Is it possible to have a healthy diet without giving up on your fast food habit? Probably everyone who loves this tasty, yet fatty food and also cares about their weight has had this dilemma. We are going to tackle this issue here by providing you a few tips on how to eat fast food in a healthier manner.
Is Fast-Food Really That Bad?
Fast food has gained a bad reputation as numerous health studies showed it can lead to different diseases. Cardiovascular problems, for example, are strongly linked to diet. The more unhealthy fats you eat (for example, those found in fries as opposed to the healthy ones which are found in salmon), the more prone you are to developing heart conditions.
The fats found in most fast-food are harmful to the arteries and the heart. Moreover, the high content of salt is also bad for people with heart conditions. Obesity and all the correlated health problems are also caused by a diet that’s too rich in fats and sugar. Medically speaking, there is no silver lining in eating fast-food. It tastes great, but that is its only strong point.
However, balance is always the key to success and the good news is that you can eat fast food without experiencing health or weight problems as long as you don’t indulge too much in it. And if you want to feel even more at ease with your guilty pleasure, follow the tips below.
Exclude Sauces and Choose Healthier Alternatives
There are a few things you should try to eliminate or avoid to combine if you want to reduce the health risks related to fast-food and maintain a normal weight. It might be hard to picture a typical fast-food treat without sauce. But if you simply can’t bear the thought of not dipping your crispy strips in some spicy stuff, opt for healthier variants.
Mayonnaise, ketchup and other similar choices add lots of calories to your meal and they are also packed with sodium. You can still enjoy the taste of your burger, fries or chicken if you pair it with mustard, for example, or if you try to simply add some spices.
If you love pizza, for example, you really don’t need sauce or ketchup on top. In this case, you can delight your palate with condiments. The best seasoning for pizza is based on natural ingredients that are tasty and healthy.
Try to Eliminate or Reduce the Extra-sugar You Get from Drinks
This is also a tough one, but if you are able to replace the big glass of coke you take with each meal, with a natural juice made of fresh fruit or a home-made lemonade, your body will thank you.
Besides being almost as good as their bubbly counterparts, these options also contain plenty of vitamins. Coke and other types of soda are rich in calories and they really don’t provide any useful nutrients. They don’t even manage thirst because you feel even thirstier after all that sugar.
Choose Your Side-Dishes Wisely
It’s quite tempting to pair that warm cheeseburger with some steamy fries, but these are 2 of those nasty foods that clog your arteries and give you heartache, literally. If you can’t give up on either of these two addictions, try at least not to eat them at the same time, making harm half less harmful.
Pair your main fast-food course with a healthy low-calorie salad (which is ideally devoid of dressings and only contains olive oil and spices).
If fast-food is your favorite type of food, it’s definitely hard to picture a diet that excludes it completely. However, if you can eat it in moderation you might not need to eliminate it for good. Try to choose the middle way and make healthier choices when it comes to fast-food meals so that you can enjoy this yummy food while mitigating its negative effects.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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