Fast Food: Saving Time and Waistlines

by Jane M. Hemminger

Diapers, laundry, housework (truly never-ending), homework, piano lessons, soccer games ... let's face it, raising children takes time! And all the activities that go with having a family sometimes leave little time in the kitchen for cooking yet another meal.

We are thankful for the convenience of fast foods; however, we are not so grateful when the super sizing applies not just to our French fries, but our family's waistlines, too. Not only are we busting out of our jeans, but many of us are suffering with the effects of overeating and poor food choices—obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, to name a few.

It's no wonder with our fast-paced lifestyles that we frequent these quick food sources—they seem to be popping up all over. In 2001, there were roughly 222,000 fast food restaurants in the United States generating sales of more than $125 billion, according to the National Restaurant Association. Yet hitting the drive-through circuit doesn't have to be ruinous to your family's health. Parents are role models for their kids, even when it comes to making good selections at the local burger joint. The goal then is to find a balance between convenience and health—benefiting us both mentally and physically, and setting our children up for a lifetime of making wise decisions about food.

Fast Food Pitfalls

There are some general dos and don'ts for eating on the run. It's a good idea to keep the basics of proper nutrition in mind and adopt a plan for making healthy food choices before you place your order at the drive-through. For starters, check out this list of fast food hazards:

  • Super Sizing: This is a great marketing ploy to get you to buy more, but there is a dangerous drawback. With super sizing comes a lot more fat, cholesterol, and salt in that enormous box of French fries and giant burger, and a ton of sugar if you order a non-diet soft drink.

  • Forget Fried: French fries, onion rings, fried chicken, chicken nuggets, fried fish, hush puppies, chimichangas, egg rolls, and so on—these items are generally about 50 percent or more fat. Fast food restaurants can provide you with nutritional information about their menu items—take advantage of this to help you make healthier food choices.

  • Hold the Mayo: Skip sandwiches with sauces, bacon, extra cheese, and extra mayonnaise. Don't order pizzas or sandwiches with double meat or extra cheese. In the mood for Mexican? Watch out for the cheese, sour cream, and guacamole, and be careful when choosing a taco salad—some of them are high in fat and calories.

  • Can the Cola: Did you know that 16 ounces of a soft drink add 200 calories to the meal and nothing else? Choose ice water, low-fat milk, or—if you need the caffeine—opt for coffee.

  • Don't Grab It and Go: As difficult as it is sometimes, it is better to either get out of the car and go into a restaurant or take your food home to eat. Eating in the car is very similar to eating in front of the TV; you are focused on something else, and before you look twice the food is gone and you aren't satisfied—which leads to overeating.

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