stop eating fast food

I’ve had some fast food this week. I must say I’ve had more satisfaction by cooking and eating my own food.

This week I have time off. So there are no excuses for me to eat any fast food. I haven’t eaten any fast food since last Tuesday.

I need to get better at planning my meals for the week. Lunch is my downfall. I am often on the run during the day. My work involves quite a bit of driving. So, I often “grab” something unhealthy in between trips. I need to find a meal that is portable, easy to pack, doesn’t need refrigeration/heating, and healthy. Some people can just get a healthy salad from a fast food place, but not me. The temptation is too great. Sometimes I work evenings, and get a quick dinner that is equally unhealthy. But, I’ve gotten a little better with dinner, because Boston Market has become my take-out dinner of choice lately.
As a side comment: I am appauled by the number of fast food places in urban, predominately minority communities. I know this because I work in urban neighborhoods. There are no grocery stores, but there’s a “chicken shack” on every corner. And we wonder why there are so many health problems (obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes)in our communities. There are no healthy alternatives. I’m seriously thinking of just boycotting all fast food establishments for that reason alone.

I eat fast food, but not as much as I used to. There were days while in college I ate fast food for every meal.

I still want to drop this habit. Since I’ve also made goals to simplify my life and reduce waste, the fast food habit has decreased. Just the amount of trash produced from a fast food meal is discouraging to me. I don’t buy take-out soda cups anymore. I eat inside the fast food place to avoid the paper bags and extra garbage. And when I do eat inside, I look in the kitchen area and notice the uncleanliness of the place…and slowly but surely, fast food is losing it’s appeal.

I admit, I like my Big Mac and fries. But if I replace these foods with something more appealing and healthier, it will be worth it in the long run. If I’m really craving a fast food meal, I’ll make my own burger and fries at home.