by Chakira Ward

Created on: April 02, 2009

Since when has it become okay for us to blame a fast-food restaurant for our unhealthy choices? In any retail industry, we all know the top priority is raking in the bucks. Without our money, they can't exist. In order to gain success with your fast-food business, you have to serve what sells, even if it is drenched in grease and salt. Lets be honest with ourselves, put all of the nutritional facts aside, unhealthy food is the best tasting, you know it!

Recently, there have been some menu changes here and there to appeal to the healthier crowd, and it has made somewhat of a positive impact on our nutritional values. Creating options for the customers is pretty much all they can do, the rest is up to us.

We decide what we want to eat, if you go into a McDonald's, Wendy's, or wherever, use the willpower that you have deep down inside of you and make good choices. We all have the desire to eat out here and there, especially when that's all you have time for. In those cases, choose a place that gives you a majority of meals with good nutrition, somewhere like Subway. Just stay away from the fatty condiments. If you feel like you're a person that will give in to temptation, maybe it's best for you to stay away from fast food places all together.

Try making some of your restaurant favorites at home, french fries don't taste so bad baked, sweet potato french fries are really tasty too. Cooking them this way will eliminate all of the oil that is used to fry them, don't worry, they get crispy in the oven as well. As for that good old burger, try using ground turkey or ground chicken, there are hundreds of different ways to dress them up. Get creative, barbecue them, try asian style, southwestern, put a home-made salsa on top, the list goes on. Wheat buns are always better, you can add all of the toppings you like, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, and don't be afraid of the ketchup mustard, and mayo. You don't have to get crazy with it, just make a few changes and it goes a long way.

There is nothing wrong with going to your favorite fast-food restaurant and having something that you really enjoy. You just have to do it in moderation, too much of basically anything can be bad. When you get that craving every now and then, go satisfy it, otherwise, try to avoid ruining your health. Speaking of cravings.....a burger sure sounds good, gotta go, I'm on my way to the kitchen!

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