Intense 365 Month 2: No Fast food (What is Fast Food?)
“I’m hungry, so something quick.”
“You could get slid-“
“No”
“No to what?”
“No to whatever ends in the word sliders, I’m not doing fast food.”
<Pause>
“Well what do you consider fast food?
A semi innocent quip as she tried to navigate the level of guilt/shame/shade I would be throwing at her as she made her lunchtime request.
“Well for starters if you don’t get your butt up to get your food that is a good indicator that it may be fast food.”
<Longer pause>
“Will I have to get out of the car to get the fried rice from the place?”
<Exhale with a giggle>
“No Mom, I’ll hop out and get it.”
Month 2 No fast food, aka what the hell am I avoiding now?
Before I go into the specifics let me just say that my parameters are both specific to me and global to building smart and healthy habits; you may not agree with everything but, you also can’t talk your way out of weight gain. As humans (or perhaps more specifically American humans) born out of a very litigious society, we are all groomed to be lawyers in our own mind.
We search for technicalities, loopholes, double meanings, and everything else in between when we face something we don’t want to do (like diet). So, before anyone opens their mouth to point out that McDonald’s sells salads and that restaurants can be even worse than a drive-thru,
I know.
I am not here to argue the merits of any of that,
because I don’t care,
this isn’t court,
and in your heart of hearts without me telling you, you know the difference between what is truth and what is semantics.
Thus, to cut out some of the nutrition killers from my life, this is how I am going to define my no fast food decree for the year.
NO:
Traditional fast food joints
Drive-thru
Delivery
Sandwiches or wraps
Fried food
Additional items besides coffee at coffee joints
YIKES, amirite? I know, it seems like a lot to remember, but don’t worry I’ma break it down.
No traditional fast food places and no drive-thru go hand in hand.
If you don’t even need to stand for your food, it should signal that it’s too easy.
No Sandwiches & Wraps
These items are designed to speed delivery into your mouth, which should tell you something.
While in theory, you could/would eat these things separately on a plate, the simple fact that the bread is acting as your plate is a problem.
Fried Food
While this is obvious, I will elaborate. It’s everywhere. In the street, in your home, bars, restaurants; everywhere. If the menu is overwhelming made up of this, you probably have no business being in there. I see you Kennedy’s Fried Chicken and Pizza. Saying no to this alone makes all choices beyond it just easier.
No Delivery
So far, I have had ONE thing delivered recently, Pizza Hut and I regret it.
The reasons:
I couldn’t get “just a slice” so I had to eat (eventually) a whole crappy pizza, plus I had to pay a delivery fee and tip for the whole shameful experience.
Seamless in NYC had better fare, but the same problems remain, I usually have to get more food than I need, or want, for more than it should cost and let’s be real, I got food in the house, this isn’t necessary.
Coffee Only
The reality is the options besides just coffee are mostly ratchet.
Should I have an extended visit, I would do better to bring my own snack rather than convince myself avocado toast or a muffin is the plan.
Sorry if you feel like I came for your Big Mac then took your turkey wrap on my way out, but that is how these nutritional gateway drugs work.
If you’re not ready, to go all in, then by all means define fast food in a way that makes sense to you.
I will challenge you, though, to re-evaluate some of your previous acceptance to certain food items. Dismantle your sandwich or wrap onto a plate and just eat it. You probably notice your wrap, doesn’t really have enough lettuce to consider it a salad on the plate. You’re also, likely, less then thrilled to eat a hero roll after you’ve eaten the stuff inside it.
“I don’t know your life”
Take a look at where your creep is happening and adjust there.
You may have noticed pizza didn’t make the list. Well where I am there is no longer a slice on every corner nor do I see myself driving to a Pizza Hut, getting out of the car, entering said hut and ordering a pizza; so, in the grand scheme here, I’m mostly safe.
Look, your food life isn’t over, I’m just getting you started on your foodie life.
You are now released from the fake healthy clutches of literally anything ending in the word wrap with a side of fries (delivered) for lunch. Perhaps instead you may take a walk to a diner or restaurant and grab a salad or a bowl of chili or some tossed pasta and chicken with veggies?
Maybe steamed dumplings?
Or pizza, it’s technically still on the table.
You just have to go out and GET IT, and preferably not a whole one.
Good luck
Want to join in? Good news this year of change starts when you decide. Get caught up below!
I realized that I no longer needed the same amount of comfort I did in April of 2020.