I CANT AVOID FAST FOOD

tmiqueen

Make ahead meals that can be zapped in the microwave. I used to work three jobs, was a single mom who never missed a game, AND I was in four choirs and I still managed to have time to cook a simple meal. If healthful eating is important to you, you'll MAKE the time...even if it's reheating leftovers from a day when you DID have time. Rachael Ray has made a living out of making meals in 30 minutes.

Healthy food isn't half as expensive as even a value meal at McDonald's and you can have enough leftovers to eat on it for several days. Can you say that about a cheeseburger meal?

You also have the option of picking the more healthy options. At McDonald's buy a fruit parfait and a salad with low-cal dressing along with bottled water, as opposed to a Big Mac meal and soda. Eat a veggie sub from Subway, instead of the meatball sub with extra cheese.

southerngirlspa

I think the OP mostly needs suggestions of stuff she can do.

1) Good for you for asking the question.

2) Whatever your situation, you can definitely eat MORE healthy food than you are eating now. A 5 pound bag of apples is cheap, and if you eat 2 apples a day, you have just had a MAJOR improvement in overall health. Steamer bags of frozen veggies can be cheap, and are super healthy. Spices are pricey, but go a long way towards making those veggies edible. (Start with lemon pepper!)

3) Over time, you can learn to make inexpensive large meals on the weekends and parcel it out. Try making one new thing each week.

4) Read the NerdFitness article I posted - it's awesome and right on topic.

Good luck - you can do it!

Agreed with all of this! Add me as a friend if you would like. I cook all the time and try to make it cheap, easy and in big portions for my family of four then enough to take as leftovers. I've started posting recipes in the recipe forum and I would be happy to share them with you or anyone else who needs suggestions! Good luck!

jbeauchamp1

Remember fast food is just as expensive, if not more so, than buying health foods. You purchase one meal at a time for 5-7 bucks whereas if you watch sales you can buy a pound of healthy lean meat or fish with fresh veggies that will cover multiple meals for the same amount you spend during the week eating out. You really need to make time to cook even if it is one day a week that you prep for the whole week. You can choose all of the healthy choices you want eating out but you will also consume extra additives and sodium that your body does not need. I promise you will feel so much better when you eat fresh foods....it makes alot of difference!

mamafrahm

Healthy food isn't as expensive as eating fast food all the time. If you really want to make your self healthier, you need to quit making excuses like "I can't avoid fast food" because that is a lie.. you are just too lazy to avoid it.

Elizabeth_C34

I go to school far away from home, so I only go there on weekends, anyway, from where I live I'm surrounded by fastfood everywhere and as much as i'd like to cook my own healthy food. healthy food is expensive, and i dont really have time to cook.. any sugguestions?

Repeat after me: Crock Pot

There are some amazing super easy, super cheap, and virtually no-prep time crock pot recipes out there. I have a lot if you would like some. Just message me or look through some of the recipes on MFP or other places.

shelbyfrootcake

Have you tried batch cooking healthy dinners? That way for the time taken to cook one meal you can have a several. Cook it, freee it and you've got quick healthy dinners ready when you want them. It'll work out much cheaper than fast fod every day as well!

Julieta17

Healthy food isn't as expensive as eating fast food all the time. If you really want to make your self healthier, you need to quit making excuses like "I can't avoid fast food" because that is a lie.. you are just too lazy to avoid it.

Is that the way you encourage people on here??? Glad you are not my friend!!!!

How about offering some helpful tips or ideas on how she can eat healthy & not spend too much!

kritik

Take some time on the weekends and do some "batch cooking". Make several batches of grilled chicken, etc., separate it into servings, stick them into ziploc baggies and take them w/you. As far as healthy food being expensive. It's not more expensive than eating fast food several times a day. Buying healthy, lean protein and veggies is much less expensive than buying junkfood.

lockef

Buy a whole rotisserie chicken at a supermarket. Take off all the meat and put it in tupperware. Use the meat to make sandwiches, wraps, or on top of salads.

Pangea250

sometimes i have time to, but I cant find cheap recipes.

Oh come one now. Fast food is WAY more expensive than preparing your own food.

Schwiggs

Then eat the healthy option at fast food places or get something at a convenience store. (it really is easy to find something healthy at either place). People who think that food can only be healthy if it's prepared by themselves are misguided imo.

Pangea250

I see you are new to MFP. So...

Setof2Keys

...Oh please, you all remember what it was like when you first started to make your changes...You may not know how to get started or not educated about what healthy means and how to make it a priority, that's why she is here asking. You are all right about it being a choice, but give the girl some suggestions.

1. Get a cheap little crock pot. You can put veggies, chicken, lean pork, and all kinds of things in there. This will usually make several meals.
2. Raw fruits and veggies is great, find it at the grocery store and keep it on hand. If there is not a store nearby, there has to be farms. Get to them, they are fresher that way anyway.
3. Get your friends involved so that you can do it together, plus you guys can share foods so there is more of a variety.
4. If you're a college girl, see if you qualify for food stamps in your state. It will assist you to buy foods and often offer classes to assist you to eat better. In OR you would qualify for $200 a month if you didn't work, but attended school.
5. Make it your priority.
6. Research your FF menus beforehand. You will probably be shocked and sickened, but you can also make a better choice before you go to these places. They are also required to have a Nutritional Guide available for you to look at. Read it while your friends order. Your friends will prob catch on.

Gigi_licious

Then eat the healthy option at fast food places or get something at a convenience store. (it really is easy to find something healthy at either place). People who think that food can only be healthy if it's prepared by themselves are misguided imo.

:flowerforyou:

momof8munchkins

purchase a crockpot and the fix it and forget it light cookbook.. then think fresh fruit and veggies, nuts not that hard and takes very little time. It will be much cheaper than eating out all the time.

