Fast food – don’t eat it!!

If you’ve read many of my nutrition posts you know I am against fast food! It’s upsetting to me that these company’s have taken advantage of the “busy” person watching their wallet.  I understand when times are tough people tend to cheap out on the groceries.

It’s easy to lose track of the essentials in life.  Most people would spend their money on nice cars, houses, clothes and not take pride in their health.  Or keep up with the Jones’s mentality and it spreads their finances too thin, forcing them to eat cheaply.

When we look around at North American society it is absolutely scary as to how many overweight people there are.  Obesity rates are sky rocketing in kids, diabetes, heart diseases are increasing in adults.  Up to 60% of Americans are overweight! Canada isn’t too far behind!

It’s sad that most don’t take pride in their health.  We have one body and one life. Why cut your time here down? It’s up to you at the end of the day!

There are certain sacrifices that each person / family have to make to have ends meet.  I’m not here to lecture you on that.  I’m writing this because as a health professional that I am very concerned with the health state of society.  People are becoming sicker and sicker, kids are more overweight than ever!

We need to lead by example! I recall as a kid we never ate out unless it was a special occasion.  My mom made our meals, even helped pack lunches for myself, brother and sister.  I still live with a similar mentality.  I only eat out as a treat once in a while but all of my groceries are organic.

If your life is super busy, pre plan your meals so you aren’t forced to purchase which food place you walk or drive by!

I never eat fast food! It bugs me that people are basically killing people that go their regularly.

Here are some tips as to when you go grocery shopping.

• Buy organic as much as possible
• Minimize food items bought in boxes
• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables weekly
• Avoid any processed foods of any sort
• If the food item didn’t exist 10,000 years ago, don’t buy it!
• If you can’t pronounce the ingredient or know what it is, don’t buy it!
• Avoid buying junk foods.
• Buy raw nuts and seeds for healthy fats
• Buy in bulk to save money.  I’ve bought an 1/8 of a cow before.  It was free range, humanly raised with no pesticides / hormones
• If a food item lasts more that a week, toss it! Think of all the preservatives and additives that are added! Minimal nutritional value!
• You should be shopping weekly to ensure your food items are fresh and healthy

So I will admit I saw an Oprah show that made me think of this.  She does have some good topics of discussion.

This show was about a family of four who ate at fast food places regularly because it was cheap, convenient and easy to feed them all.

Buying healthy foods was more expensive so they always would eat bad.

The father developed a bunch of health issues which then forced them to buy multiple medications to help him combat it.

My point is, you might save money by buying cheap foods but it catches up to your health and wallet eventually.

I see grocery shopping as an investment to me, my health, and body.

Check out this picture of some fast food that was left on display to show you how “fake” the food is.  People ingest this regularly.  Pretty sickening if you ask me!!! Here is a description of what the picture says.