Junk Food Junkie
To lose weight, you've got to junk that junk food. Here are fast facts about junk food that are guaranteed to make you think twice before reaching for that burger. While fast food is still not so much a way of life here in India as it is in the West, we are fast heading in that direction. With McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Dominos all over the place, it's not going to be long before burgers and pizzas replace rice and dal as our staple diet – at least in the metros. Money How much money do you spend on fast
food? Think about it. While you may justify your spending by telling yourself
'It's okay, it's food,' you're just building up a false sense of security.
It may be food for sure, but it's baaad food. It's bad for your health,
and it's certainly bad for your body image, especially if you're looking
to lose weight. Junk food is just that – junk. With one added ingredient
– fat. So stop spending your hard earned money on it. Similarly,
if you're full, STOP eating. Don't keep munching on that burger just because
you paid for it so you're going to damn well finish it. Just STOP eating.
If you're feeling guilty about wasting, carry it out with you and give
it to a beggar or a dog.
Skip the fries You may not want to give up burgers
or totally deprive your kids from their outings, so here's a solution.
When ordering burgers, skip the french fries. A handful of fries has as
many calories as a burger, so keep that in mind.
Don't say cheese Skip the cheese too. Cheese is pure
fat and pure cholesterol. Sure all our grandmothers grew fit on cheese
and ghee, but don't try to stick to the same diet, no matter how much your
grandmother tells you to. She didn't drive around all day in a car or lounge
around watching television for recreation. What's 'amrit' to one generation
could very well be poison to the next.
Go hard on soft drinks If possible, skip the coke or order diet coke or pepsi for your kids. Don't listne to those who tell you to let your kids enjoy the regular drink. No one benefits from extra calories, and there's nothing wrong in inculcating an awareness of fitness in your kids as long as you go about it in a positive manner, keeping sensitivities and self-esteem of your child in mind. A healthy awareness of fat and thin is fine, and will go a long way in your child maintaining his weight as he grows up. Soft drinks are bad for the complexion,
and bad for your health. They contain caffeine and are dehydrating. When
you have a soft drink you need to drink some water afterwards to compensate
for the water loss! Instead of keeping soft drinks handy at home, keep
squashes and fruit juices in the refrigerator. Call for soft drinks only
if you are expecting company, or keep a couple of bottles at home for unexpected
visitors. Make it a rule that kids cannot drink them as they are 'for guests
only', just like a favourite tablecloth or crockery.
Shake off those milkshakes A milkshake outside contains an equivalent
to around 10 teaspoons of sugar, so if you must have your milkshake, make
it yourself at home with the help of a juicy fruit, some milk and some
vanilla or strawberry essence. Stick to the Diet Coke or Pepsi, or better
yet, water.
Large portions While you probably will not be able
to totally stop fast food consumption, make a resolution to reduce it.
Don't call for large portions at home when guests come because in all likelihood
you or your kids will finish off what's left over, and the only people
to benefit will be the food giants and their bulging wallets. Now that's
the kind of bulge I'd like to have!
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