Fast food meals are rife with all kind of unhealthy ingredients. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can be found in condiments (mayo, ketchup, mustard), soda, fries, desserts, salad dressings and bread products. It has been linked to obesity, liver scarring, and type 2 diabetes. Dairy comes in the form of milkshakes, ice cream and cheese that are high in saturated fat. The human body does not process dairy well, and it is laden with hormones and antibiotics. Foods are fried, soaked in weird chemicals not meant for human consumption and just out right scary.
Here’s some fast food items and substitutions you can make.
1. SODA
Acidifying, chemical-laden and loaded with HFCS and artificial sweeteners, avoid all sodas at all costs.
INSTEAD: BRING your own water.
2. FRIED CHICKEN
Chicken nuggets are terrible for you. I mean are they even chicken? If so, then you can bet it is mechanically separated (that pink slime we all have seen on fb) conventional chicken (hormones, antibiotics) and then breaded with sugar, flour and salt. They contain copious amounts of corn bi-products and have chemicals like MSG and HFCS and then fried in cheap, rancid oils. Sound healthy? NOT.
INSTEAD: Almond butter on celery sticks or a hummus and veggie sandwich.
3.BACON BURGER/BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Where do I begin? Hormones, salt, antibiotics and dairy not really the start you want.
Fat, calories and cholesterol are only part of the problem with bacon cheeseburgers, which also contain HFCS (in the buns and condiments), dairy, salt, hormones, and antibiotics. It’s just plain nasty.
INSTEAD: Fresh fruit and organic yogurt with low sugar granola.Veggie burger or an avocado sandwich.
4. MILK/MILKSHAKE
Conventional milk is filled with hormones and antibiotics, and is very difficult to digest. Milkshakes are loaded with saturated fat, sugar, conventional dairy and often chemicals for flavoring. No doubt they will leave you feeling sluggish even sick, not to mention the sugar high and evil low.
INSTEAD: Try one of the smoothie recipes on nourished.ca
5. FRENCH FRIES
Fries are simply salty unhealthy fat bombs fried in the worst possible rancid oil.
INSTEAD: a side salad (no dressing!) or extra veggies