Views on fast food?

In high school I was an avid Wendy's eater. It was right by my school and I could walk there. Shame on them for marketing to us youngins. It wasn't until after I graduated that they finally built a Subway right across the street....lol.

Anyways, I bought the movie Supersize Me this weekend. I've seen it before but watched it again and again this past holiday weekend. It kept me motivated to NOT give in to unhealthy eating. I couldn't believe how bad fast food really is for you. As soon as I finished watching it, I went for a run. Thoughts anyone on fast food or the movie?

I almost never eat fast food, simply as a matter of taste.  I don't think I've eaten at McDonalds in over 10 years.  I can't remember the last time I ate something from Burger King, and I think it has been 5+ for Carls Junior/Wendys.

I don't eat red meat at chain restaurants (except for In 'N Out, which is a very different experience and it took a LOT of convincing to even try it the first time).  That being said, chicken sandwiches aren't really something you CRAVE.

I have been known to eat Taco Bell every once in a while, and Jack in the Crack when VERY hung over.  I love their curly fries.

My husband will still go through an occasional drive through, and it doesn't tempt me at all.

Whenever I'm with other people, and they suggest fast food, as a reflex I make a face, and say "ugh, I'm not eating there."  But, I've always been that way, it is nothing new.  :)

for many years I ate a "pescatarian" diet - "vegetarian" with the occasional fish or dairy, and I've recently gone back to that way of eating, and I agree with another poster who said that eating "vegetarian" helps to delete fast food as an option. Those gross watery little salads do nothing to satisfy! I do admit that every once in a while I get a hankerin' for a mexican pizza (with bean sub for meat) and I think it's fine as long as I eat a balanced healthy diet on a regular basis, which I mostly do. Calorie counting has also helped me to make better choices, sometimes I make it like an internal game, I have so much space in the bucket, now how am I going to fill that bucket (the bucket being my calorie allotment for the day)?... I'm not a complete stickler and I don't let calorie counting interfere with my life anymore, it's very casual and comfortable now that I've been doing it for a few months and I'm very close to my goal weight. Yay!

In conclusion, fast food bad, yucky, fake food... but if you can't avoid it every once in a while, well hey, just try to make the best choices you can and eat a regular healthy diet... nothing too innovative, I'm just repeating all the good advice I've read on this site basically!

Original Post by santonacci:

Original Post by madetoshine:

It's terrible, and no one seems to care.

Huh? The restaurants may not be changing at a fast rate, but they're still offering more healthy options than, say, 5 years ago. And the number of people posting on this forum, not to mention the number of stories that come out about restaurant stats, indicate that somebody does care.

Believe me, if it starts hurting their bottom line hard enough, restaurant owners are gonna care.

sometimes it does feel like no one cares, but I agree with santonacci, things are getting better and if WE care, it will force corporations and whatnot to act!

UGH, I hatedddd that movie "Supersize Me." Mostly because I think it's pretty obvious that if you only eat fast food you're going to have health problems. I don't need some yuppie proving it to me. It gives me the same anger that a Michael Moore film gives me. High and mighty nonsense.

I'll occasionally get fries from McDonalds. Occasionally being 2-3 times a year. It hasn't killed me yet. Extreme moderation I suppose.

seriously this movie had a huge impact on my life. After watching it a a few years ago when it first came out, I eliminated fast food from my diet completely. From there, I continued to improve what I ate and began living a healthier lifestyle. Today, I eat well and work out regularly. I love the changes I am have made in my life.

If it weren't for that movie (my reality check) I would probably still be munching down that food today..
I know not EVERYTHING is unhealthy to eat from fast food chains. But for me... I don't want to have any of the food I eat to come from one of these restaurants. I would rather cook/prepare my food at home. :)

They have a certain complex taste that makes you want to go there and eat until there is no more space in your stomach....I did that for a while(im a recovering binge eater so you do the math)BUT that feeling of restlesness in my stomach....the cramps and all....makes me NOT want to even drive by one of these places.They all make me sick.I am so happy that I quit!

the only fast food i get is subway's turkey 6 inch turkey sandwich on wheat bread, no cheese, a bunch of veggies, and mustard! this way i dont feel guilty on getting 'fast food"

Fast food companies are sick, they want your money, and they don't care about your health.  That being said, what we eat is our responsibility and ours' alone.  We can't put blame on big corporate companies doing what they do best - take advantage of the population and try to make money no matter what the cost. 

