Picture this:
You're shopping at the mall, it's around 4 in the afternoon and you ate lunch at noon. You haven't had an afternoon snack. It was a last minute shopping trip so no healthy snack was packed "just in case".
You're walking along and start feeling hungry... really hungry like when your stomach is hurting and you're getting a headache type of hungry.
You look around and all you see is pizza, kfc, mexican food, ice cream, popcorn stand, jugo juice, asian fast food, starbucks...
What do you do?
I would recognize that it was probably no coincidence I found myself in that situation. It sounds like the type of situation I've been known to unknowingly create in the past as a way to not feel guilty about eating stuff that I shouldn't. I used to time my errands so I was 'out and about' at a time I knew I'd be hungry and therefore have a 'reason' to stop for fast food.
That may or may not be the case with you, however. There are very few places that don't offer at least SOMETHING healthy on the menu. Ideally, I'd try and choose the least naughty thing and eat it.
these are great! thanks! I didn't know i could get a banana at starbucks!
I know i didn't "create" this situation to eat junk because I don't normally eat in fast food restaurants anyways... but it's great to know i could find something healthy and not ruin my day because of bad planning!!
I would head to the KFC, and grab a couple of sides of veggies. Yes, they put butter on them, but they're still fewer calories than whatever else you might eat there. Or ask the popcorn vendor if they have any unbuttered pc. Maybe not, but it's worth a shot!
If I needed it to be dinner, I'd have a piece of pizza with lots of veggies if possible, or Chinese food. If I just wanted to tide myself over, I'd get a latte.
Tall non fat skinny latte and a biscotti is my go-to "fast food" snack of choice.
Honestly - I always know what I'm having for every meal for the entire week by Sunday afternoon, I can't recall ever getting stuck at the mall at mealtime without a healthy option. I know I'm an "over planner" but it really works for me. If I were going to be at the mall for "snack time" I'd have dried mango or a Nectar bar in my purse (they are nearly always in my purse, anyways).
I don't like "I'm hungry, but I dont have a healthy choice options!" so I try to limit it from happening. I'm like Kirk and the Kobayashi Maru - I cheat the test in advance to make sure I always pass.