There are some times when our family has to stop at a fast food restaurant...like on our 4 1/2 hour trip home for the holidays. Can some of you who've been doing this a long time give me some food options for these times? So much of it is deep fried, so that is definitely out. Is there any redeeming value to anything "fast food" or should I just take my Atkins bar to eat while my guys are eating? I don't have time to research each restaurant before we leave.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Aloha,

You do not have to eat at a fast food restaurant, you choose to eat there.

One can pack a meal besides Atkins Bars on a raod trip. I make me a small bento (Japanese style takeout), piece of chicken, slice of cucumber, and a fruit. In a container some cottage cheese which I stick in the cooler.

See it is all about planning and it can be done.

The easy way out is saying you had to eat there cause you had nothing else to eat. Yes, and it's usually fried, or breaded or some kind of sauce on it and you take the chance of getting sick while on the road. Why?

Just my thoughts.

Hugs
Meliss

Well I dont eat at fast foods restaurants hardly ever, Im talking like once in 3 mths maybe, if I do I always grab a salad or grilled chicken sandwich only eating the meat. McDonalds has breaskfast and lunch wraps u can have there small to!

Jeanie,

Meliss is right there are options and it is a choice you make. If you do chose to make a stop if possible you would be better off nutritionaly not going for fast food but stopping at a restaurant that has true low carb options. Many places like Applebies, Chili's and such offer low carb healthy meals and sometimes they tend to be less expensive. Not only that they will prepare the order with special instructions if you ask.

If fast food is the choice most of the so called low carb choices may pose a problem for you. Not being even 2 months out you could have problems with the preparations and if I remember right at two months out I was'nt really enthused with the thought of JiB,BK or Micky Dees.

Here is another suggestion. Go to a regular restaurant and share your meal with another family member. Order something that has a protein scource you like and if there is a side you want order it. You are consuming very little so this would make your meal the price of fast food and let you stay on course.

I was only a month out from surgery and went on an anniversary trip and to hubby's family reunion. It was almost two weeks. I took a small cooler with my protein drinks and smoothies and packed Pure Protein bars for when he wanted fast food. When we ate in a restaurant, which was rare, I opted for appetizers that wouldn't make me sick. It is not a good idea to eat something you aren't sure of while on the road. If you do have a reaction, it will be much more unpleasant than if you are at home.

I hope you will plan ahead and take things with you that you KNOW you can tolerate.

OK, I think I get it. No Fast Food! I am pretty new to this. I guess the old mindset will take awhile to change. We just have always stopped at McDonald's or Wendy's 1/2 way home because we don't leave until I get out of work. That puts us leaving at 6:00 and a sit down restaurant puts us getting in at about 11:30 - midnight, too tired to spend time with our best friends before bedtime.
I will plan to pack some cottage cheese; I know it sets well for me. I will be packing some things, anyway, so I know I won't have to face being somewhere with nothing that is OK for me.
When we've gone out since my surgery, I do share w/ my husband. It takes so little to fill me up that he doesn't miss it.
Thanks for the input.

Be sure that if you pack things, that you take things that are special that you really like, or else when everyone's eating their burgers and fries you're going to feel terribly left out and deprived!!! If you really feel you must join in get a kids sandwich. They have no mayo. The fries will make you sick. Have the unsweetened ice tea with a packet of splenda. Don't let this be a chance to make yourself feel like a victim of wls. You can take a really good picnic meal and save yourself a ton of money, not to mention the wait time at drive thru places... Nothing is a bigger bummer than waiting 15 minutes, paying 6 bucks, eating 2 bites then throwing the rest away! A couple times of that will teach you to pack something yummy you can actually ENJOY!

Bon apetite, my friend! You're eating for nutrition first and then it's all pleasure NOW!!!

hugs

In my opinion...why not drop fast food as an option for the entire family? Really, there are so many more choices out there...why would you feed that stuff to your growing kids? I know that it is convenient, but gosh...even the grocery store has some great options in their deli case now. Running in to get sandwiches for the family and just some sliced meats for yourself is great and car friendly. Or packing food for everyone...sure it takes planning, but isn't that what it's all about now? Planning? If you are going to plan for yourself, why not plan for them as well.

Maybe I'm dreaming that this could be a reality! I don't have kids, so I don't know how they would react to this sort of meal choice!

