What Is Fast Food, Anyway?
DIARY OF A FIEND: A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE KICKS THE HABIT
By Dawneka Akins
This entry is part of my 31-day journey giving up some of the unhealthy eating habits I’ve had for most of my life. Fast food is everywhere – on every corner, on TV, and on huge billboards all over the city. For me, eating well with a low income, no car, and limited time is difficult. Dodging bad food – all I’ve known for 21 years – has become one of the biggest challenges of my life.
Sunday, October 10
I’m only ten days into this, and so far, my mission to live without fast food has not been completely unbearable. I’ve had my moments of weakness, but I haven’t put a drop of Burger King, McDonald’s or any other place’s food to my lips.
Through this process, I’m teaching myself the true purpose of food: nourishment to the body, not delight of the taste buds.
People say that you can eat food that is both healthy and tasty, but I’m not so sure about that.
It is difficult to adapt to healthy eating with limited time and funds. Often I find myself trying to figure out how can I satisfy my hunger when I don’t buy groceries regularly because I’m always on the go, and I don’t have much money.
I went into 7-Eleven one day after work. I was hungry and I hadn’t been to the grocery store. Is the food 7-Eleven sells considered fast food? I tried to purchase healthy: a turkey & cheese six inch sub, and a bag of salt and vinegar chips. I also got a can of Arizona Mucho Mango. The painting of several plump mangoes on the can convinced me this was juice, and juice is good for me, right (I didn’t read the label revealing only 5% juice and 26 grams of sugar – mostly from high fructose corn syrup – inside)?
Okay, maybe that doesn’t sound exactly healthy, but I also needed my taste buds to be satisfied.
Where’s the balance?
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