Seajolly

Don't make excuses. It is actually more expensive to eat fast food than to cook your own, healthier food!

I made a veggie soup the other night loaded with carrots, celery, garlic, onions, tomatoes, lentils, and quinoa for about $15 and it made 6 servings, which equals out to $2.50 a meal. It only took me about 45 mins to make. Here is the recipe: http://cleaneatingchelsey.com/2011/04/17/quinoa-vegetable-soup/

CrisN99

I go to school far away from home, so I only go there on weekends, anyway, from where I live I'm surrounded by fastfood everywhere and as much as i'd like to cook my own healthy food. healthy food is expensive, and i dont really have time to cook.. any sugguestions?

Repeat after me: Crock Pot

There are some amazing super easy, super cheap, and virtually no-prep time crock pot recipes out there. I have a lot if you would like some. Just message me or look through some of the recipes on MFP or other places.

^^^^^^^^ Definitely this!

You don't have to have time to use this great tool! Just throw a few chicken breasts in carrots, potatoes, peas and a can of low sodium chicken broth or cream of chicken soup if you like it thicker and serve (up to four meals- that will freeze well) over brown rice.

Join allrecipes for free and you can spend hours compiling healthy, quick recipes.

Just want it enough and you will get it. I too thought fast food was the only thing I could manage: but even if you only eat out half as much you will be doing yourself a great favor! Good luck!

Bankman1989

I go to school far away from home, so I only go there on weekends, anyway, from where I live I'm surrounded by fastfood everywhere and as much as i'd like to cook my own healthy food. healthy food is expensive, and i dont really have time to cook.. any sugguestions?

Yeah right. You can't MAKE your food before you go to school? Or the night before? There are fast food places everywhere but don't allow yourself to believe the lame excuses you are making. There's gotta be a store or something near by if you look hard enough.

gsager

I think you are just choosing to eat fast food so rock on.....I could all my food for the week on the weekend so that I don't have to wonder about what I'm going to eat.

TMcBooty

I want to say something positive but.. I just keep laughing.

If you want to lose 30 lbs you will make it possible to buy and cook healthy food.

TMcBooty

I think you are just choosing to eat fast food so rock on.....I cook all my food for the week on the weekend so that I don't have to wonder about what I'm going to eat.

I do the same thing!

Alice230

I think you can avoid it but,I'll play along. You can get a salad or a chicken sandwich and substitute the fries for the apple wedges they have. Don't eat the dipping sauce they have and drink water with the meal.

lakersfan4life

Eating healthier foods is not always cheaper like most of you claim. Especially for someone like me who eats over 2600 calories a day.

I can go to Buger King and get two sausage biscuits for $2 and get 900 calories out of it. Now tell me what whole foods i can get for $2 and get the same amount of calories?

I'm by no means saying its better for you. But as far as bang for the buck .......................

poustotah

I feed a family of 5 on $3 per person for dinner. So $15. If we were to go to McDonald's, it would cost us $30.00. And we eat good at home. Last night we had balsamic glazed pork chops with roasted potatoes, steamed asparagus and a salad. I think this is a VERY reasonable cost for a healthy meal.

stresco

Its a choice you have to make for yourself. I travel constantly for work and when I am home I am swamped with catchup work and my kids. So i know what it is like to not have enough hours in a day. Try cooking large quantities, enough for 4 - 5 meals and freeze it. If you can do this 3 - 4 times a month, you will have dinner covered and lunches covered. I also carry protein bars with me in my laptop bag everywhere I go, so I have a healthy choice for a snack at airports. Finally, when you have no choice but to eat out, look for healthier items on the menu. You can find a chicken salad anywhere and everywhere.

Bankman1989

Fat food is expensive! You can make a meal for two on what a fast food meal costs. There are all sorts of ways of eating healthy for cheap but people are not willing to shop around as they just want convinience food.

Heck yeah it is. I make my breakfast lunch and dinner for about $6 a day. $8 if i have steak. It's a lot cheaper than spending $10 on a big mac fries and shake!

lemonadem

I've had that schedule, esp in college. I literally was scrambling to find time to even eat some days, much less cook! What I found the most helpful was the suggestion that's already been made here about pre-making meals. Wraps were huge for me... I'd boil chicken and divide it out, and then grab a pack from the freezer to add to my wrap... to eat on the go.

When you get that time to cook, make more than one meal. Warming something up is the same amount of time as going through a drive through line; and usually healthier and better tasting.

mamafrahm

Healthy food isn't as expensive as eating fast food all the time. If you really want to make your self healthier, you need to quit making excuses like "I can't avoid fast food" because that is a lie.. you are just too lazy to avoid it.

Is that the way you encourage people on here??? Glad you are not my friend!!!!

How about offering some helpful tips or ideas on how she can eat healthy & not spend too much!

Offer helpful tips? Ok... Go to Aldi's or Walmart, they have lots of fresh fruits and veggies at good prices, ANY store has healthy food choices. Get a crock pot if you don't have time to prepare a meal. Don't buy pre-packaged vegetables that you heat in a microwave.. microwaving vegetables (or any foods for that matter) defeats the purpose of buying veggies. These are things that anyone who wants to make a healthy lifestyle change should know. I'm not saying avoid fast food all together, but to say you can't avoid it at all is nuts..

And as far as how I encourage people on here.... sometimes the truth hurts. Ever hear of the phrase tough love? Sometimes that is what people need.

Qarol

Cooking does not have to be time consuming and does not have to be expensive...get creative. Google is your friend.

stresco

Cooking at home is MUCH cheaper than eating out, no matter what kind of food you order at the rest.