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Fast Food And A Healthy Diet - How To Have Your Cake And Eat It Too!

By Peter Vasilis

Recently, the fast food giant McDonald’s announced the launch of their new adult “Happy Meal”, complete with salad, bottled water and a pedometer as part of a healthy fast food diet. It is encouraging to see that a large fast food chain has decided to address the growing health problem of obesity by offering healthier options on their menu which I applaud.

However, on the other hand this is the same corporation that introduced the world to “super sizing” and “triple thick milkshakes.” They have helped to contribute to the obesity epidemic and now are trying to cash in on the same problem they had a hand in creating.

In my opinion, the introduction of an adult “Happy Meal” is nothing more than a publicity stunt. In theory it seems like a good idea, but in reality, how many people are going to frequent McDonald’s to eat healthy. The word healthy and McDonald’s really should not even be in the same sentence. That is how far apart the two have been for decades.

I know for myself that if, on the rare occasion that I was to eat at McDonald’s, I would probably opt for a less healthy option. That is what people go to that particular restaurant for. People have grown accustomed to the food and for some it has become an addiction.

The main problem I have with this stunt is that in all likelihood, the people that really need to eat healthy will probably still opt for the “super sized value meal” and snicker at the “Healthy Happy Meal” option.

Really, with all fast food be it burger & fries, chicken & chips, pizza etc., as long as it is not consumed on a regular basis, even these foods can be incorporated into a healthy diet. The key is moderation.

In my nutritional programs I teach clients how to incorporate a “cheat day” into their regular supportive eating program. On this day one can eat whatever they want, but for only one day per week. As long as they are eating healthy, balanced meals the majority of the time one day of indulgence will not greatly affect ones metabolism.

In most conventional diets, people take an all or nothing approach, eliminating many of the foods they love. While on such a diet they vow to never eat pizza, pasta, French fries, cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc, etc, ever again.

Obviously this approach is unrealistic. After a short period of time they begin to crave the very foods they vowed to forever eliminate. That is why the “cheat day” is psychologically, extremely beneficial to ones weight loss efforts.

When abiding by a supportive nutritional plan, one is required to eat healthy, balanced meals for six days and on the seventh can eat any of the foods they have been craving throughout the week.

Eventually many clients find that over time the cravings stop entirely and the “cheat day” becomes obsolete, replaced by just another day of healthful eating.

So if you would like to bake a cake and eat it too, I encourage you to give supportive eating some consideration so you can even fit fast food into your healthy diet!

About the Author:

Peter Vasilis is a total body transformation specialist available for private and group fitness training, fitness/weight loss coaching and consultations. For further fitness and/or weight loss related questions or more information on his “Beach Body Boot Camp” fitness and nutritional program visit BeachBodyFitnessCamp.com.

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