CommunityBrowse groupsBlogEtiquetteInvite Your friendsSuccess Stories

Lounge
Community 


Any fast food addicts here?

A few months ago I ate fast food as often as twice a day or atleast 5 times a week. If anyone out there was like me and loves mcdonalds I would watch that movie, "Super Size Me" you'll be amazed and grossed out. Also did you know fast food can put cow eye balls, brains and anything else into a hamburger as long as it comes from the cow b/c it's considered 100% beef! Did you know at Long John Silvers 20 pounds of pure fat is put into each of the fryers everyday? Then every last bit of food they have is immersed in it for a period of time. Good things to consider next time you dont feel like cooking dinner!


Tue. Nov 1, 10:53pm

Add comment  
Fast food

what do you do then when you are a full time student and then work parttime? I have home work when I get home and laundry and all the other household chores that come with living and being married. So the cooking falls to my husband, though the sad thing is what do you do when you are so busy you cannot even fit in time to go to the grocery store. we eat out more than five times a week. I think we would starve otherwise. what should we do??

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 9:09 AM

Add comment
I find it hard to believe that you are so busy that you can't take 20 - 30 min to make something fast. How about a roasted chicken from the supermarket, most cost around $6, a lot less then a fast food meal. A can of veggies, even steamed veggies take less then 10 min. When I worked 2 jobs and went to school I relied on my crockpot most of the time. Pasta, a can of sauce, meat, you got dinner that only took you 5 min to put in. Crock pots are great if your busy, most stuff you just throw in and plug it in and go. It only takes 10-20 min to make most things, you should respect your body enough to feed it good healthy food. To the first poster, you should read Fast Food Nation, if you liked Super Size Me you'll love this.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 10:31 AM

Add comment
increasingly grossed out by fast food

I used to like to get a mcdonald's or burger king burger every now and then... but I'm increasingly just grossed out by eating their meat. And I've gotten to used to eating smaller meals that the calorie bomb of, say, a Quarter Pounder with a coke and fries, justs knocks me out -- actually makes me feel sick.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 10:49 AM

Add comment
I eat out a lot too - but, before I go somewhere, I check online to find out the calorie contents of their meals. Even if you have to go to McDonald's, you can get an incredibly healthy meal - get a grilled chicken sandwich, skip the bun, and apple dippers on the side. You've got a lean protein and fruit. At Subway, get a salad, or a veggie or turkey sandwich on whole wheat with vinegar instead of mayo. At Pizza Hut, get thin-crust pizza and eat one slice with a side salad.

For quick meals at home, keep low carb wheat bread in the freezer, pull out two slices and toast them and make a sandwich with a can of tuna or chicken, or some deli turkey. Buy a bag of frozen stew veggies and a pack of stew meat and a can of tomato sauce, throw all of them in a crockpot in the AM - takes less than 5 minutes - and put the crock pot on low, and leave for the day. When you get home, beef stew is waiting for you!

For lunches out, most peoples' soups aren't so bad, especially if they're not cream-based. Pair a cup of soup with a side salad with some lean protein or a hardboiled egg or something like that.

You really don't need to eat fast food burgers in order to eat cheaply and quickly!

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 11:15 AM

Add comment
RE: Fast Food

My boyfriend and I were recently in the same situation as you and your husband. We live together and were both in school, me working part-time, him working full-time nights.

Our solution to the problem of constantly eating out was to set Sunday morning as our shopping and cooking morning. We tried to do all of our shopping and cooking for the week on that morning before he went to work (at 3pm). The thing about eating out is that in addition to being "expensive" in calories, it was getting just plain expensive.

It wasn't 100%. We still found ourselves grabbing food on the way to class or work, but not nearly as often as we did before. I graduated this spring, so now I am working full time while he is still in school and working 32hrs/week. That leaves a little more time for me to cook during the week, but for the most part we've stuck with our Sunday shopping & cooking. It's just more convenient, and we're in the routine anyway.

