Fast Food ADDICTION!?

Question

I KNOW there have to be more people out there that LOVE fast food...I almost feel addicted! I need to get away from that habit and start cooking things that I like. I am sooo picky about what I eat and I don't love meat either. I love fruits and veggies, does anyone have any ideas on how I can kick this habit to the curb and start cooking easy things that I will like?! (My husband loves fast food just as much as I do and we have made ourselves so un-healthy, he loves meat, is there a middle area where we can both have what we like?)
Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm with you! I'm hooked on fast food, and I really don't care for it...well, okay, I do enjoy it, but as an occasional thing, not as often as I do now. I often find myself eating a fast food meal at least once or twice a day. To be honest, it's mostly because I hate cooking and am terrible at it, plus I hate the time it takes and the effort. Couple that with the fact that I'm always on the run as a full-time college student and truck driver, and usually fast food is almost the only thing out there.

I would suggest finding a vegetarian cooking course to learn how to best prepare meat substitutes, like Boca Burgers and tofu. It used to be that I loathed both of these things--still do if I do the cooking--but my girlfriend recently introduced me to a vegetarian cafe that makes a fantastic cheeseburger and fries that is entirely vegetarian. Very healthy stuff! So I figure if I can take a vegetarian cooking class and learn how to prepare things like they do, switching to less meat will be a piece of cake.

I honestly don't know what to do about the fast food thing though. ;) I can only suggest breaking the habit a bit at a time. Try giving up fast food entirely for maybe two or three weeks, no matter what. Keep track of how much better you feel and how much money you save altogether, and use those things as incentives to eat fast food less. I gave up fast food for an entire month one time, just to see, and I honestly felt great. Of course, it didn't last long. LOL Me and my darned habits.

Answer 2

Just say no to going there at all. We go one time a week. That's it. But, we may have to stop doing that as I find I crave it for days after. It's so easy to eat 2000 calories in a single meal at a fast food place. The real shame of it is that you could've made that same stuff at home for a third of the calories. That's what annoys me the most. Try turning cooking into a couple activity. Me and my husband will pick out a recipe together online and then work on making it together.

Answer 3

I LOVE fast food too... I can eat it everyday for months (a bit of an exaggeration...) but it's sooo bad!!

Most of the time lately, I'd rather spend my money on other things, so when I think about getting fast food, I figure how much I'd spend for the four of us, and how much I'd spend at the store (which is usually cheaper in the long run anyway...) and figure I can use what I save to fund my hobbies...

So when I'm looking for something to cook, I either look in my cookbooks (not usually because most of them are vegetarian-ish, and my husband isn't a big fan...) or I go to sparkrecipes.com (link below). But, either way, if you cook yourself, you can usually make what you both enjoy.

Plan menus for a week, you can make just about anything you get at a fast food restaurant cheaper, and I usually think it's better (making pizza or burgers at home are sooo much cheaper, and a whole lot better! ...in my opinion...) and you can have leftovers for lunch the next day, or for next week if you freeze it, that way you don't have to eat the same thing twice in one week. Most cooked frozen foods will last three to four weeks.

It took me a while to get used to buying food for a whole week... it's more money up front. but if you already have it at the house, you're probably less likely to go out and get something at a fast food restaurant.

You should also check out Sparkpeople.com. If you register with sparkpeople.com, you can use the recipe calculator at sparkrecipes.com and figure out the nutrition information on your own recipes...as well as other resources and ideas that may help you.

Hope some of that helped! :oD

Answer 4

I beleive fast food can be addictive. It has a lot of chemicals added to it, and I'm sure some of them are habit forming. I'd ween myself away by eating the best food I could afford and by setting targets on how much takeout I can eat and when to do so, for example maybe allow myself 1 lunch a week at a fast food joint and maybe 1 other trip on the weekend.

Answer 5

Definitely go cold turkey and just stop. Make a meal plan and do the shopping. Make sure you pack lunches for each of you so you are not tempted, and make sure you stick to your plan. I did this once, my bf and I made a deal that we would not eat out at all for 30 days, and after a week or so it was easy. The fat, carbohydrates, and sodium in fast food are very addictive, so you really need to work hard at first to stop, but it's worth it, you will feel better. Good luck.

Answer 6

2 things:
1: when u go 2 a fast food place get a salad or something healthy
2:try cooking the stuff you would normally eat at a fast food place in a healthier way like say you get fried chicken and fries try grilled chicken or fish (fish is a lot healthier) and mashed potatoes and a veggie u like...Good Luck!

Answer 7

I know, i'm so addicted to fast food places too. Especially Burger king. Good good. I'd listen to the first poster!

Answer 8

you ARE addicted to fast food - all it takes to get rid of food addictions/cravings are 3 days (its science) just be strong and dont give in because those days will seem like the longest ones in your life.
go to shape.com community - you will find there recipes, struggle stories, support etc.

Answer 9

Your going to turn obese like the rest of the US if you don't get help i say go to a nutritionist.