Skip to main content

My Fast Food Revelation


Fast food is tasty. It is easy. It is fast. It is convenient. 

 It is not healthy, or nutritious, or fresh. It is greasy.

 I think I had my last fast fast food yesterday. I don't want to eat it again for as long as possible, and only certain restaurants/menu items. I had greasy pizza and some fries last night and it was not pleasant or even remotely worth it. My body hated me afterward. And as unpleasant as it was, it wasn't the first time that I put myself through it for a quick and easy meal. And the stupid thing was, it wasn't even necessarily cheap. The burgers my group got were all at least $5 each, and that didn't include the fries or drinks. They were fairly big, but they were also greasy and sloppy and unimpressive. 

 To be fair, eating out twice probably made it worse, but the truth is that fast food, no matter how many times you have it, isn't good for you. If you haven't seen Fast Food Nation, then I really recommend it. It's fascinating to see how ridiculously unhealthy they are making that fast food these days. 

 Also, it isn't as cheap as everyone thinks. 

 Based on the prices of the fast food joint we went to, a cheeseburger is $5.99/each ($23.96), medium fries $2.89/each ($11.56), regular drink $2.19/each ($8.76). So for a meal for 4 people it costs... $44.28. Which is a bit high since this place is overpriced, but even the standard golden arches quarter pounder with cheese meal (medium drink and fries) costs $5.39 per person. For a group of 4, that's over $20. 

 Let's compare that to a meal for 4 at the grocery store.

  • $2.79/lb ground beef (1 pound needed)
  • $1.99/8pk buns (1 package needed)
  • $1.19 ketchup (1 container needed)
  • $0.88/drink (4 needed=$3.52)
  • 2/$7 bacon (1 needed)
  • $1.99/package Cheese (1 needed, your choice brand)
  • $5.00 in potato chips (minimum 2 bags, your choice brand)
  • $3.99 fruit (strawberries 3lb/watermelon ~10lb)
  • $1.88/package ice cream
Total: $25.85



For TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS you can get way more food at the grocery store, way more control on what you're ingesting, more variety, more fruit, more ice cream. This is like a 3 course meal. And you still get the condiments and even BACON (who can say no to bacon??).  Plus if you do it right, you can know exactly how many calories you're having and I can bet you that it will be a lot less than either one of the fast food meals, or at least you have an easier option of making it so.

Plus all of the ingredients you don't use for this meal can be saved and used another time. 4 people are not going to eat 3 bags of chips by themselves (hopefully), not all the ketchup, there will be extra buns, ice cream, fruit, cheese. 



Eating at home really is just as cheap as eating out. It isn't always as convenient, but it's not always as hard as everyone thinks either. It is definitely fresh, it won't necessarily be as greasy, it can be cheaper and more nutritious too if you want it to be. I've found that when you cook your foods at home, you're better fed and your body likes you more. There have been too many times after a fast food meal that my whole body rumbles and gurgles in ways it never should. I don't have that problem usually when I eat at home. I can cook the meal when I want and as much as I want. If I get tired and lazy, then I don't eat as much. And that isn't always a bad thing.

I just want people to be aware how cheap it can be to stay at home and cook your own meals, to know that you have more control over the foods and calories you intake and still be satisfied and full.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 Day/Military Diet

I realize that this is a "fad diet". But I'm going to try it. It's only for 3 days for one thing. If it doesn't work, ok. If it does, then I can use it as a tool to kickstart my weight loss and/or metabolism and then continue eating my healthier eating habits to continue losing weight.  UPDATE: Here is the link to my RESULTS :)  The diet is as follows (with no exceptions or substitutions supposedly, although there are multiple versions of the 3 day diet):  Day 1 Breakfast Black coffee or tea with Stevia 1/2 grapefruit or juice 1 slice toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter Lunch 1/2 cup of tuna 1 slice toast Black coffee or tea with Stevia Dinner 3 ounces of lean meat or chicken (any kind) 1 cup green beans 1/2 banana 1 apple 1 cup regular vanilla ice cream Day 2 Breakfast 1 egg 1 slice of toast 1/2 banana Lunch 1 cup cottage cheese or 2 oz cheddar cheese 1 hard boiled egg 5 regular saltine/soda crackers Dinner 2 beef/turkey hot dogs 1 cup broccoli 1/2 cup c
6 comments
Read more

Military 3 Day Diet- RESULTS

Good MORNING! So the results are in! But before I get to them, I want to summarize the whole experience. Overall, this is a really satisfying, easy diet. It is convenient and quick. It fills you up with a variety of foods, all with different nutritional pluses and there is plenty of sweet, meat, and crunchiness for everyone's needs!  It is only 3 days long, so the commitment isn't hard, even for the commitment-phobes out there. Plus, it has ICE CREAM!! How can you go wrong? Even the bad stuff isn't that bad, or only for a meal or two. The next time or two I do it (because I will do it again), then I'll be tweaking it just a little. Chicken here instead of tuna, or replacing a meal with one from the day before. I will see how  well it works and post my results as well.  After you finish the 3 day part, you have 4 other days until you can do it again. Which honestly makes a ton of sense. Even though you may not be feeling hungry, your body isn't meant to f
1 comment
Read more

3 Day Diet-Day TWO

WOOO! Day TWO is over! It went just as well as day one, though I had some serious concerns for the later part of the day. Breakfast- piece of cake! I LOVE fried eggs, and this egg meal was no restrictions on how you cooked it! I used a little non-stick spray, salt, pepper and a breakfast from heaven was created :) 1 egg 1 slice of toast 1/2 banana It was really yummy and easy! I loved it. And of course it was filling. Eggs are like the super food of the WORLD. I am always so satisfied after I eat one. Especially on toast, with a banana. For lunch, I was seriously apprehensive. I DO NOT eat hard boiled eggs. They really gross me out. Too many summer barbecues with them left out for hours. I get really weird about perishables left out for too long and eating them. I can't do it.  BUT, I said I was going to stick to this whole diet. So, I will. Even if it kills me. 1 cup cottage cheese or 2 oz cheddar cheese 1 hard boiled egg 5 regular saltine/soda cra
Post a Comment
Read more