Eat Right When You’re Eating Fast Food
We’re not going to lie: eating healthy is sometimes more expensive than eating junk. If you’re a full-time student who lives on campus, you almost assuredly have a meal plan laid out for you, but no one can eat that stuff all the time, no matter how good the residential life website claims it to be. When you go to the grocery store or out with friends, you probably aren’t buying gourmet foods or even foods that will spoil in your room (ex: the healthiest foods), as your lifestyle and budget demand food to be mobile, easy-to-eat or prepare, and cheap. When you and your friends turn to fast food for satiation, though, that shouldn’t be an excuse for you to give up your healthy living goals and binge on fatty, overly processed foods.
The first thing you can do is to try to steer your friends in the direction of fast food joints that serve fresh ingredients and less fried foods. Local restaurants typically serve more options and fresher foods, but there are certain chains like Chipotle that advertise their use of those types of ingredients, too. Many large chains also offer more side options than just fries or chili these days, so pick a side salad, apple or other sensible side that isn’t full of calories. To avoid overindulging on the main “course,” eat your healthy side first. If your friends are the type who scarf down their food and want to get moving after they eat, you may not even have time to finish that plus-sized portion of burger anyway.
For your main meal, think about salads: ordering any salad isn’t necessarily going to have fewer calories. In fact, some salads are so full of bacon, cheese and dressing that they have more than a small, plain burger with lettuce and tomato. Ask for low-fat dressing, and pick a salad that has more veggies than carb-o-licous toppings like fried chicken. Don’t even think about adding croutons, as they’re just empty calories. Condiments like mayo also add empty calories to your diet, so get a small ketchup pack and ask for minimal toppings on grilled chicken or fish sandwiches.
Make a commitment to eat healthy, and cut in front of your friends to order first before you change your mind.
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