Stop eating fast food in three steps
This is the second part in the series, “How I quit eating fast food”. If you think it might help others, please consider sharing it via Digg, StumbleUpon, or your favorite social media tools. Thanks. And don’t forget to check out part 3, “20 tactics to kill the fast food habit“.
“Just because it’s toxic doesn’t mean it’s not tasty.” – MastersInTheMaking.com
As I made clear in part 1, I think it’s fair to say that I have an issue or two with my lifelong personified compadre, Fast Food. That’s not to say that it’s my ONLY issue (oh and by the way, speaking of issues, a big “thanks” to the coiners of that ubiquitous ’80s phrase, “global thermonuclear war” for ruining my trust in humanity – Nice work), but in my opinion the fast food hang-up really does have the possibility of killing me in a hurried, greasy fashion.
And if I have one rule in life, it is that when I go, I do not want my mournful passing to be in any way associated with Grease. And thus why I am neither an auto mechanic nor John Travolta.
Further, to prevent a future experience that includes balloon-like medical devices being inserted near my nether-regions in an emergency effort to clear out my brittle arteries, I have quit frequenting fast food restaurants since the beginning of the year.
How am I doing it, considering I seem to get the hankerin’ for Kentucky Fried Chicken every few months as if there is some sort of time-release chicken nugget flavored tablet wedged somewhere in my right parietal cortex?
If you read nothing else, read this
In my opinion, there are very few things in life that you can give up permanently. Does fast food in all of it’s forms fit that category for me for all Eternity? I can’t say – I don’t wear that cologne. But for right now, I have decided to exclude it from my diet altogether (both fast food AND cologne) to allow myself to create the HABIT of eating better.
For me, the only way that I can do this is to say no to fast food completely. Who knows; at some point fast food may become “real food”…But from my vantage point today, I highly doubt it. For now, I’ve decided it doesn’t fit the current picture of my life.
In other words, giving up fast food is a reasonable goal for me, today. Where you draw your own line is, well, your own business.
How to quit eating fast food
There are three parts to this process for me: Educate, Decide, and Act.
Step 1: Educate – myself.
I chose these aspects to focus on in particular:
- Health: This one is obvious. Fast food is, by nature, almost always not “real food”. It is industrially produced using steroids and genetic alteration to make animals grow unnaturally fast and fatter, antibiotics and pasteurization to cover over the lack of sanitary conditions and healthful feed practices, and nearly every unsavory bit of the animal is used, all for one purpose: To keep the price insanely low. Fast food is not formulated for good health. It is designed to keep the corporation wealthy by convincing us to support that idea with our dollars.
- Ethics: Put simply, how you spend your money affects many others beyond you, and shows who’s values you support. Example: When the food is grown outside of this country (and sometimes here too), some child’s mother or father is carrying vats and canisters of chemicals that we would be very afraid of, all to spray on that Whopper’s lettuce to kill things and make other things grow faster. But as long as we don’t see it, we don’t have to think about it. Every year the fast food industry generates millions and millions of tons of waste globally. I have decided, for me, that I don’t want to be part of that if at all possible. I don’t need to join some activist group to make a difference; I just need to change where I put my money.
- Budget: Contrary to what most people believe, eating fast food is not the cheapest alternative. You want cheap? Rearrange your schedule just a little bit to make your own food. The fast food corporations have been incredibly successful at convincing us otherwise. Learn to cook. Save money. The easiest way to do this? Make enough dinner for leftovers for lunch the next day. It’s not rocket science; it’s just common sense.
Step 2: Decide. For me, I did the following things first:
- I made my decision exclusively personal. I decided what was right for me, and me alone. I’m not even imposing this rule on my family – they are just following suit. For me, I feel right now as though I have to stay away from fast food joints altogether because I’m too susceptible to temptation. That may not be your situation.
- I chose the timing, and acted accordingly. For a few years I didn’t feel like I could do it, even though I wanted to try. For example, when we moved back to the Pacific Northwest, I knew that during the stress of moving, it was NOT the ideal time to make a big change like giving up fast food. So I waited for a little while, let life settle a bit, and eventually changed my circumstances so the timing was right. That said, I made it a BIG priority so that it didn’t just get swept under the carpet. It is certainly a balancing act here; and it is only what worked for me. Other folks may need to just say, “it’s never going to be a good time, so just do it.” That works too. But in all honesty, for me, timing has been a factor that I can’t ignore.
- I decided which foods that are available to me that had the most negative impact on health, my local environment, and our global community – and which of those foods I could live without. For example, while I definitely support the idea of buying local, coffee beans simply do not grow here. And I like coffee. So, I decided to buy only Fair Trade coffee, preferably shade grown. While the “best” decision from a purely ethical standpoint may be to simply give up coffee, I didn’t go that route. I fall somewhere in the middle, which to me, is better than just giving in because I don’t want to give up my morning cup (or 3).