Kim,
That would work, too. I just have to get a handle on what I am doing. Sandwiches is a great idea.
We used to be a real fast food family, but that is a whole other story. Over the past few years we had already cut back tremendously. Big changes just take time. I do like your idea of sandwiches, though. Add some fresh veggies & fruits (for the guys; I'm not there yet) and it would be quite healthy. I think it's a plan!!
Jeanie

HI BJ!

Well, I didnt read ALL the post and i'm sure you got plenty of good responses. It really IS all about the planning!!

Being prepared is what works for me and works for alot of us but I also know that at this time of year...it can become even more difficult.

I travel alot and ALWAYS have healthy snacks on me. Lots of water, fruit, nuts and nutritional bars etc. IN the event that we stop..we usually stop at a restraunt rather than fast food. But when I was early out like you are...I found that the REFRIED BEANS at taco bell soothed me and were high in protien and I felt like I was really getting a treat!

Also, a subway sandwich for the kids and/or hubby may be a better choice than a burger or something. Soup is good too!

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Julie

I go out to eat all the time and do just fine.
I find it's more about the camaraderie than about the food.
So I don't much care where we go to eat. I know I can find some little thing!
Bob Evans??? One or two scrambled eggs or cottage cheese with fruit in season
Wendy's?? Mandarin Chicken Salad or a small Chili
Subway??? The grilled chicken salad with a bit of ranch dressing(lower in sugar & carbs than the fat free Italian... typical)
McDonald's??? errrrrr.... ummmmmmm...I'd rather not
I'm into my winter wardrobe now and am wearing the same clothes I bought 4 years ago!
A FIRST! Some kind of BIG TIME RECORD! What a luxury! THAT is worth a buzzillion
missed burgers or soggie fries! Hang in there! It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it!

Meliss, can you give me a recipe for this yummy sounding meal?

Me give recipe? Laughing. I'm the worst cook ever.

A bento is just a box, a small lunch box.

The chicken is usually a piece of rotessire (?) chicken. I slice some vegies and pack a fruit.

A real Japanese bento always includes some rice, may it be sushi, which sometimes I do make and take for my hubby to eat while we on the road with chicken drummettes.

I can tolerate pork so sometimes instead of chicken I would take a piece of lean pok cutlet that I have sauteed in olive oil.

hugs
Meliss

Hi! About traveling w/the kids...I'm 11 months out now, and I find that my family has come around to thinking about where I can eat before they even think about where they want to eat!!! It's so cool!

I never made a big deal about where we ate, knowing I always had a protein bar in my pocketbook to fall back on, BUT....as I lost weight and became so much more active and fun to be around, the kids are really behind me all the "weigh"!! They are so into my being successful, that they'll even scour the menu and make suggestions about what I can order! You'll be amazed as your family gets involved in your success!

Good luck on your trip, and know that pretty soon it'll be second nature to pack for yourself allowing you to eat right wherever you may find yourself!

I find when I am with family or friends everyone is very supportive of the places we choose to eat. My staple when eating out is steamed veggies w/mushrooms or egg whites. You can find them almost anywhere! I cant handle fast food. I tried a fry from my hubbys dinner and OH it was painful! When I find myself craving potatoes though I love to thinly slice some sweet potatoes and bake them in the oven! My friend gave me this recipe of baked kale chips. Havent had them yet but she swears they are delicous! Just tear up some kale sprinkle with seasonings "lightly" spray the sheet with organic olive oil spray and bake! They go anywhere with you and are healthy. I always carry some easy fruit and unsalted almonds or cashews as well. I plan it all out. When I dont I get in trouble. Thats my best advice! And dont give in if someone keeps pushing you to take just one bite of something!

Hey Bejean! Great question.

WE travel with a cooler packed with my "safe" foods but now and again I like to endulge in splurge foods. One of the best fast foods I've found is the Wendy's Manderine Chicken Salad. It has spring greens, diced chicken, manderine oranges, almonds and dressing on the side. I follow the 2 Bite 1 Bite rule (2 bites protein 1 bite veggie) and get happily full with fresh fast food. Yes, most of the lettuce goes in the trash, but I also get plenty of protein and yummy variety while traveling. Give it a try and let me know what you think. The sweetness of the oranges (low glycemic) satisfies any sweet craving I may have.

Just a note: fast food is not a regular part of our family diet (due to the god forsaken remote location where we live) so this little salad is a treat and a pleasure.

Let us know how you do!

