With all the talk of healthy eating and losing weight these days, we really need to stop and give some thought to the fast food industry and processed prepared foods. One really needs to be aware of the hidden fat, calories and sodium in these products.
As a parent, your hungry baby wants food from you and now!! You should also be conscious of your eating habits. If you’re eating healthy, you want your kids to eat healthy, too. This is a “family” situation.
It’s all too easy to put out a package of cookies, or chips, when you already have a busy schedule. But what are these things doing to your kids’ health? Even if they do not have weight problems, this is not a healthy diet. Good nutritious diet should be our first thought. Packaged foods that are easily available lack healthy properties. Here are some ideas for quick snacks:
- Apple wedges dipped in peanut or almond butter are delicious.
- Carrot sticks or cucumber slices are delicious in a light salad dressing.
- A whole wheat tortilla spread with peanut butter and a dollop of natural fruit will satisfy a hearty appetite.
- Put frozen banana pieces, fruits and berries in the freezer. (Alton Brown on the Food Network recently shared a tip. Take the bananas out of the peel and put them in a plastic bag in your freezer. You won’t end up with horrible black bananas.) Fruit juice, soy milk Or skim the milk in a blender and blend into a delicious fruit smoothie/shake.
- A good snack for kids over the age of 3 to keep on hand before dinner is to wash grapes and keep them in the freezer. Because they can be a choking hazard, don’t feed them to young children.
- Make your own trail mix with raw sunflower seeds and raisins. The combination of sweet and salty is liked by kids and adults alike. Be sure to check these against potential food allergies before serving anything with nuts.
Light salad dressing, tortilla roll-ups, and trail mix vegetables can be stored in a cooler and taken on your road trip or kept in the refrigerator at your office for when Mr. Hungry comes over.
Let us now turn to eating at fast food establishments:
There are times when fast food is unavoidable. Time and budget limitations make it necessary to visit our friendly hamburger and fried chicken establishments. Let’s face it, fast food restaurants and their drive-thru service tend to overwhelm our cravings when we’re trying to stay on schedule.
Although you may have to stop for fast food, do your research ahead of time. You can go online and find out how many calories, grams of fat, etc., are in various items on the menus of various fast food chains. When you stop, you’ll be ready to make a healthier choice. You can easily consume your calorie allotment for the day, and more, in a single meal. Learn to make healthy choices. They are also present in fast food. And remember that Super-Size does just that…. Super-Size You!!
Skip the french fries. Most fast food chains offer side salads. Stay away from fattening dressings. Choose a light dressing or oil and vinegar.
Most fast food places now carry some sort of fruit. Ask for extra tomato, lettuce and pickles on your sandwich. If you have the option of ordering a baked potato, this would be a great option. Be sure not to use any of the high-calorie toppings that are offered.
Even with something as simple as ordering a drink, you still have healthy options. Your waistline may be paying the price for your decision. Soda is not a good choice and diet soda is not that healthy either, depending on the artificial sweetener used. Water is always a good option. Other good choices would be unsweetened tea, 100% juice (not juice drinks), or low-fat milk. Check out the super-sized here again.
Don’t leave your sidekick at home when you’re traveling. The extra calories, which translate into pounds, will confront you when you return from your trip. If you “have” a value meal to order, share it with a friend. A kid-sized meal may be your answer to portion control! If you order smaller portions, you won’t be tempted to overeat.
Beware of extras. Adding a tablespoon of mayo, another slice of cheese or extra sauce can really add up. Mustard is a good choice because it is low in calories and carbohydrates.
Try ordering grilled or baked meats. Breaded Chicken Patties will definitely whittle your waistline. Batter fried fish can prove to be a disaster.
As promoted on The Biggest Loser, a Subway sandwich, specifically a veggie sandwich, may be the answer to your food worries. If you’re on a low-carbohydrate diet, skip the roll and eat your filling.
If you find yourself leaving the house without stopping for breakfast, you may have failed yourself if you were planning to stop at a fast food restaurant. This could be the start of a calorie overload for the day. Instead of a breakfast sandwich, order a bowl of fresh fruit, a fruit and yogurt parfait, oatmeal cereal with milk, or just plain eggs.
As an example of different fast food chains and your options:
Arby’s Beef and Cheddar – 440 calories / 21 g fat
Better Choice – Junior Roast Beef = 270 calories / 9 g fat
Savings: calories/12 grams fat
Burger King Original Whopper – 700 calories/39 g fat
Better Choice – Hamburger – 310 calories/12 g fat
Savings: 390 calories/27 g fat
hardy’s Double Thick Burger – 1240 cal/90 g fat
Better Choice: Fat Burger – 850 calories/57 g fat
Savings: 390 calories/33 g fat
McDonald’s Big Mac – 560 calories / 30 grams fat
Better Choice: Hamburger – 260 calories/9 g fat
Savings: 300 calories/21 g fat
of sound Super Sonic Cheeseburger – 839 calories / 55 g fat
Better Choice: Junior Burger – 353 calories/21 g fat
Savings: 486 calories/34 g fat
Wendy Big Bacon Classic – 580 calories / 29 g fat
Better Choice: Junior Hamburger – 280 calories / 9 g fat
Savings: 300 calories/20 grams fat
I hope this information has been helpful. It is really an eye opener when you see these drawings in black and white.
Children as well as adults can have an unhealthy lifestyle which will affect their health and the way they live their lives.
If you want to find out more about what I do check out this info http://judyconway.com,
Source by Judy Conway