- As dramatic as it might sound, I decided that eating poorly, and in particular, industrially produced fast food, would ultimately hinder what I want out of life. I want to live a long, healthy life. I want to be able to run alongside my son, racing him until he can beat me (at which time I will quit racing him JUST before he actually wins. Or claim that I am injured.). I had to make a choice, deciding whether or not my diet was supporting these desires. I educated myself, came to some personal conclusions, and decided to make some radical changes. Sounds cliche I know, but in truth, it is the biggest driving force behind the change – the desire for a longer, healthier life with my wife and children. I am convinced that fast food, at least in my case, does not compliment that picture.
Your decisions points will differ from mine – these were just a handful that I used, and that I remember. Your mileage may vary.
Step 3: Act. If you’ve read a few other Almost Fit posts, you are probably aware of the fact that I spend a considerable amount of time these days thinking about what I eat. The more I read, and the more articles I write, the clearer the picture becomes. I took charge of my choices and acted on my convictions. In other words, enough thinking. Time for some doing.
In the final part of this series, I’ll show you 20 tactics you can use to kill the fast food habit. It’s working for me so far.
Ed. Note: I’ve decided to break this post out into a 3 part series – the next one was just too darn long to include in this one. Revision on the fly. Gotta love it.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
How I quit eating fast food - part 1 | AlmostFit.com Says: 18.06.08 at 3:46 pm
[...] [UPDATE 6/18/08: Here’s part 2: “How I stopped eating fast food - 20 ways to end the addiction“.] [...]
healthranker.com Says: 18.06.08 at 3:53 pm
20 ways to end fast food addiction…
To prevent balloon-like medical devices being inserted near my nether-regions, I have quit eating fast food. Here’s 20 techniques on how to quit….
Great article Metroknow.
I am with you on not imposing this on your family. Lead and they shall follow has been my experience.
20 tactics to kill the fast food habit | AlmostFit.com Says: 18.06.08 at 9:40 pm
[...] parts one and two of this series, I described how I’ve quit eating fast food using 3 basic steps: Educating [...]
You’ve put up very informative points regarding quitting fast food with enough description to avoid the adverse health effects of fast-food consumption.
These points are really motivating and encouraging.
I think that “fast food” as a word combo is sometimes misleading. Those two words together almost inevitably mean “unhealthy” to the most of us. They mean the typical chain restaurant… but they don’t HAVE to.
Food can be fast AND healthy. I can and have walked into my kitchen, chopped veggies and popped said veggies and some meat or fish into a pan with them and come out with a nice, healthy and very tasty meal in 15 minutes start to finish. I can make a spinach/canned sardine/herring salad with a few other veggie accoutrements in less time than that… again, healthy and REALLY FAST.
We need to remind ourselves that if our pantry and fridge are stocked healthy, healthy yet FAST food is easy. Not difficult, not time consuming, but EASY. Tasty too! I am so with you on the “make enough for leftovers”. Or even make enough to freeze a bunch for future use. Both are ways to spend less time cooking and more time eating healthy. Mind you, I need these reminders constantly. It’s hard thinking sometimes when one is tired. Great article!
This is a little delayed, but I was out of town, and I’ve been looking forward to reading your second part. Now I instead I get to read 2 more parts, so even better. I think that the hardest part of changing eating habits is doing so when family members are doing differently. I think it’s good that you don’t force your family to do the same as you, but it is still difficult to change individual habits when the others around you are doing what you are trying to avoid. This is another good article, now on to part 3.
@Cynthia: I think you are totally, totally right on the money. In fact, the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that it is all part of the huge marketing campaign to convince us that everything BUT their food is hard to do, NOT fast, doesn’t taste as good, isn’t as fresh, and on, and on. It’s interesting that they’re OK with the negative stigma in some ways; That said, have you seen Wendy’s new ad campaign? They are trying to set themselves outside of the fast food group with an ad campaign that says their food is simply too healthy to be called “fast food” (can’t remember the exact wording). Well I guess you can’t fault em’ for trying.
@Tom: Glad as always to see ya around. On the concept of family members still eating fast food, you are right – that can be really, really tough. I am lucky in that my wife doesn’t eat fast food by preference, and never has. So I really do have it easier in that way. Of course, when I WAS eating fast food, she ate more of it too. Ironically, one of the few choices that worked for her (she was vegetarian at the time – now she is not) was the 7-layer burrito at Taco Bell. Which worked great for me because then I could get the burrito and taco combo, upsized with a large Baja Blast Mountain Dew, an extra soft taco supreme, and a meximelt just to round out the meal.
WOW is it any wonder I’ve been gaining 10 lbs a year on average, and have felt like, well, JUNK. 
Thank you sooo much for this article..it was something I really needed to read! It has given me a lot to think about as a “slave” to fast food myself! lol This article has really helped motivate me to give up fast food for good! THANKS!!!!!
hello, I am a student at Berkshire Middle School, and I am doing a problem/solution project. The problem I chose is people eating too much fast food and the negative health affects of doing this. Do you think a good solution is to watch the movie Supersize Me? Why or why not?
Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Brendan O.
Thanks a lot for sharing your so nice blog because person want to fit and healthy and active and now a days eating fast food is a fashion but it put on weight.
hey there, i just found this page by typing in “how to quit eating fast food” on google.. i am currrently beating myself up bc i just went to taco bell for a crunchwrap and side of beans…i gave in bc it is so close to the house and i felt very out of energy to cook..in general i wanted something fast and easy.. and it was tasty while eating it..i scarfed it down.. but only to feel super discusted with my self afterwards. Now im wanting to make a change, im wanting to quit eating fastfood for gud. All of my family members eat it. Even alot of my friends. But ive gotta star somewhere. Thanks for your article. it encourages me..also to know there are others trying to give it up.
Order Acai Berry Says: 02.08.11 at 1:56 am
Acai Berry Facts…
Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com…
Make money online with EZ-Biz Builder Says: 19.08.11 at 4:00 am
Make money online with EZ-Biz Builder…
Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com…
Ke$ha looks timelessly sexy in brand new ad promo for watches designed by herself Says: 24.09.11 at 4:42 pm
Kesha looks timelessly hot in new ad promo for watches she designed…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
First, you are a fantastic writer. Both part 1 and part 2 were very funny and engaging in addition to informative!
I’m a (single) college student and over the last 4 years I’ve found myself eating more and more fast food. I never really figured out how to cook for a single person, and over time hunger combined with the easy access of fast food just took over. I try to rationalize sometimes that it’s just easier and cheaper while, as you point out, knowing full well that it’s not really.
In any case, I’ve decided to try and, at the very least, cut back to only eating out a 2-4 times a week. I really don’t think I could do it cold-turkey (props to that, by the way), but think smaller steps should be easier. Probably the hardest aspect of it all is that climbing of the fast food rut seems pretty difficult (I actually have to buy food *and* cook it?!) but here’s hoping.
Thanks for the article and the glimmer of hope!
By the way, I found your article via a Google search as the #1 result for “how to stop eating fast food”. Good job
How to Travel with a Baby Says: 23.10.11 at 1:51 am
How to Travel with a Baby…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
Traveling with Toddlers Says: 22.11.11 at 6:07 pm
Traveling with Toddlers…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
how to make fast money for kids Says: 23.11.11 at 11:41 am
how to make fast money for kids…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
Sick! =)
You’re amazing at making this as simple as possible.
sports Says: 13.12.11 at 8:06 am
sports…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
recipes,food recipes,recipe,international recipes Says: 14.12.11 at 5:14 pm
recipes,food recipes,recipe,international recipes…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
healthy heart Says: 22.12.11 at 9:24 am
healthy heart…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
no agent house sale Says: 30.12.11 at 5:44 am
no agent house sale…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
New Carpet Says: 06.01.12 at 12:34 pm
New Carpet…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
Scentsy Buy Scentsy Candles Online Join Scentsy Sell Scentsy Wickless Candles Sell Scentsy Online Join Scentsy Puerto Rico Sell Scentsy Puerto Rico Sell Candles Online Start a Candle Business Online Work from Home Business Opportunities Legitimate Work fr Says: 17.01.12 at 2:28 am
Scentsy Buy Scentsy Candles Online Join Scentsy Sell Scentsy Wickless Candles Sell Scentsy Online Join Scentsy Puerto Rico Sell Scentsy Puerto Rico Sell Candles Online Start a Candle Business Online Work from Home Business Opportunities Legitimate Wo…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
Kitchen Fitters Cheltenham Says: 19.01.12 at 3:39 am
View Bathroom Range Online…
[...]See our range of bathrooms online now[...]…
Cheap Healthy Meals Says: 03.03.12 at 3:51 pm
Cheap Healthy Meals…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
bet365 sports news Says: 10.03.12 at 3:53 am
bet365 sports news…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
seo,smo,seo soft,seo base,proxy Says: 05.04.12 at 4:51 pm
seo,smo,seo soft,seo base,proxy…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
Ehow Says: 17.04.12 at 9:47 am
Ehow…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…
money, fileice, sharecash, 1.7.4.0, crack, download, free, free download, frei, hands, kostenlos, leaked, no, no hands seo 1.7.4.0, seo, 2.13.5.5, 2012, box, crack, download, free, free download, tool, tube, tube toolbox Says: 22.04.12 at 1:32 pm
money, fileice, sharecash, 1.7.4.0, crack, download, free, free download, frei, hands, kostenlos, leaked, no, no hands seo 1.7.4.0, seo, 2.13.5.5, 2012, box, crack, download, free, free download, tool, tube, tube toolbox…
[...]Stop eating fast food in three steps | AlmostFit.com[...]…