Staying away from fast food

laureneh01 · February 2017

How does everyone stay away from fast food? Need some advice

laceyslabaugh · February 2017

I just mentally tell myself that losing weight, feeling better and noticing a difference in me overall is better than any food tastes ....

CafeRacer808 · February 2017

I cook and freeze individual portions of things like soup, casseroles, lasagne, enchiladas, etc. It's great for both grab-and-go meals and for nights when I don't feel like cooking. Also, defrosting and reheating my own food is faster and more convenient than driving to a fast food place. It tastes better too, if I do say so myself.

cwolfman13 · February 2017

For the most part I find it to be basically on par with pig slop, so it's not much of an issue. I've never been a big fan. Occasionally I will get a salad and/or baked potato from Wendy's and that's about it.

Admittedly I'm a total food snob...fast food is just gross to me for the most part.

lightenup2016 · February 2017

I don't really stay away--sometimes it's just a convenience thing with the kids, or on car trips. I just get a small portion of nuggets and fries, or a grilled chicken sandwich, or a bean burrito if it's Taco Bell, or even a sausage/egg Mcmuffin with hash browns or a few fries. Sometimes I'll get a grilled chicken salad and just go easy on toppings and dressing. It's mostly the sodium that makes me gain some water weight, but I can usually stick to my calories.

I sometimes split a larger order of nuggets or fries with my husband or kids--this also helps with keeping quantity down. And drive-thrus are nice so you don't go back to order more!

ETA: if it's purely a convenience thing, sandwich shops like Subway or Jimmy John's can be lower cal and relatively healthy. I usually get a turkey sandwich loaded up with vegetables.

In any case, most of these places have their full menu listed in MFP--you can plan ahead before you go!

janejellyroll · February 2017

I have Taco Bell a couple of times a month. I just fit it in my calorie goal.

If you find that eating fast food is causing you to miss your goals, figure out why you're picking it. If it's because you love the taste of certain items, figure out a way to make them fit into your goals (which may mean eating smaller portions or eating them less often). If it's a convenience thing, figure out how to plan your life so you don't need to do it as often.

andrea4736 · February 2017

It doesn't fill me up so that helps me avoid it. If I eat a quarter pounder with cheese and fries, I've used up a huge portion of my daily calories. From past experience, I'll be hungry an hour later and not have many calories to work with. So for me, it's just not worth it. I pre-log whenever I think about it and quickly change my mind.

Need2Exerc1se · February 2017

I just don't go to fast food restaurants. They've never offered to bring the fast food to me so it's worked pretty well for me.

TeaBea · February 2017

laureneh01 wrote: »

How does everyone stay away from fast food? Need some advice

Once a week.

I make room for it in my goals. Because it's not total elimination, I look forward to it. BUT, over time it makes me really picky. Most fast food isn't worth the calories. It's a good practice for me to figure out what's what before I get to goal.

What @andrea4736 said, pre-logging is so helpful. I'll do sandwich, but fries are rare for me.

deannalfisher · February 2017

if I really want it, then I try to plan it in my schedule - I take the longer way home from work to avoid the main drag that has all those restaurants (the other way takes me right by grocery store)

H_Ock12 · February 2017

I ate fast food regularly while losing weight, just making sure it fit in my calories...there are many fast food items that I greatly enjoy. Now, I allow for it once a week and cycle through my favorite spots. This week, it'll be Cookout...last week it was Taco Bell.

malibu927 · February 2017

I don't avoid it. I eat there at least once a week (I try to only stick to one visit but it doesn't always happen). But I have changed what I order. Smaller sandwiches, no fries.

ritzvin · February 2017

Have food pre-prepared so that stopping for fast food is more effort/time consuming than whatever you made. (basically what @CafeRacer808 said)

matt2673 · February 2017

laureneh01 wrote: »

How does everyone stay away from fast food? Need some advice

Not all fast food is garbage. The key is making good choices and this is where MyFitnessPal can help. What I do is plan ahead and look up the nutrition on MFP first so that when I walk into the joint, I've got my game plan. I went to a Chipolte for lunch and before even ordering, I looked up a few things. I ended up making a good choice: a barbacoa burrito bowl. One of the nice things about Chipolte and Qdoba is that they prepare your food while you stand in line. I told them one small scoop of brown rice and one small scoop of corn to keep the empty carbs down. In the end it makes for a delicious and mostly nutritious meal.

janejellyroll · February 2017

matt2673 wrote: »

laureneh01 wrote: »

How does everyone stay away from fast food? Need some advice

Not all fast food is garbage. The key is making good choices and this is where MyFitnessPal can help. What I do is plan ahead and look up the nutrition on MFP first so that when I walk into the joint, I've got my game plan. I went to a Chipolte for lunch and before even ordering, I looked up a few things. I ended up making a good choice: a barbacoa burrito bowl. One of the nice things about Chipolte and Qdoba is that they prepare your food while you stand in line. I told them one small scoop of brown rice and one small scoop of corn to keep the empty carbs down. In the end it makes for a delicious and mostly nutritious meal.

