How to satisfy fast food cravings without fast food?

[Anonymous]

If you never crave fast food or think it's gross, that's great, but you probably can't answer this question.

I generally do great with my diet but sometimes I'll be traveling or just driving home from work or something, see a McDonalds or a Taco Bell, and get such a strong craving to hit the drive through. I really love a double cheeseburger and fries and a coke, or a Crunchwrap supreme and a bean and cheese burrito. I'm sure it's all the sugar and salt in the food -- I find it very satisfying and rewarding to eat in the moment, even if later I feel gross for having eaten it.

Anyone have alternatives to the foods that aren't so gluttonous but sort of scratch that itch? I am not on a hugely calorie restricting diet, but I am trying to cut down on sugar and junk food in general. At home, I do great, but fast food drive thru is my biggest weakness.

[Anonymous]

I get a kid's meal at McDonald's, including the child sized drink.

[Anonymous]

Try increasing your consumption of plants and protein. This has helped me reduce cravings for unhealthy things.

Also make sure you have other sources of pleasure in life (sometimes drive through feels like the only way to treat yourself when you don’t prioritize yourself).

Finally don’t let yourself get overhungry, which makes it easier to cave to a craving.

[Anonymous]

How often do you do eat fast food?

Cut back each week until it’s infrequent.

Or…


Would it scratch the itch by making it at home? Quality ground beef, a brioche bun, crisp tomato and lettuce, oven fries and a small can of coke.

Once I cut it out, I find I feel horrible when I eat it. You could try a challenge where you go cold turkey for 3 months and then go from there.

[Anonymous]

Kids meal, or just nuggets, or a small shake and small fries I share with my kid, like a few times a year. For example, we always stop at the same fast food place off the highway when we drive out to the beach.

[Anonymous]

If it’s only on occasion then you could get the food and then just eat a half-portion.

[Anonymous]

Just use fresh ingredients but make the same stuff at home!

[Anonymous]

I’m at the point where I maybe get it 2-3 times per year. I get a double quarter pounder with cheese, no condiments. Then I don’t eat the bun. The burger and cheese aren’t high in carbs.

[Anonymous]

Is it the actual foods you want or are you so hungry and that's what you've conditioned your body to have when you're hungry? Kind of different issues, but either way, it's helpful to do smaller portions or eat something else first and give yourself permission to go to McDonald's later. You probably won't want to go later if it was hunger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get a kid's meal at McDonald's, including the child sized drink.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just use fresh ingredients but make the same stuff at home!

Yup! We periodically make crunch wrap supremes at home, fast and easy. And home-grilled cheeseburgers will always taste better than McDs. Baked frozen fries are not bad either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get a kid's meal at McDonald's, including the child sized drink.

+1

+2 And eat it very slowly. Most taco bell items you can approximate at home.

[Anonymous]

Veggie burger does it for me or homemade burrito.
Veggie burger from Aldi with whole wheat bun, lettuce and fixings
Burrito with refried beans, Spanish rice, lettuce, cheese, salsa.

[Anonymous]

Cravings are just mental.
You can control them if you want. That's the catch, do you really want to though?

[Anonymous]

Every so often I get a small order of fries from mcdonalds. They're delicious, and that's not a lot of calories, so might as well satisfy that craving.