Maybe something similar will work for you & your husband too.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 11:36 AM

Add comment
I agree with the poster above who suggested looking up healthy choices at the various restaurants you frequent. I use take-out or eat out 5-7 times a week and I am able to stick to a pretty strict diet. I like to use Dietfacts.com (link below) for restaurant nutrition information, or there are fast food diet books if you would like something you can take with you.

Link

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 1:48 PM

Add comment
I am a full time student and work full time at Long John silvers. I know how it is to find time to cook but I think you made it a habbit of eating fast food and that is not a good thing. You will become obese quicker than anything! Not to mention all the nutrients you're deoriving your body of and the ateries you're clogging. Your body is the only thing you have and if I was you I would make time to eat healthy because in the long run it wll pay off.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005, 10:49 PM

Add comment
You say you're busy with things like laundry in your free time - the time that a load of laundry is in the washer or the dryer is more than enough time to make a good meal! Make something big once a week - veggie lasagna (eggplant or zucchini instead of noodles, or at least some of the noodles), a stew or thick soup, pasta w/ whole wheat noodles, some sort of chicken dish, etc., and put it into serving-sized tupperware containers and freeze them - then just pull one out each night and microwave! Or, leave the first 2-3 days in the fridge and freeze the rest, then pull 2 more out after 2 days and put in the fridge to thaw, etc... Buy a bag of salad at the beginning of the week, and have that on the side every night, with some light dressing on the side. Or, for when you're really short on time, stock up on Lean Cuisines or Healthy Choice frozen meals when they're on sale - most have a veggie and a protein at least, and when they're on sale, they're like $2 or less! And a whole meal is less calories than one McDonald's plain cheeseburger! Have some salad or an apple or some yogurt or low-fat cottage cheese on the side, and it'll be a healthy and filling meal.

Thursday, November 03, 2005, 9:00 AM

Add comment
time

I know people look at the fact that we have no time to make anything as just silly. But one poster said put something in the crockpot. when? I really do leave the house at 7:00am every day and usually do not come back utill after 6pm. What about those tv meals like healthy choice are they any better that eating out??

Thursday, November 03, 2005, 10:58 AM

Add comment
You can put things in the crockpot at 7am, and leave them cook until 6pm, that's how crock pots work. Really, they're awesome!! Or throw everything in the crock pot the night before (even frozen stuff), if you have a crock pot w/ a removable glass bowl inside, and then just put that glass bowl in the fridge overnight; just pull it out, put it in the crock pot, and turn on the crock pot before you leave! Otherwise, just throw everything in a big bowl in the fridge the night before, and just pour the bowl into the crock pot in the AM. Pretty much all crock pot meals are supposed to be in there for 8-12 hours, and none will be hurt by cooking for longer...

Thursday, November 03, 2005, 11:27 AM

Add comment
When I am too tired (or lazy, or it's too late) to cook when I get home, I always turn to Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice selections. They are portion-controlled and well-balanced. I pair the frozen entree with a salad (lettuce from a bag) and sometimes another vegetable. It fills me up, and I know it's better and cheaper for me than fast food. They do have higher sodium contents that you need to be aware of, but otherwise quick, easy and delicious.

Thursday, November 03, 2005, 11:41 AM

Add comment
If you have to get something take out or fast, try calling in an order to a Chinese restaurant. I know that most offer half orders or get a full order and have leftovers. There are lots of good options and you can get them steamed so you don't have to worry about extra oils and sauces. Just a thought. Sometimes it's hard to break a habit.

Thursday, November 03, 2005, 6:31 PM

Add comment
After seeing fast food nation, no. That was eye opening. It's an addiction, just like cigarettes.

Monday, November 07, 2005, 2:29 PM

Add comment
BUSY? Foods that are healthier than fast food, and faster than driving to the drive in:
Pasta with putanesca sauce (one can of tomatoes, one can of olives, half can of tomato paste, capers to taste. serves about 3; 4 if 2 are kids): cook all the items in one pan on low heat while the pasta water is boiling. If you get capellini, it only takes 3 minutes to cook once it's boiling.

