Also, I read a quote once somewhere that said, "Going to McDonalds for a salad is like going to a crackhouse for vitamins."
I think that says it all about so-called 'healthy options.'

I wish I could ban it all- but I LOVE Taco bell, I'd say once a month (if that now) I'll have one of the supreme nachos- not the bell grande- the smaller one. Or a taco salad or something.

My fast food is usually subway nowadays- I go to school 2x a week and just get a footlong (eat half before class then the other half after- class is 4 hours). Today I'm going to try the sweet onion chicken teryaki with lettuce, tomato, and that's it lol. Probably gonna get it toasted as well. But that's much healthier than any other "fast food."

I say more power to you if you can do it :D

I just pigged out on Pizza Hut. Yeah, think it's time I swear it off all together.

Hey rainy,

Is your avatar from Love Actually? Such an awesome movie.

Good for you! It's hard mentally to give up fast food, I think, but you actually aren't missing much. The food is high in fat and calories but low in nutrients. Also, the taste isn't that great when compared to healthier foods. It was hard for me to give up fast food, but honestly it has been a great thing. I still get out food once every couple of months, but I think it's ok as long as the rest of the time I eat what makes me healthy. Good for you! And you'll lose those four pounds!

I haven't had it in about 9 months now or more. I don't miss it but if I did I would work it in somehow. In general, the food there just isn't worth the calories. I would rather spend my calories on other stuff.

Fast food can be incorporated into a healty eating style, but you have to be very aware of what you are choosing. First, all fast food likely contains bad ingredients, HOWEVER, I can imagine many common "diet-friendly" foods contain that as well (for example, frozen dinners such as Lean Cuisine, snack bars, etc). I don't view fast food as any different than a lean cuisine.

At McDonalds, you can choose to buy a 1% child's milk, cut apples, and a grilled chicken burger with no sauce. The bun isn't great but it isn't horrible for a once-a-week/month choice. The milk and apples is a great snack if you are shopping in Walmart.

At Taco Bell, you can have a wheat vegan burrito (whole wheat wrap, beans, veggies, no cheese or guac/sour cream, put hot sauce)

Etc... lots of great choices. You have to make the decision.

THEN AGAIN... if it makes you feel like crap, don't eat it! Of course!

Actually, a footlong Sweet Onion Chicken Teryaki has 740 calories, 10g fat, almost 2400mg sodium (!!!!), 120g carbs, (but 50g of protein!).
(http://world.subway.com/Countries/Nu...tionValues.pdf). This is not that much different than a big mac or any other kind of burger! And that doesn't even include the sweet sauce (80 calories for a footlong)

I hope I didn't ruin your lunch, but make sure to check out the nutrition info before assuming it is healthy! Subway has tons of unhealthy "healthy" options!

[/Quote] It's a baseball stadium that ow has a 4,800 calorie burger. My question is, why is something like this even legal in the US? Why isn't it this sort of thing banned becausei t's a health risk? I just don't get it. [/QUOTE]

This always blows my mind when someone wants to make sinful food illegal. It is not the government's job to decide what food you eat. Only you can do that. Why not ban candy manufacturers and bakeries from making their products? Or ice cream stores? Or doughnut shops? Or tobacco or alcohol? The government can't babysit everyone. People have to just use common sense.

[/QUOTE]It's a baseball stadium that ow has a 4,800 calorie burger. My question is, why is something like this even legal in the US? Why isn't it this sort of thing banned becausei t's a health risk? I just don't get it.

This always blows my mind when someone wants to make sinful food illegal. It is not the government's job to decide what food you eat. Only you can do that. Why not ban candy manufacturers and bakeries from making their products? Or ice cream stores? Or doughnut shops? Or tobacco or alcohol? The government can't babysit everyone. People have to just use common sense.[/QUOTE]

I agree. I believe in full disclosure, but police yourself.
Eh, I think the "great choices" are so very limited that it's hardly worth "eating out". I would never eat out to get a packet of apples God knows how many people touched or a paltry burger. It also isn't just about the chemicals and preservatives. The quality of the food is deplorable, the prep conditions are deplorable... I guess the phrase, "there's s*** in the meat" has never left my mind. (For the record, I don't eat lean cuisines either, simply because they aren't satisfying for the cals and sodium)

In the 4 years I've not had fast food, I've never once felt like my only choice was to eat fast food or go hungry. I know other's make difference decisions and I judge the food itself and not the people, but I think there are *better* options in any situation. Just my 2 cents of course.

I don't outright ban anything, but I dislike most fast food. I think I've only eaten it every other year or so. I don't think I've ever even been to a Taco Bell. I guess I have my parents to thank for this -- wasn't allowed to eat it growing up, except for dunkin donuts pick up for the annual road trip. When I turned 14 they let me go McDonalds with a friend and try something, which I was excited about and then thought was gross (don't even remember what it was). The only fast food I've even regularly was mozzerella sticks at the Friendly's during high school (big social spot) and cheese sandwiches at the Student Union Subway, which I got regularly throughout college (they're nothing special, but they're not gross).

Still have love for Dunkin Donuts, though I haven't seen one in about 4 years.

I do get take out/restaurant food about every other week -- either half of a hot sausage sandwich from my favorite pizza place (I mostly make my own pizzas now that I have a bread machine) or a veggie dish from a local mediterranean deli.

Oh! I do appreciate Amy's frozen foods, though ... tasty and hearty, don't leave me with that feeling. I have some in my freezer, ranging from between 260-420 cals. I like to nuke one of those for dinner when it's just me.

I agree! I haven't went to a fast food place in a long time, however it is really hard not to want it when your co-workers are walking by you with MacDonalds, Wendy's etc etc.... I will prevail!!! :)

I don't remember the last time I got fast food and it started because:
1. Too expensive
2. It would taste so much better if I made it myself.
Like Taco Bell? try using ground chicken with Old El Paso seasoning and you'll never crave taco bell again. :)

I'm not at the point where I can declare fast food banned completely, but I definitely have changed my choices and reduced the frequency. I do try to keep a couple of frozen dinners around for those seriously time-mismanaged days - and I agree with WhitePicket - Amy's is absolutely wonderful - tasty, filling, and recipes that inspire me to do more fresh cooking!