Project Balance: Fast Food/Home Cooked Meals
It is time for the first installment of Project Balance. Each Monday I will let you know which negative habit I intend to give up and which positive habit I intend to encourage. You can find out more about Project Balance here.
Fast Food
This week I will be tackling fast food. Here are the reasons that I want to cut back/eliminate the amount of fast food that I eat
- Fast food meals are not all that healthy. They lack the whole foods, vitamins and minerals that my body needs to thrive.
- Eating fast food many times a week has also had a negative impact on my finances. The amount of money I spend on eating out is ridiculous and that money could be better spent.
- Eating fast food is about convenience and it usually does not leave me feeling satisfied.
- I have no control over the ingredients that go in to fast food or how the food is obtained, prepared and cooked
Nourishing Home Cooked Meals
In order to encourage myself to give up fast food, I am going to encourages myself to make nourishing home cooked meals and bringing the leftovers for lunch. To make this switch possible, I plan to do the following:
- I am going to plan my meals for the week: I am going to sit down tonight and decide what I will be eating for lunch and dinner every day for the next week. Once I have done this, I am going to make a grocery list and get all of the groceries required to make the meals I have planned out.
- I am going to stock up on healthy snacks and keep them readily available at work and at home.
- I am going to pack my lunch every day this week so I wont be tempted to go and buy fast food.
Here are a list of resources that I am finding helpful in attempting to kick my fast food habit:
- Purse and Briefcase Food from Making Love In The Kitchen
- The Anti- Fast Food Diet from Zen Habits
- The documentaries Food Inc and Fast Food Nation
- The books In Defense of Food and The Kindness Diet
What about you lovely readers? Do you ever find you rely too much on fast food? Have you been able to kick the fast food habit? Any stories, resources or helpful links would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments
I’m with you! Last month I tracked my expenses and between fast food and junk food runs I spent a LOT. I was concerned eating more healthy (and gluten-free.. eek!) would hurt my budget, but when I see was I was already spending, it doesn’t seem so bad!
I definitely need to commit to weekly meal-planning and having snacks on hand. That way I won’t wind up eating something that will put me right back where I started. Great ideas!
Posted by: Sara @Soulspackle | February 1st, 2010 21:39
Can I join you on this? I always struggle to know what to take into work to eat as I don’t like traditional bread sarnies (and I can not eat just a salad as I need carbs – if I don’t have my carbs I start getting light headed by mid-afternoon). Of to check out the resources that you shared with us… Thanks!
Posted by: Alison Day | February 2nd, 2010 03:48
Good for you for committing to make this change! I am on a similar path. Trying to incorporate more healthy foods into my diet while eliminating the junk.
One thing I suggest is to make large batches of staple foods on the weekend (things like brown rice, beans, healthy soups, etc.), and then dividing them up into meal-sized containers. Then, during the week, I can just grab something and maybe dress it up with some spices and greens, and I’m out the door. It’s sort of like homemade fast food.
Keep us posted on your journey! xoxo
Posted by: AnalieseMarie | February 2nd, 2010 17:13
@Sara Thank you for your comment. I too was surprised how much I was spending on fast food/quick fixes/eating out. It is amazing to me that this week I am eating really well on a budget that is much less than what I usually spend. I have a list of go to vegan snacks. Every day I make sure I have at least two of them on me before leaving the house. Could you do the same thing with gluten free snacks. Good luck on your gluten free journey.
@Alison Thank you for your comment. You can definitely join me on this journey. I am also not a big fan of sandwiches. Do you like wraps at all? They are how I get in my lunch time carbs. I have been eating hummus and grilled veggie wraps for lunch each day this week. I find that they are not to sandwichy for me but allow me to bring something quick and easy with me. Feel free to email/tweet with me if you would like me to send you some more helpful articles I have been reading this week.
@Analiese Marie: Thank you for your encouraging comment. I made a pot of chili tonight so that I could bring it with me for easy lunches the rest of the week. Thank you for the suggestion of large size batches of food. I think I may try that this weekend.
Posted by: Ellecubed | February 2nd, 2010 18:35
What do you consider fast food? The typical McD’s/Taco Bell/etc. or any take out at all?
Sounds like a good PLAN! I used to have a major fast food addiction, but now that i know what gets into that stuff, it’s a lot easier to stay away! But it is SO darn convenient…
Posted by: Carolyn | February 3rd, 2010 10:18
Good for you for giving up fast food! Being prepared for the snack attacks is definitely important, but don’t forget to treat yourself to a specific special meal out or a great vegan dessert and tea somewhere. Up the quality of the experience, but keep it as a treat to stay in budget. If you’re having better things, it might make it easier to stay away from the junky stuff!
Posted by: Kiki | February 3rd, 2010 15:09
@Carolyn I consider fast food to be any take out. I don’t really go to any fast food chains. My fast food fixes are usually soup + corn bread from the vegan restaurant close to my work, french fries and subway salads.
How were you able to beat your fast food addiction? Was the knowledge of what goes in to the food enough to stop you from eating fast food?
@Kiki Thank you for the encouragement and the tip. I think this week I will treat myself to a meal at the raw restaurant I have been wanting to try for awhile.
Posted by: Ellecubed | February 3rd, 2010 16:03