Fake caserole tuna dish: For 1, plus leftovers for lunch (good on rye bread). Dump one can of tuna, one can of pinto beans and 2 slices of mozzarella cheese in a small saucepan. Cook until warm. Add lots of pepper, and some lemon juice, lemon flakes, or garlic flakes. Also good on rye toast.

Let me know if you want more. I am a seriously lazy cook, but I like good food.

Oh, also, many stores sell premarinated meats. I have Trader Joe's teriyaki frozen chicken. Microwaves in 1-2 minutes. It costed 5$ for the meal equivalent of 4 meals. (Add instant rice, it's a whole meal. Cheap as/cheaper than fast food, and way better than it).

Monday, November 07, 2005, 8:56 PM

Add comment
I'm a full time student also, and between work and planning a wedding... cooking is hard. I find that nothing but almost religious planning will allow me to eat healthy on supper busy days. Fruit is great, throw an apple in your bagpack and go, oranges, bananas.. and most campuses offer some store that will sell these items (at a slight mark up, so try to plan ahead if you can) Also, just scanning the menu when you do eat out, most places offer something that won't ruin a diet in one fatal swoop.

Saturday, January 28, 2006, 1:57 PM

Add comment
Supersize me was ok BUT...

The doc really should have proven to more people that lack of will power, lack of time and being too lazy to become active are what causes obesity, not just McDonald's on its own. Now, don't get me wrong, I can't eat McD's anymore....just stepping into the place kinda turns my stomach now that I eat high fibre foods and lean meats but Supersize Me set out to prove that eating McD's all the time will make you fat.

Obviously, eating high fat fast foods will make you obese and give you health problems. There was another over weight person (somewhere in the US) though who set out to prove that Supersize me was too one-sided. She ate only from fast food restaurants but studied the nutritional guide before choosing. She often ordered grilled chicken sandwichs without mayo and skipped the bun, ordering salad as her side and drinking water instead of soda. At sub places she remembered to lay off the cheese and fattening dressings. She NEVER ordered "a muffin and a coffee" because made commercially, muffins are usually super high in fat. She increased her exercise but only minimally, and guess what, she lost pounds and pounds of weight. She ended up going to the papers with her logs, I think she called her diet "Mini-mize me".

Fast food is bad but no, it's NOT the devil people make it out to be. People need to start realizing that companies will continue to make artery clogging meals because the consumers continue to do just that, consume them!!! Don't eat fast food 5 times a week but if you do find yourself in a crunch...just pick something wisely. (And if they ask you if you want it supersized have the brains to say no!)

Saturday, January 28, 2006, 2:45 PM

Add comment
Quick meals for the time-starved:

Bagged salad will save you time -- pour some low-fat dressing over it, warm up some pre-cooked chicken and toss it in, chop up veggies if you have some, and dried cranberries are a little expensive, but tasty.

Put a baked potato or sweet potato or two in the microwave for 5 minutes (don't forget to pierce the skin so it doesn't explode). Put some cheese or plain yogurt and salsa on that puppy -- oh, so yummy.

Oatmeal takes five minutes or so to make, and I've even had it for dinner. Its a satisfying, comforting dinner.

When you have to eat fast food -- make a rule for yourself. You have to get the healthiest options available to you. Over time, fast food will seem less attractive to you (yes, the lure of french fries will lessen, I promise). Wendy's has some great side-salads and baked potatoes. Go to Panera if you are feeling flush -- all of their nutrition info is up on thier website, too.

Saturday, January 28, 2006, 3:22 PM

Add comment
bump...

