Hi everyone!! What’s for dinner tonight? Are you cooking or going out? It’s very convenient to go through the fast food drive through and pick up dinner to avoid cooking, but overall it is doing more harm than good. Keep reading to find out what the benefits of not eating fast food is and why it’s a good idea to stop eating it once and for all.
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Benefits of not eating fast food
Reduce the amount of calories you eat
When we eat large amounts of fast food the calorie intake is extremely high.
Cheeseburger 300 calories, fries 230 calories, Soda 170 calories = 700 calories
I have listed an average meal someone might get at a fast food restaurant to show how many calories you would eat. Since I am limiting my calories to 1200 a day, I would only have 500 left to use for the rest of the day if I were to order this meal. So, this would not leave me with a lot of options to eat other meals throughout the day.
As a result of quitting fast food, there would be a better chance of losing weight by not consuming all the high calorie foods.
Fast food can be replaced with healthier foods
If we quit eating high calorie fast food, we have a better chance of getting healthier foods into our diet. I notice when I eat healthier foods like fruits and vegetables I start to crave them more and not so much the greasy foods.
Risk of disease and health problems are decreased
Foods that have large amounts of saturated fat, sodium and sugar give us a higher chance of disease, diabetes, weight gain and tooth decay. Staying away from these foods will reduce the risk and help stay healthier.
Skin will improve
Cutting back on foods with grease, carbs and salt will help stop breakouts and clear up skin problems you may be facing.
Save money
Fast food can be cheap, but is it worth spending any amount of money on food that doesn’t have any benefits for us? Maybe take that money you would spend and put it aside until you have a nice amount to spend on something you’ve been wanting.
Tips on how to quit fast food
Plan ahead
Each week plan your meals in advance. Also, make sure the food is in the house so what you plan can be made. So the food doesn’t get wasted, you’ll be more willing to make the food that’s in refrigerator instead of going out.
Take a different route
Until you’ve kicked the habit, take driving routes that don’t lead you past fast food restaurants. If we don’t see the restaurants, we may not think about wanting it.
Prepare Meals ahead
When preparing for work, make sure you have a lunch packed. For dinners, a quick meal is to make a bunch of freezer recipes ahead of time. This is convenient if in a hurry, just being able to pull out a meal from the freezer and warm it up.
Reward yourself
Take the money saved from not buying the fast food and reward yourself with something that benefits you. Maybe take that $20-$30 a month and use it for a gym membership or a new outfit.
Choose Wisely
Sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house and have someone else cook for you. So, if you must go out for a meal, choose wisely. Some fast food restaurants have salads, apples and other healthier choices. If you know you are heading to a certain restaurant, check out their on-line menu ahead of time. This way you can plan what your going to eat before you get there and there won’t be the temptation to order a different meal.
So, in conclusion, it’s healthier to not eat fast food but if you must, watch how many calories you eat. When trying to decide just remember all the benefits from stopping and how much better it is for us.
If you are looking for delicious recipes to try, check out the recipe’s made with love page.