Transitioning off fast food

Boringfakename
Boringfakename Posts: 15 Member
in Food and Nutrition

I love fast food! I will probably always love it, but it doesn't love me back.

For me the last straw wasn't dietary, but financial. I wanted to order a large pizza from a cheap major franchise. With all the delivery fees, it came to $40! I went into the kitchen, fired up my bread machine, and baked my own. It was a breakthrough as I realized I could do that with all my favorite fast foods - I bought a package of 95% ground beef patties, whole grain buns, and tater tots. I make my own whole-grain pizza thin crusts and sauce from scratch. I brew my own sweet tea or drink seltzer water. I bake lower-sugar pastries that are heavy on fruits, like cobblers. Instead of milkshakes I make fruit and yogurt smoothies. Or chocolate yogurt smoothies. Also delicious!

None of these are nutritionally perfect, but it's changing my habits in a sustainable way. I have much more control over what goes into my food and it saves me a lot of money. The goal isn't to give up on these foods entirely, but to reduce my consumption over time and make them more and more healthy when I do enjoy them.

Has anyone else tried this? How did it work out for you? Were you able to maintain with the new pattern? I'd love to hear some alternate approaches to controlling fast food consumption.

Replies

  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,725 Member

    It's quite eye-opening, right? I do have 'fast food' every now and then, but I cook it myself. I make my own burgers, pulled pork with bread buns, various wraps, etc. And I decide how many calories they have.

  • charliemuscles
    charliemuscles Posts: 4 Member

    Yo I felt this deep. I grew up on fast food too and still love it if I’m honest but yeah, it don’t love me back. Especially with my type 2, it’s like every burger just drags me down now. What you said about that $40 pizza hit home too. I had a similar moment when I realized I was spending half my paycheck just trying to eat quick and not deal with cooking. That was my wake up.

  • NotForJustNowForever
    NotForJustNowForever Posts: 53 Member
    edited July 7

    100% relate. I find that now I don't crave fast food when I go out because my versions are better (and I feel better afterwards!) 😆 I'm a foodie of sort at heart, so I really don't do well with not allowing myself some foods. So with all the tastes and flavors I enjoy, I try to make a "better-all-around-version" at home.

    I need to improve my pastry game now so that I can do the same.

    Also, unrelated: love your handle/name here!

  • AdahPotatah2024
    AdahPotatah2024 Posts: 3,729 Member
    edited July 7

    Yes, I haven't had any fast food (drive thrus) since the end of last year and have saved so much money! Although it was tough at first, I don't even think about them as an option now. Also, I've been maintaining my weight at 4-5 lbs lighter. It is hard to say this is just the fast food challenge because I did make some other changes, but I usually drift toward 140-144 lbs (5'1) and now 135-139.

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10929393/2025-zero-fast-food-challenge-2025

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