Eat Real Food
| June 26, 2012 | Posted by Carrie under attitude about food, fast food, FitFluential |
One day at the beginning of my healthy lifestyle journey change (I must come up with a name for that), I was thinking that I was craving some fast food. I planned it all out, I was going to McDonald’s with the kids and I was going to get a Happy Meal. A cheeseburger and fries was what I thought I wanted. With an unsweetened ice tea.
I planned my day and ate my normal meals. I don’t think I really ‘saved up’, but I ate my usual small meals of the day.
My McDonald’s Happy Meal (at the time, this was before they changed it) was 540 calories. 24g of fat (7 saturated), 62g carbs and 18g protein. (Data from McDonald’s website)
Fat is 9 calories per gram, Carbs are 4 calories and Protein is 4 calories. So, it was 40% fat, 46% carbs, 13% protein. The recommended macronutrient ranges for the average person per day are 45-65% carbs, 20-35% fat, 10-35% protein. Looking at the meal that way, it wasn’t really that terribly unhealthy.
At the time I thought it tasted good.
About an hour later, I was hungry again. I was disappointed that my 540 calorie meal did not fill me up.
The lesson that has sunk into my brain in the time since this event is that whole food is much more filling that the already processed junk that is marketed as ‘convenience foods’.
It took a while for this lesson to sink into me as I talked about in this post when I apologized to my family for some of the crappy ‘fake’ foods I had prepared. Read the post to learn one of my favorite descriptions of processed foods as ‘partially digested’ foods.
It’s so true. The more processing that has occurred to your food, the less work that your body has to do to digest the food. Meaning your body doesn’t expend any energy to use the energy of the food. It essentially goes right through you.
Eating real, unprocessed, whole foods is so much more satisfying than a cheap, processed junk meal or snack. It’s like those 100 calorie snack packs. It’s 100 calories of processed food. Your body doesn’t find any nourishment in the food, so it doesn’t do anything to satisfy your real hunger. What’s the point? Does it even taste good?
real food
That day at McDonald’s was 3 years ago. I haven’t ‘craved’ a happy meal since then. I’m not writing this post as an anti-fast food campaign. I’m writing this as a pro-real food campaign.
Eat real food. It tastes good, it’s good for you.
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So true. I need to make my calories count and LAST!
The lasting part is the important thing. I hate being hungry an hour after I’ve eaten.
sooo true! Just because a food has the right balance doesn’t mean it will be filling and I think what i’ve learned most is that our body wants NUTRIENTS and that’s why we feel hungry again so fast
Amanda @RunToTheFinish recently posted..30 Day Ab Challenge: July
I find nutrition to be so complex and interesting. So many mixed messages and so much misinformation.
I like the acronyms you share there. Simple guides for how to approach food; brilliant! 100-calorie snack packs are absolutely terrible inventions. Oh they make a bunch of money, so I get why they are so abundant, but they are just a bad choice made for convenience sake and not health sake.
Patrick recently posted..My Tool of Choice
Total convenience and not for health for sure.
So very true! I am really trying to stay away from all processed foods right now. The Farmer’s Market is my best friend:-)
I used to do the same thing with McDonalds. I would get cravings every once and a while and I’d allow myself to cheat.. One day I just realized how bad it was. How bad it made me feel……I haven’t eaten ANY fast food for about three and a half years. I’m also surprised at how I don’t even crave it. The smell makes me sick.
I agree. Fast food smells are awful. Now a bakery, that’s a different story.
AGREED!
If you like sweets you should check out my posts. I bake ALL the time (and try to get it out of my house just as fast lol).
Laura recently posted..Bottom of the Barrel
I did just add your blog to my reader. Thank you for connecting with me.
So true, Carrie! I have days where all i want is carbs and peanut butter, and then days where I’m craving veggies- but either way, I try my best to stick to whole food options and like you said, it makes such a difference in keeping me satisfied. I think part of it has to do with our bodies actually receiving the nutrients they are craving, beyond filling us up.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..Big Book of Marathon Training Review and Giveaway
I think the key is to listen to our bodies. If your body is craving carbs and healthy fats, it’s probably right.
Great read Carrie and so true. Since starting my finding myself “nutritionally” one year ago with a clean eating challenge that has lead me to now eating an entirely plant based dietI I feel better than ever and have so much more energy!
Great “eat less crap” reminder.
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday || Snack Edition
Your success with the plant based diet is inspiring. Keep up the good work!
I agree, but it is still hard when I have a pantry full of Cheez-Its!
Coco recently posted..Tiger Lilly Strikes A Pose
Silly teenagers being a bad influence on us.
It’s so funny. I remember my last “fast food” meal too and how utterly disappointing it was. And I honestly felt like I had a hangover! This is a great post. I love the eat less CRAP…very easy to remember
Rebecca recently posted..Natural nesting
The best thing about that Fast Food Hangover is that it really makes me never want to eat fast food again. There are occasions where I’ve had something, but so few and far between that I don’t even remember them. Thanks for sharing.
I agree! You have probably already read Michael Pollen’s Omnivore’s Dilemma? If not, I bet you would like it!
Travel Spot recently posted..Foodie Pen Pal Reveal: June
No, I haven’t read that one – it’s on my list though.