I am not suggesting fast food, because I def dont do it, but I have had to rather than go w/o eating, aka unprepared lol, and McD's has a grilled chicken wrap I have ordered with lite italian rather than ranch and wendys has a small side salad........i did once talk BK into just selling me a packet of chicken for a salad when lettuce didnt settle well, it still bloats me but I love it lol......but it is uch easier and safer to just take ur on food......i kind eat same thing everyday so I know I am safe from getting sick......good luck!

I have traveled with kids a time or two, and may I just say that fast food restaurants, especially McDonalds, are the ultimate parents' blessing when traveling with kids. Not because of the food, but for two other important reasons:

1. Unless you are traveling in b.f. Wyoming, you can usually find one easily right off many exit ramps.
2. The indoor playland.

We too sometimes don't have time for a restaurant stop when we are traveling. Plus sit-down restaurants get quite pricey with seven people in the family. The reality is that kids need to eat, and kids need to run around and play. When weather is nice, we'll stop at a store, get things for a picnic, and eat in a park. But if weather is bad, or it is dark, or it is not a nice area, we stop at McDonalds. We will order food for Rebecca and me, but not for the kids. We will eat our meal while the kids play. After we finish eating, we order food for the kids and take it in the car for them to eat.

Now, to finally answer the question... They now have things like salads and grilled chicken sandwitches. I can't remember if their fish sandwitch is grilled, fried, or if they have both. Since I so rarely eat fast food, I'll occasionally endulge myself with chicken nuggets, or I'll eat half of a double cheeseburger (higher meat-to-bun ratio than a single-patty burger). I don't order fries, which is amazingly difficult for some McDonalds staffers to figure out how to ring up, though I may snitch one or two fries from Rebecca just to enjoy the taste.

I will say though, that our entire family eats a LOT LESS fast food and a LOT LESS pizza than we did before my surgery; not that we lived off of those things, but we did enjoy the convenience more often. I appreciate my family's support on this.

Jeff

What diverse answers I've received to my question! I have to admit that I felt pretty defeated when I read the first few. I felt like, maybe I am a bad person for even considering a fast food restaurant. We totally make our choice to stop for fast food on our trip home because of the time factor, but I wanted to make a good choice of what I eat. I know some people, obviously some who answered here, have a lifestyle that would never include fast food, but others may choose it sparingly. Several of you have given me some good options.

Talking it over with my wonderful husband, we decided to run into the Subway at the midway point where we get gas. I will get one of their little sandwiches and eat only the meat & cheese (did you know Subway carries a low fat Provolone; at least that Subway does). I'm not on veggies yet, although Sunday is my 2 month anniversary and I can advance to a full diet. I will also have a protein bar in my purse if needed.

Several spoke about traveling with kids. I know the others who have kids will benefit from what was said. I only have my 17 year old wrestler kid at home at this time. He is very weight conscious and we have laid down the law that he will not be doing any of the unhealthy things wrestlers do to make weight. He has learned to eat healthy to maintain his weight. So, to calm some neighbors' worries, I am not taking a family of little children to fast food restaurants and filling them with grease and sugar. Everyone in my family are pretty healthy eaters, even my husband.

So, thank you all for your responses. I know I'm making a good choice for this trip, and you helped!

Merry Christmas to all!

Awesome!!! Thanks Meliss... I will ahve to try that for our trips to VA!! Thank you thank you!!!!

Oh yeah if I have to eat out do to no lunch or whatever I always do Wendy's Salads... or MD Salad... just pick around the nasty stuff... lol... my favorite thing right now is salads.. and I am 13 weeks out!!

Good luck!

WOW I was almost 2 yrs out before I could handle salad and it still bloats me for some reason, but I love it lol....I had a MD's Breakfast wrap today lol they just get smaller and smaller with those, good for us bad for them LOL

Merry Christmas all!

Fast food doesn't have to be lousy quality. I'm 16 months out, and I've been caught a couple times with no other restaurant choices when traveling. I've discovered it's best to look at the ingredients on their menu and order what I need. Sounds weird, but I know at Subway you can order just the meat and cheese to make a roll up, or any of their sandwich's as a salad instead. Taco bell has a chicken bowl that is awesome without the rice, just beans, salad and chicken. I don't use their dressing, just order a side of fresh salsa. Their refried beans are the bomb! Arby's also, just meat and pitch the bun. It's all a treat, nothing I have more than once a month. Just think outside the menu and you will see all kinds of possiblities. I learned it at regular restaurants too! Asking for a takeout box right away is also a good choice that helps me keep portions in "my" size. Best plan is to take my own food, but sometimes life happens. Firgure out at least one thing I can order from each place has helped alot! If they have crystal lite I know I can order that and mix in my vanilla protein for a creamy shake. I've even found coffee shops that have whey protein I can order added. Now thats service!