Neither brown rice or corn are "empty carbs" -- they contain micronutrients and other macros (fat, fiber, protein, Vitamin B-6, magnesium, iron, potassium). I can understand why someone who is calorie-conscious may want to monitor their portion size (they can both be calorie-dense and I usually avoid rice at Chipotle myself), but they aren't "empty."

zdyb23456 · February 2017

Honestly, I don't have an issue because I'm just too frugal/cheap. Those fast food meals add up fast. I avoid Starbucks too - $5 and change for a drink?! No thanks. My bank account thanks me.

Unknown · February 2017

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kommodevaran · February 2017

Is it coming after you?

No? Cook your own food. Google recipes if can't cook. It's not that difficult.

ntnunk · February 2017

MotherOfSharpei wrote: »

I ate fast food regularly while losing weight, just making sure it fit in my calories...there are many fast food items that I greatly enjoy.

^^ This.

Fast food isn't a big deal, just make sure you account for it in your daily calorie budget. And, as always, moderation. One of the major things I've learned through this journey is that you can eat pretty much anything you want. You just can't do it all the time. I eat fast food several times per month and have done so all along.

Ready2Rock206 · February 2017

I suppose it depends on what you consider fast food. You can get some pretty decent healthy non-calorie busting foods at some fast food joints. I tend to not demonize my food and eat anywhere I want that fits my goals.

slomo22 · February 2017

Self-flagellation Dobby style

Biirins · February 2017

I follow IIFYM - I have implemented it in moderation in my regular diet through years. And I work part time in KFC. Serious.

xbowhunter · February 2017

I ask myself if I really want to eat food that a snot nose teenager that didn't wash his hands after pooping to make a meal for me? Hell no!!!!!!!!

pharmdkathy · February 2017

I use to frequent fast food joints (including Jimmy John's, Subway, etc). Since I meal prep, I haven't had a "desire" to get fast food. I have everything I already need without having to drive thru anywhere, instead just reheat in the microwave. I spend about 2-3 hours one day a week prepping everything I need for the week. I write down the weights as I'm filling my containers so I can log when I eat it.
If I know it is going to be a long day (or I have a long car ride), I prep and "meal box". My favorite is smoked salmon with a hardboiled egg, multigrain Wasa crisps and cucumber. Although doing a "southwest" variation is tasty as well -- cubed pepperjack cheese, thin whole grain crackers, red bell peppers, homemade corn tortilla chips, roasted tomato salsa.
If you're going to be out and about with kids/family and they want to go through the fast food, have meal boxes already in the vehicle with food they like and one with food you like.

Rage_Phish · February 2017

i ask myself a simple question

"am i drunk?"

yes - i get fast food
no- i dont

glassyo · February 2017

I never really did. When I was on weight watchers and when I started counting calories instead, I would get some sort of chicken sandwich and a salad and stayed within my points/calories. It eventually turned into just a grilled chicken filet and side salad when I started nixing the bun to save on calories. That eventually turned into an order of grilled chicken strips at Subway because I started taking my full lunch hour to walk instead of sitting down to eat and I like to eat light during the day anyway.

AigreDoux · February 2017

It doesn't tempt me all that much. I tend to think about how much better tasting things I could eat with the calories.

Every once in a while we'll take the kids to McDonalds. They like the indoor playground and the toys. Sometimes I'll bring a turkey sandwich. Otherwise I'll get a Big Mac and a side salad with FF dressing which is like 550 calories or something and reasonable for lunch.

VryIrishGirl76 · February 2017

I try to meal prep as much as I can.
For me, that's when I gravitate towards fast or convenience foods.
And once you realize the difference between $10 at McDonalds and $10 at the grocery store....for me, it was a game changer.

I also carry protein powder and a water bottle with me usually.
Helps hold me over sometimes until I can get home to better choices.

BABetter1 · February 2017

I like the grilled nuggets and side salad at Chic Fil A with avocado lime ranch. No reason to avoid it.

JeromeBarry1 · February 2017

I'm trying to keep money and lose weight. The "fast" in fast food in reality is a description of your poverty.

mattdhall · February 2017

If you really like it, why avoid it? Every fast food place I go to posts detailed nutritional information on its web site, and the consistent, uniform nature of fast food means you don't have to deal with many variables. Look up the nutritional info, put together some meals that fit with your goals, and don't worry about it.

Staying away from fast food

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