Good Fast Food

I will never give up fast food! I love it! Burgers, pizza, fries…. Oh, it is just too good! It would be no fun to have to give up all the goodies just to be healthy, right? Well, you can surely have your fast food, and be quite healthy too! See, fast food can be made in the comfort of your home, and with just a little planning and forward thinking, it can be done in a snap! It will be healthy, easy, delicious, and guilt-free. 

I’ll share a few tips on how to make your perfect, homemade, fast food meal a reality. We are aiming for simplicity, that’s key. Simple ingredients, simple shopping, simple meals, while never compromising on taste or quality. So, let’s get that burger and fries done!

 Save eating out for special occasions, make your meals at home. Omit premade, microwaveable meals as well. Focus on quick, conscious cooking, packed with nutrients, and flavor.

 When shopping, stay along the perimeter of the grocery store. Do not meander down the center aisles. These aisles are packed with trans-fats, sugar, and chemical-laden foods attractively packaged to call you as you pass by. So, let’s think about this for just a moment- You will find ground beef in the meat department, and potatoes to make your fries in produce. In most markets, these are both located on the perimeter of the store. Ok, so you want bacon to put on the burger, no problem, grab that while in the meat department. Oh, and onions too, yep, that is found in produce. Ah, cheese, yes, can’t forget cheese on the burger. Hop over to the dairy department, and yes, we are still on the perimeter of the store. 

 Be sure to purchase humanely raised, organic meat, by doing this, you are limiting the number of chemicals, and toxins you consume.  

 Don’t be afraid to grab condiments. I just told you to stick to the perimeter of the store, right? Now, I am telling you to grab your condiments, which will take you down the aisles. Just stay focused and read the ingredient labels. Stick to condiments with as few ingredients as possible. Grab some burger buns too, if you need them. If you don’t already have coconut oil or tallow, you’ll want to get some. You will need it to make your fries. 

 Make the bad good. Don’t become frustrated if you are sensitive to some of the foods in your fast food meal. Flip the recipe and make it your own. Can’t eat beef? Make a turkey or chicken burger. Can’t have bacon? Get turkey bacon. Can’t have wheat? Don’t get burger buns, use a lettuce leaf, or a steamed cabbage leaf instead. Can’t use coconut oil or tallow? Use lard. Don’t want to fry the potatoes? Bake them in the oven. See, there is no right or wrong way to do this. We are making a healthy meal, just for you!

 Now, take all of your ingredients home and make your meal! Better yet, keep the ingredients to make your fast food meal on hand, so when you start craving it, all you have to do is go to the kitchen!

 Want to make it even faster? Meal prep, my friend. 

If you are in the food allergy/food sensitivity club, some simple substitutes are listed below.

 Egg: Ground flax seeds, chia seeds, apple sauce, mashed banana, gelatin

Milk: Oat milk, nut or seed milk, coconut milk, or sometimes plain water

Vinegar: Lemon juice

Peanut butter: Cashew butter, almond butter, pecan butter

Wheat flour: Oat flour, rice flour, almond flour etc. (I avoid starches as the sole replacement for flour i.e. potato starch, arrowroot starch etc.)

Butter: Coconut oil or ghee

Canola oil: Coconut oil, lard, tallow

Corn Syrup: Maple Syrup or honey