What we can do is make our own choices, and not eat at establishments such as that on a regular basis.  I wish the world would understand that if everyone only ate fast food at the times when it was truly called for - on vacation trying to make good time on the road, on the way home from work trying to get to your kid's band concert, that rare occasional morning where you have to have some way to absorb last night's alcohol.  But unfortunately, society has gotten lazy and made every occasion one for fast food, and business is better for them then ever.  All we can do is make our own individual choices about what we eat, and perhaps make a movie that is an exaggeration yes, but helps to convey the point nonetheless.

The bottom line - it's horrifying for you and it's chocked full of artificial, un-natural ingredients that should never occur in food, and more than not you are eating some cow or chicken that was tortured prior to being on your bun.

The other bottom line, fast food sells sandwiches...and salads - both of which can be made within 5 minutes from your very own home.

I don't get it........

Original Post by skdanek:

The other bottom line, fast food sells sandwiches...and salads - both of which can be made within 5 minutes from your very own home.

 If you happen to have the ingredients.  (It's not just a matter of time...)

One thing I never understood about fast food restaurants is all the extra crap they use!  Wouldn't it be less expensive if they used plain old natural ingredients instead of all this stuff that seems so processed?  I guess it's a matter of shelf life...

I won't say "Never eat it!!!" because there are some places like Subway and such that offer healthy choices.  Even McDonald's has a salad option (although I wouldn't credit it with "fresh" produce) and if you know how to make a healthy decision then go for it.  I personally don't even go to any fast food place unless it's subway because I don't even want the temptation.  It's not good food and it's not good for you.

Original Post by princess_abigail:

for many years I ate a "pescatarian" diet - "vegetarian" with the occasional fish or dairy, and I've recently gone back to that way of eating, and I agree with another poster who said that eating "vegetarian" helps to delete fast food as an option. Those gross watery little salads do nothing to satisfy!

 Finally another pescetarian!!!!  And what you say about the fast food salads is soooo true.  They look and taste disgusting.  If you're gonna eat veggies... make 'em fresh veggies.  :]]]

I love fast food.  There's nothing wrong with eating a burger every now and then.  I mean if people didn't want burgers there would be no burger joints.  You can enjoy fast food for one day and then detox the next few days.  Give yourself a break.

I saw the movie and I think that they should show it in every high school health class. I never really eat fast food so when I do I usually don't feel too guilty about it. There are almost always healthy options. Just check the websites for nutritional info. I've opted for the Asian salad sans almonds and dressing at McD's and it's only around 300 cal. Not bad. I believe what everyone else is saying- moderation is key.

I worked for Burger King and Taco Bell years ago. I saw some really gross things that make me want to avoid fast food. At burger king, the manager once told me not to change out the grease after an employee told me the same grease had been in the fryer for two days. It was just covered and reused. Think about what goes in this: the chicken, fish, and fries.

At Taco bell, I quit after one week, when the large pot that cooks the refried beans was filthy. I went in to work the lunch rush and the pot had encrusted beans and it was horribly nasty. The rim of the pot had something else caked on the top of it.

The taco bell I worked for was not that clean. I'm not saying all taco bells are filthy, but you just never know.

Sometimes I do grab a side salad or a chicken sandwich if I'm on the run from BK, but I really try to plan ahead.

LOL funny story:

Me and my boyfriend and about 5-6 of his friends watched Super Size Me.

By the end of the movie we'd gone for a McDonalds run and were all eating french fries LOL.

I don't eat fast food anymore though.

At Taco bell, I quit after one week, when the large pot that cooks the refried beans was filthy. I went in to work the lunch rush and the pot had encrusted beans and it was horribly nasty. The rim of the pot had something else caked on the top of it.

The taco bell I worked for was not that clean. I'm not saying all taco bells are filthy, but you just never know.

Fear not fellow fast food goers- I worked at Arbys and it was EXTREMELY CLEAN. I mean, cleaner than my own kitchen FO SHO!

I like to order vegetarian subs from Subway if I have to eat out. I get wheat 6-inch with cucumbers, olives, red onion, tomatoes and lettuce. It's actually really good!

You can eat pretty healthy at McDonalds if and when you want, you just have to be a little selective.  The salads are fine without dressing and with grilled instead of fried chicken.  I don't eat hamburgers though, so everytime I go I get a grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo and a diet coke.  Even with the fries on a regular day (no compensating with less food elsewhere) you can easily stay under your daily calorie intake, sodium, saturated fat, etc.

Also, there's a story of a guy who lost about 40 lbs on a "McDonald's diet."  Look it up. :)

Original Post by jbullock:

Also, there's a story of a guy who lost about 40 lbs on a "McDonald's diet." Look it up. :)

Just in case someone hadn't heard about it yet....mcdonalds diet story

And a related story discussing his success....consumer affairs

The most important part is the last paragraph of the second link I posted. As everyone has already said, balanced diet are the key words.