, urging you to eat there because it’s good and you can get it fast and cheap.

With so many distractions and obligations, families have these days, how do you eat healthy in a fast food world?

It’s not an easy thing to do but is possible with planning and knowing what to look for. This isn’t to say fast food can’t be consumed occasionally, but it should be less often than people are doing it now. Not to mention that our food is so processed that it takes five minutes to cook and has high carbohydrates among other things that are not digested quickly. This is leading to obesity in the population.

Healthy Choices at Fast Food Eateries

The truth is that it’s tough to eat healthy at most fast food restaurants. They simply aren’t designed for those trying or needing to watch what they put in their mouth.

But you can make better decisions.

Skip the bread. It’s along the lines of the South Beach Diet but that’s where lots of your weight gaining properties are.

Don’t get anything fried, this includes French fries, onion rings, or even fried chicken.

Opt for tea or water in lieu of a soda.

Avoid desert.  The sugar just isn’t worth it. 

Limit how often you eat fast food to once per week or less.

Get a wrap at a sandwich shop instead of a toasted sub. Less bread and just as filling with all the fixings you want.

When you get pizza, get vegetables on it so you aren’t just eating bread, sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.

Eating at Home

The best thing to do is find a way to cook meals most nights of the week. This can take planning and team work.

Have at least one non-meat dish every week. It doesn’t have to be fish or seafood either.

Don’t use fast cooking rice to go with your meals. Those are again loaded with carbohydrates, which take your body longer to break down and will make you hungry sooner than you should be. Opt for fiber rich brown rice instead.

Plan weekly meals so that you can cook casseroles and other easy to reheat dishes early in the week for days you will not have time to cook.

Utilize your crock-pot or Inst-pot and get a couple recipe books so you can try something new. You can make just about anything in a crock pot these days and have a good meal when you get home.

Have salad a few times a week with your dinner, but keep it simple with the dressing.  A drizzle of olive oil with either vinegar or a squeeze of lemon is delicious!

It’s okay to indulge once in a while.  Having a plan will help that to be less often. If you need a guide on dining out, please email me with the subject line “Dining Out” and I will send it to you.