The lead story in today's Mystery Shopper magazine says, "The typical American spends about $1,200 on fast food annually according to Credit Donkey.com. That breaks down to $100 a month and roughly $12.50 spent per meal."

I guess my diet is way healthier than average, because I only eat fast food a couple of times a month. And it's all reimbursed :-)

That's crazy, what is wrong with people?

Jas,

One is either primarily concerned with their health and appearance or their consumption habits. I read an article last week dealing with 30 reasons why people are overweight; none of which addressed either poor dietary conditions or lack of exercise. Where were those reasons in the 40's, 50's and 60's? While I was not noticing people in the 40's, I certainly was in the mid-50's and the situation was definitely different.To the best of my recollection, I ate in a restaurant on two, maybe three, yearly occasions until I entered high school in 1956 and that was for lunch. I do admit cooking is very easy for me and not a chore, but even if it is for some, is not your health and appearance worth some effort?

In closing this post, I am not a drinker of soda pop. Surprised was I, though, to learn a Super Big Gulp contains 35 teaspoons of sugar.

I don't drink sodas either, unless there is booze in it.

It's not necessarily about my appearance and health, I just don't like the way fast food tastes and it's not generally a good economic choice. They do have some healthier options these days; not everyone is eating burger combos. Some people are eating salads and things like that.

Part of the reason people are heavy is also lack of exercise. My mother didn't want us in the house during the summer sitting and watching TV, we obviously didn't have computers and video games, either. We were sent outside to play everyday and didn't come home until the street lights came on.

I drink only sugarless drinks and use Stevia, they now have many great natural fruit drinks (iced tea's) minus sugar and an occasional "diet" coke hasn't harmed me. I am very concerned with good food and my health and
have adjusted my diet accordingly. I have cut out my beloved danish and many carbs, ice creme, candy except dark chocolate now and then, and just a square. I eat well, and with all the substitute's and knowledge on food
and reading sugar content in purchases, it's up to you, and trust me, good food is the answer to good health.
I actually put in remission a huge health probem I had by changing my diet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2019 10:53PM by Irene_L.A..

Irene, what huge health problem did you resolve with diet? (PM if you don't want to go into it here) I just think that's fascinating.

Watching what you eat is important, but no one likes to SUFFER.... I try to eat sensibly most of the time, so I can get crazy and eat tiramisu by the slab in Italy.

I rarely eat FF, I may do a MS shop once every couple of months, if the pay is good and report short. When I was a kid my Dad had to have a burger King whopper and fries every Friday night for dinner, my brother and him would have one a piece. Me and my Mom would share one cut in half and share a small fry. When I got married, the only time we ate out was on our anniversary , my hubby didn't like FF. I try to eat healthy, lots of fruits and veggies. The only time I drink soda is when I have an upset stomach and it is a small can of 7up. I cut out all sugar about 10 years ago.
One of my brothers roommates has to have a Large Wendy's burger every day for lunch and he is a diabetic. Doesn't believe FF is a problem for him.

My husband and I follow a predominantly whole foods, plant based diet. He lost 40 pounds and was able to eliminate his CPAP. My results were less drastic, but I did drop ten pounds.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Irene, what huge health problem did you resolve with diet? (PM if you don't want to go into it here) I just think that's fascinating.

I will try to find the article. A lot depends on their definition of fast food. For example, there are tons of fast casual options that are healthy, yet also cost more. Cava for example. Many "bowl" restaurants these days. Lots of healthy chicken places, salad options, etc.

I have weighed the same since high school (20 years ago). I was raised by my grandparents, and we ate out a few times per year. Our portions were small compared to today's standards. When my husband and I eat out, we take half of it home (or leave it there, if it's a Coyle shop). We don't eat fast food (he likes Five Guys, so I will take a shop if he wants it). I don't eat bread, I drink water, and will have dessert at most once a week, and my husband and I will share it. We go to the gym six days a week. When we go out, I will get chicken and vegetables, maybe a steak once in a while, no starchy carbs like rice, pasta, or potatoes. My mom and dad are a good hundred pounds overweight, don't exercise, eat lots of refined carbs, and have type 2 diabetes and all that goes with that (high cholesterol and blood pressure, etc).

Our budget bugaboo is fast food. There are days when one delay in the early job starts a domino effect which impacts on travel times and meals and culminates in lack of opportunity to eat at home. Doing more reimbursed fast food shops is not the answer, of course. Sometimes, it is good to have the reimbursed fast food because two eat for the price of one who, ultimately, pays nothing for the meal. Bringing food from home is helpful. Most of the answer is to schedule less work that is dependent upon when the early job ends. We have no health concerns or issues that can be linked to fast food. YMMV.

And when we got thirsty we drank- Gasp!! - water, available at pretty much any house in the neighborhood.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

My mother didn't want us in the house during the summer sitting and watching TV, we obviously didn't have computers and video games, either. We were sent outside to play everyday and didn't come home until the street lights came on.

We even drank water from the hose out in the yard sometimes.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

We even drank water from the hose out in the yard sometimes.

I still do on occasion!!!!

