84.5% of all "eating out" that's done in the U.S. is fast food, and in 2004 Americans spent nearly $150 billion on it. If you don't believe there's a connection between fast food and obesity, you need to get real. Check out the calorie counts of some popular value meals from a few of our most popular fast food chains:
The Big Hamburger, Small Fries and Small Coke at Carl's Jr. or Hardee's will cost you 930 calories. It might not get all over the place, but there's no way this belongs in your face.
Yo Quiero Heart Attack! A Hard Shell Taco, Bean and Cheese Burrito, Small Cinnamon Twists and a Small Pepsi is 910 calories.
The 1 piece Chicken Breast, Mashed Potatoes, Cole Slaw, Buttermilk Biscuit and a Small Pepsi adds up to 1000 calories. Finger lickin' gross!
A Big Mac, Small Fries and Small Coke at McDonalds will run you 920 calories. But how many Americans actually order a Small Fries and a Small Coke? We didn't think so either. Check this out: a Big Mac, Large Fries and a Large Coke at McDonald's for most Americans, amounts to a disgusting 1400 calories, 200g Carbs, 54g Fat, 1630mg Sodium, and 99g of Sugar. That means in one meal you're eating 83% of your total fat, 25% of your cholesterol, and 68% of your sodium for the day. Definitely not lovin' it.
Don't worry, we're not calorie-counting Bitches and we definitely aren't trying to turn you into one. There's way more to food than just calories. After all, do you even know what's in the fast food you're ordering? No, you don't. Because no one does. The aroma-rich fast food items that are delivered piping hot into your car window start as frozen, dehydrated, canned, preservative-filled, hormone-injected, chemical disasters.
If you have a "burger and fries a day" habit, you're an addict and you need a serious intervention. Any way you slice it, fry it or dress it, there is a lot of crap in fast food and it should never be your main source of nutrition. Once in a while, when the cravings come knocking, use your new, healthy brain cells and have it! But don't go supersizing and adding petroleum ice cream cones or apple pies made from chicken carcass. You'll never see a Bitch Body on the dollar menu.
THE SOLUTION:
1. Use your head. Fast Food companies want to make money and they create addictive products that keep you coming back for more... and more... and more. They don't care about your health, and they definitely don't care about your growing waistline.
2. Make a better choice. Grilled chicken breast instead of a burger, side order of salad instead of fries and cut the dressing in half or bring your own, protein style instead of a bun, avocado instead of cheese or bacon, bottled water instead of soda, and hold the mayonnaise.
3. Kick it up a notch. Start cooking at home! You don't have to be Julia or Martha, you just have to know what you like. If you are in love with burgers and fries, fine. We've got your back. Broil your own beef, use your own spices, and put it on whole wheat bun. Then, slice a yam, salt and pepper it, bake, and - bam! You have sweet potato fries.*
4. Okay, we know you can't avoid the occasional restaurant outing. Here are some guidelines: water with a squeeze of lemon, iced tea (hold the sugar), or a glass of wine. Say no to bread and butter, or if you know you can have just one piece, go ahead! Order healthy appetizers and share with the table instead of ordering entrees - lettuce wraps, caprese salad, edamame, guacamole, artichokes, non-creamy soups, fish carpaccio, hummus - or share an entree with another person.
* Recipe for Bitch Approved Sweet Potato Fries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and slice a yam julienne-style and leave the skin on. Lightly toss the slices in olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper, and paprika to taste. Place on baking pan and bake for 40 minutes, rotating slices after 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes and serve. Bon Appetit!
