We have all heard about how fast food is unhealthy and will cause you to gain weight, become less active, and develop diseases. While that is definitely possible, the truth is that the reason you see these side-effects of fast food is because it is eaten excessively. Too much of anything can be bad for you.
Fast food meals traditionally have been high in sodium and fat so when you eat more than you should, you’re putting too much fat and sodium into your body. However, if you eat in moderation and choose healthier options more often, you won’t see many, if any, of those side-effects.
Here are some reasons why eating fast food in moderation is good for you.
Quick Meals Save You Time
Fast food is called that for a reason. It is fast. You can get a fast food meal through a drive-through window in as little as one minute and usually doesn’t exceed five minutes. There is no preparation time on your end. So eating fast food in moderation could save you lots of time to do other things in life.
Many fast food restaurants are located in convenient locations such as malls and shopping centers. This means that you can stop by and grab something to eat without driving specifically to a restaurant.
Low Price Saves You Money
Look, inflation is real. Food prices are going up daily and if you want to cook something for yourself, it will cost quite a bit more than fast food. You could be spending 3 times as much money on home-made meals than you would with fast food.
Having said that, home-cooked meals are a great way to eat healthy with your family. But it can get very costly, so it is very wise to alternate between couple of different options whether it’s cooking your own meals one day, eating out at a fancy restaurant the next, and finishing the week with a fast food meal. You have many options when it comes to food and mixing it up is good for your health and your wallet.
Healthy Fast Food Options on The Rise
Just a decade ago, the most common fast food meals were greasy and fatty burgers and fries. Today, most fast food restaurants have great healthy alternatives. Just look at McDonald’s Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich. It has only 350 calories with 9 grams of fat, 42 grams of carbs, and 28 grams of protein. That is a very healthy sandwich and with an average price of just $3.99 it is hard to beat.
If you’re used to going to Burger King and getting that whopper, perhaps you can consider their Tendergrill Chicken Sandwich. It has 470 calories with 18 grams of fat, 39 grams of carbs, and a whopping 37 grams of protein. All of this can be had for under $5.
When compared to their beef alternatives, you’re cutting the fatty content by almost 50% for just about $1 more.
One other thing to keep in mind when it comes to healthy fast food is that there are many restaurants that serve primarily healthy meals such as Subway, Quiznos, and Panera Bread. These restaurants pride themselves in keeping the fatty content of the foods very low and most of their meals utilize low-fat meat such as chicken, turkey, and fish.
Conclusion
And there you have it. The key in life is to keep everything in moderation including your consumption of fast food.
Being smart about how and when you eat fast food is another important aspect of it. Doing it right can save you and your family lots of money, time and still keep your healthy goals in tact.