I will clearly state that I don't cook. My cooking is awful. I've tried it. I can't follow the directions. I get lost easy. I do things out of order. I just have recipe dyslexia... I am kitchen inept. You probably won't find many recipes for actual food come from me... if it is, you can guarantee its easy to make! Instead of cooking for dummies, I need a book called "Cooking for Melinda."

People will not agree but this is true. I lost my weight mostly eating out. I eat out all the time now. I almost always order chicken breast, sometimes salmon. I eat some of the vegetables. I do NOT eat rice, pasta, deep fried stuff. I peel the bread off or simply ask for it without a bun. I do not eat fries. I do, however, sometimes eat a little bit of bread at Longhorn but scrape out all the dough and have a tiny piece of hard crust. Its easy to digest and I do allow myself to have it once in awhile. At home, I own low carb wraps but don't use them. My boyfriend does. I maintain my weight and I am serious, we eat out all the time. I don't frequent fast food restaurants, however.

If you know what you can eat, then stick with that... you can't go wrong with a chicken breast.

Julie said, "I found that the REFRIED BEANS at taco bell soothed me and were high in protien and I felt like I was really getting a treat!"

I used to stop by Taco Bell sometimes and ordered a pintos & cheese with chicken in it. It was really cheap too... the first time I asked for it, I thought "Well they are gonna charge me an arm and a leg...." but didn't care, that's what i wanted... but it was under $2. I think it might have been $1.50

You can also tell taco bell that you want a nacho salad with no nacho chips. I know it sounds strange. You can have the hamburger meat... tomatoes... sour cream... I dont do the lettuce though... ouchy pouchy on that one. Now keep in mind, I dont do this often. But you can also get you some Revival Soy Protein chips and eat a few with your meal. Take it home, or keep the chips in your purse as you go in to taco bell. They are very hard and crunchy and gives the effect that you are having regular nacho salad. Just some thoughts.

about the fast food questions to say that u shouldnt go to a fast food restaraunt is totally unrealistic at times. u need to make a healthy choice that works for u like anything grilled or a salad, orsoup is a good choice to make. get rid of the bun!!! it is better to eat thatn to go hungery. get ur protein in and be on ur way..

Wendy's had good WLS friendly chili - my Surgeon's office recommended it.

When in a pinch I will get a hamburger patty with cheese - ask for it that way and it's usually 75 cents :-)
(or ask for the patty with extra lettuce - LOL)

At Subway I will fix the sandwich loaded with protein and veggies and then toss the bread,
it's cheaper than their salad!

Think protein and veggies only and you can through it!

Hugs

We have a grandy's here and I order the roasted chicken- white or dark meat. It comes with 2 sides. I like the green beans and blk eyed peas or salad. We have sonic round here too and they have a great lowfat ranch grilled chkn wrap.

I can find SOMETHING to eat anywhere we go out to eat.
Last evening I took my DD and DGD to the local treat shop.
I ordered a hamburger with pickles only... threw away the bun.
The burger was plenty. At Wendy's I order the Mandarin
Chicken Salad... remember, PROTEIN FIRST.. so I eat the grilled
chicken FIRST and then the greens. I also choose to get a small
chili at Wendy's sometimes. At McDonald's, I get the grilled chicken
w/out the bun... I never eat fries...do without the drink, so I don't
sip while eating. When we go to our favorite Indian restaurant,
I order the lentils or Makhani Chicken.. done in a tandoori oven.
At our favorite Chinese restaurant, I order the Chicken Teriyaki
kabobs and can only eat two of the three. I am one cheap date!

I had to go and look up Wendy's chili just to see for myself how good it was nutritionally. This is what their website says:
Calories 220; Fat 6g; Carbs 23g; Fiber 5g; Protein 17g.

Not too bad. However I still can't let myself go to a restaurant with a drive thru. It's a rule that I set in January 2003 and I've just celebrated my 5 years of being free of the fast food restaurant. For me, going to a Wendy's for this chili would be like eating that first M&M...a deadly mistake! I'm keeping my promise to myself!

xoxo