Tuesday, October 03, 2006, 11:58 AM

Add comment
I love the new fruit with walniuts and yogurt! Their ice cream cone isn't fattening either We make the chioces!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006, 12:19 PM

Add comment
As a former fast food junkie, I have had to reform myself to get used to doing these things. My husband works 55-60 hours per week, is working on his MBA, I run a business from home, volunteer at my kids' school and at church and shuttle two kids to activites 3-4 nights per week. We decided about five months ago that we were going to go out for dinner 3 times per month, maximum. We've done fairly well with just a couple of exceptions while on vacation.

I agree that the crock-pot dinners and the planning ahead. You can also easily overcook for the two of you and put the leftovers to good use. I also try to do a major prep day of food - either Sunday or Monday to get set for the week.

You can put a pork roast in for one night's dinner and shred the leftovers, top with some BBQ sauce and make sandwiches for later in the week.

You can cook a whole chicken in the crock pot overnight, debone in the morning, shred the meat and you have cooked chicken (seasoned the way you like) for soups, casseroles, sandwiches, whatever. It freezes beautifully. You can do the same with chicken breasts, if you don't like dark meat, but you don't have to cook them as long (or you can do them on the "keep warm" setting if you have it).

Buy a large quantity of ground beef (5 lbs. works well) and brown it all at one time. Drain, rinse, and package into one pound increments in plastic bags and freeze. Thaw what you need as you need it and it saves you about 15 minutes at dinnertime.

We also make these egg "muffins" for breakfast (see link - which I originally found on PT - I do use the silicone pans) on the weekend and freeze them - I put one in the fridge each night for each of us, warm them in the mircowave for about 90 seconds in the morning and you have a pretty filling breakfast. Add a piece of fruit and you're good to go.

Link

Tuesday, October 03, 2006, 8:43 PM

Add comment
No time to shop? Try having your groceries delivered by PeaPod. It doesn't cost very much (less than $5, I believe) and you can even save lists of previously purchased items and get the same thing each week. Also saves money on impulse buying.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006, 10:10 PM

Add comment
Is sushi fast food?

If so, I'm addicted!

Thursday, October 05, 2006, 2:32 AM

Add comment
The calories and fat in chinese food differ dramatically- it can be ok fast food. I have weaned myself from General Tso's chicken, and now have some much lower fat options. I go easy on the rice as well.

Link

Wednesday, November 08, 2006, 11:01 AM

Add comment








Related Content:

How To Lose Weight- The Basics
Weight Watchers Points System
The Fat Smash Diet
The Eat To Live Diet
The Beck Diet Solution
How To Get The Motivation To Lose Weight

 

How To Be Successful Using PEERtrainer

How To Burn Fat
Online Weight Loss Support- How It Works
Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?
Tips On Using PEERtrainer
Visit The PEERtrainer Community
Diet and Fitness Resources

Fitness

Weight Watchers Meetings
Learning To Inspire Others: You Already Are
Writing Down Your Daily Workouts
Spending Money On A Personal Trainer?
How I Became A Marathon Runner

 

Preventive Health

How To Prevent Injuries During Your Workout
Flu Season: Should You Take The Flu Shot?
Are You Really Ready To Start PEERtrainer?
Super Foods That Can Boost Your Energy
Reversing Disease Through Nutrition

New Diet and Fitness Articles:

Weight Watchers Points Plus
How To Adjust Your Body To Exercise
New: Weight Watchers Momentum Program
New: PEERtrainer Blog Archive
Review Of The New Weight Watchers Momentum Program
 

Weight Loss Motivation by Joshua Wayne:

Why Simple Goal Setting Is Not Enough
How To Delay Short Term Gratification
How To Stay Motivated
How To Exercise With A Busy Schedule

Real World Nutrition and Fitness Questions

Can Weight Lifting Help You Lose Weight?
Are Protein Drinks Safe?
Nutrition As Medicine?
 

Everyday Weight Loss Tips

How To Eat Healthy At A Party
How To Eat Out And Still Lose Weight
The Three Bite Rule
Tips On How To Stop A Binge