What is your definition of fast food?

[luckynumbah7]

Fast food in our house is anything that I don't cook myself at home. Usually from scratch, though the only reason we can do that is because I don't work. We 'eat out' maybe once a month and it's at places where you can get the food in about, oh, fifteen minutes, though we usually do delivery.

@Thynight,

If you qualify for an aid or have a friend, if y'ask they might do the week's prep work and freeze it for you, takes about two hours unless you're deboning the meat as well - then you can just pop it in the oven when you're hungry. I usually spend Sundays cutting everything and freezing it in medium sized containers. If you need easy and healthy recipes, m'sure between the board we've got quite a few. I've got a rather nice spinach mac n'cheese and cabbage/keilbasa soup. Sushi is also very easy to make if you like that. Ooooo, and homemade burritos taste better than anything you get at taco bell. Those cans of refried beans everyone else seems to use really are crap.

 

[luckynumbah7]

Although if your friend isn't used to cutting/chopping, it'll take longer. Leftovers are your new best friend, and it'll really help your cholesterol and blood pressure since there's a hell of a lot less sugar and salt.

You'll want to get a food processor, though. We have a cheap fifteen dollar one, it's small and works well for damn near everything, from hummus to tzatziki sauce and marinades, and an immersion blender, which we generally just use for smoothies because fuck it, I'm can be a lazy cook.

 

[luckynumbah7]

In other words, there's a lot of kitchen gadgets that'll save you from hurting.

 

[luckynumbah7]

Oh, and here's a trick you'll definitely find handy if you've issues holding a knife - boiled potatoes, boiled baby carrots in the bag can be quick-sliced using an egg slicer, you can pick up at the dollar store. Very quick for making scalloped potatoes and such, though it the potatoes aren't peeled you need to rinse the metal bit after every three potatoes or so that it doesn't 'jam up'. Might also work for brussel sprouts but I loath that godforsaken vegetable and leave it to K to eat. Steaming also works for meat and vegs, just stick a metal colander on a pot of boiling water, shove in whatever you'd like and put a lid on the inside of the colander to cover it.

I'd also suggest a rice cooker, does damn near all the work for you.

 

[luckynumbah7]

although if you go the boiling and using an egg slicer route, let the veggies cool after slicing - less excess water that way when you freeze 'em so they don't turn out soggy messes. oh oh - and the grated cheese in a bag is usually cheaper than the block cheese by about a quarter, saves you from trying to grate it, always drove my hands nuts.

 

[luckynumbah7]

-tell you what, you tell us your dietary tastes and I can tell you how to make it without having to cut veggies by hand without getting sucked in to buying a lot of redundant equipment. You can also pick up diced meat at the grocers, saves you that way too. They also tend to have packets of diced onions and peppers there as well, which are the real bastards since you can't use an egg slicer for 'em.

 

[lambdaboy]

Yesterday running all over London doing stuff I went to MacDonalds got a Big mac meal and a vanilla shake. It is the first time I have been there in 6 years. Will go back in another 6 maybe!

 

[JPGhost]

I like fast food, it makes my life faster. If not because of fast food, my life prolly won't going ^^ (in kitchen all day)

 

[HunterM]

Your doctor wanted you to be on a more balance diet: a low fat, low sugar and low carbs diet.

Here are some tips that worked for me.
Cut out anything that has been deep fried: fries, donuts, chicken nuggets, etc.
Lower your sugar intake: cut out sodas. Drink water or coconut water.
Lower your carbs intake: when eating a sandwich, just eat one slice of bread instead of two. Throw the other slice of bread away. Eat less baked goods such as cookies, cakes. etc.

Eat more fruits in general such as high fiber fruits like apples, oranges, pears, etc. Berries, grapes, watermelon, mangoes are sweet for my sugar craving.

I still order from McDonalds. However, I order a grilled chicken (not a deep fried chicken patty) sandwich without the soda and without the fries. I order an egg McMuffin without cheese and without the deep fried hashbrown.

 

[DonQuixote]

There are some good answers here. Also - that monster baked potato - cut it in half.
30g carbs per meal is what my Diabetes Dietician has me targeted for. Upwards of 45-60 IF you're active, work out, manual labor.

They will tell you a carb is a carb is a carb (exception: dietary fiber)
Read labels
Cut the sodium intake down.

"White" isn't our friend - Potatoes, bread, rice, pasta. Whole grain is better (see fiber above).

Taz gave some good, sound advice.

If you are still wondering, tell your doctor to refer you to a dietician - a Diabetes or Cardiac Rehab program one.
Lean meats.
If you have an average size hand (Not a monster can-crusher), the size of your fist is about the size of your carb portion per meal.

And, make sure you don't skip meals - breakfast is very important.
I used to skip breakfast and lunch - I'm paying for it now - body goes into hunter-gatherer mode and starts storing whatever it gets when it gets. Eat your three squares, maybe more calories earlier in the day, lighter as you get towards bedtime when you're less active.

It matters.

Now, if I had Taz for a personal trainer, it'd be a lot easier - out kayaking, swimming, biking, whatever.
Or anyone to work out with - that's been my hangup, and I know it. I'm a social creature - I can do the work, I just don't want to do it alone.

 

[Draven]

Anything that pops out of a drive through window

 

[mikemizanin729]

And the definition of fast food to me = Unhealthy rubbish.

 

[DonQuixote]

Not EVERY thing that can come through a drive-in window is bad.
Wendy's has some fairly decent and healthy salads w/ grilled chicken.

Nutrition and ingredient information is current as of July 2014.
Salad SzGm Cal Fat S.F Trn Poly Mon Chol Sod Pot Carb Fib Sug Prot
Apple Pecan Chicken Salad 355 350 11 7 0 0.5 3 115 970 840 27 5 17 35

Apple Pecan Chicken 1/2-Size 196 180 6 3.5 0 0 1.5 55 490 460 14 3 9 18

Asian Cashew Chicken Salad 352 210 3.5 0 0 0 0.5 90 520 980 13 5 5 33

Asian Cashew Chicken1/2Size 212 110 2 0 0 0 0 45 260 550 8 3 3 17

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad 391 390 15 7 0 2 6 125 940 950 28 4 12 40

BBQ Ranch Chicken 1/2-Size 221 210 8 3.5 0 1 3 60 510 510 17 3 9 20

Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad 354 480 27 12 1 6 7 90 1030 810 24 6 3 35

 

[Beachguyj]

I consider fast food burgers, fries, tacos, or chicken from a place with a drive thru window. I do not consider Subway fast food.

 

[Draven]

I consider fast food burgers, fries, tacos, or chicken from a place with a drive thru window. I do not consider Subway fast food.

Yea sandwich shops like Subway and Blimpie's take time to make your meal for you using fresh ingredients and bread, etc which is definitely NOT fast so I think Thy you're good to continue eating at Subway