Hey I will be the first to say I have a terrible diet. My favorite foods are chocolate and Diet Coke. Can’t stand to cook and my favorite “healthy” foods I am terribly allergic to (lettuce, avocados, citrus). Somehow I manage. Mostly I think its because I think of my grandparents who ate three full meals daily with bread and real butter at each. Breakfast meats every morning, dessert at lunch and dinner, and for them...it wasn’t a recipe unless it had lard in it. Both lived into their late 80s and this was 40 more years ago. I’m not saying healthy eating isn’t good but honestly everyone knows what their eating habits are like and it’s a personal thing that probably belongs on the chat page rather than here. And I’m not even going to start on healthy eaters that drink to excess, smoke or do drugs (speaking only of those I know IRL, not here).

I agree that good genes tell 80% of your lifeline. My family never had frozen food in the house, my Grandmother lived with us and cooked daily everything fresh, never had a frozen chicken, including baking Challah weekly. No Preservatives, but they did eat the skin of the chicken, all my Mother's side lived to be in their late 90's
with no health problems, and of course did not smoke or drink, except my Grandmother who had a daily shot of whiskey at 3:00 pm.......I don't know any healthy eaters today that smoke, in fact, I know no one smoking anymore.

My grandmother ate bacon every day, used the bacon grease to fry eggs and cook vegetables, and had a side of beef in her freezer most of the time...she ate beef at least 2-3 times a week, though not a huge portion. And she always used real butter (me too). She lived to be in her early 90s. But, she also went out back and composted her egg shells, coffee grounds, and vegetable peels and grew an organic garden with tomatoes, corn, and other vegetables that she ate daily. She also smoked cigarettes, but only 2 a day and it was always after dinner, and that's when she had a small glass of wine or other spirits. So it definitely might be something in the genes, or perhaps a good intake of antioxidants (even if it's in pill form and not from an organic garden) along with moderation in everything that is the key?

@Traveliz wrote:

Hey I will be the first to say I have a terrible diet. My favorite foods are chocolate and Diet Coke. Can’t stand to cook and my favorite “healthy” foods I am terribly allergic to (lettuce, avocados, citrus). Somehow I manage. Mostly I think its because I think of my grandparents who ate three full meals daily with bread and real butter at each. Breakfast meats every morning, dessert at lunch and dinner, and for them...it wasn’t a recipe unless it had lard in it. Both lived into their late 80s and this was 40 more years ago. I’m not saying healthy eating isn’t good but honestly everyone knows what their eating habits are like and it’s a personal thing that probably belongs on the chat page rather than here. And I’m not even going to start on healthy eaters that drink to excess, smoke or do drugs (speaking only of those I know IRL, not here).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2019 05:24PM by JASFLALMT.

The hydrogenated fats are an issue. Using as much of the critter as possible is practical, econimical, and not necessarily a health issue.

Think it was Ann Louise Gittleman (fat flush lady) who taught and reminded us about the research into margarine. The hydrogenated margarine causes problems that butter does not.

I just was reading this: [www.reference.com]

and wow! I like free food and easy money, but jeez not at the expense of my life!
Don't forget all the SODIUM in soda! I've cut soda down to a rare occasion. But still drink my iced tea.

I now switched from real butter to avocado butter, melts faster and has the good fat and less calories and is plant based....taste great.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2019 10:15PM by Irene_L.A..

I had a lapse and took a well paying Jack in the Box and threw the thing away after one bite, although the fries were good, I'm really done with them this time.....horse meat, maybe.

Omigosh I forgot all about the hose. We shared with the dog.

Irene - What does avocado butter taste like? Is it like guacamole, but firmer?

@Monk-N-Nut wrote:

Irene - What does avocado butter taste like? Is it like guacamole, but firmer?

'It taste like butter but softer and melts better and faster. There is no avocado apparent, look is yellow like butter and no guacamole look or taste. Just the good fat.

We did not have much frozen food around when I was a kid....ice cream and a very few veggies in one pound frozen boxes. I remember when our grocery store started selling frozen tv dinners. One brand only and just a few choices. My mom was in the hospital for over a week and she stocked up on those as my dad had no idea how to cook. That was when I stopped eating chicken for about 10 years as the meal had a chicken leg with some pin feathers still on it. A city girl it was the first chicken as food I ever saw with pin feathers and really brought home to me that chicken on my dinner plate was the same chicken as the ones on a chicken farm/ranch.
Back in the day most people were a lot more active than they are now. There were few machines, including cars for everyone, around to do the work for you so whatever you ate a lot of it got burned up with your daily chores.
And I wonder if they consider places like Chipotle and all the other "upscale" fast food to be fast food. With those restaurants included the $$ amount spent per person could go up and in many cases there are healthy food choices that actually taste good. And with the advent of delivery for fast food I suppose people are eating it more than when you needed to get off your butt, walk over to your car (exercise!) and drive over somewhere.

90% of people the only exercise they get is from the front door to car door to the sliding glass door in work or the grocery door. They have even lost the ability to open a door to enter or exit a building.

The water from the hose always tasted so good. Probably since I was a kid and really thirsty.