Day 40: Eating on the Go - Fast Food Style

Here's the 40 day update! I feel amazing about this!! Since I stared, 40 days ago, I've lost 11lbs and 7.7%of my body weight! 

This is my horrible "before-candid" photo taken at the beginning of this project, while I was on vacation for Labor Day weekend. This is SO hard to show the before, but I love the after! I feel amazing, and I feel like I can only look and feel more amazing from here!

Today's challenge: Can you eat and make healthy choices on the go, when you don't have other options? 

That was my question because I can't always plan ahead with food, and I can't always find a Subway or Qdoba. McDonalds is one of the most easy-to-find fast-food joints around. "So let's see if you can do well eating out?" - I  chose the grilled chicken ceasar salad, minus the croutons, and with only a small portion of salad dressing, instead of the whole packet.

Tips for Eating Fast Food 

• When eating fast food, slow down. Yep, that's right; go inside, sit down, sit down & settle in at a table to eat. Do this because if you are trying to chose healthier options, salad will probably be on the menu, and you just can't eat salad while on the road. You might as well sit down, be safe and enjoy your food. Yep, slow down. This also applies to chewing, tasting and enjoying your meal. After all, you're eating FAST FOOD, which you didn't have to prepare. It's also most-likely more calorie-heavy (depending on what you eat) so if you are going to indulge, you need to enjoy it.
• Choose salad or grilled chicken. Yeah it's fast food, but but there are healthier options if you look.
• Skip the fries! Let's face it, they are satly, tasty & addicting! But salt means that you'll retain more water, probably feel bloated, and just crave more salt throughout the day. If you do cave, just have a few. Your taste-craving is usually satiated within the first 2-3 bites. 
• With sauces like ketchup or dressing, dip a little, not a lot. You'll be surprised at how little you need. Excess sauce = extra calories.
• Get picky; it's ok to be high-maintainance when eating out, and its a necessity when trying to be healthy. Even at fast-food joints, you can customize your food. 
•  At all costs, avoid bacon, cheese and ranch!
• Remember, don't drink your calories! Go for the unsweetened tea! Or if you must have sweetener, you can always custom blend part unsweetened, part sweetened tea. 
• If you have to eat on the go or in the car, chose grilled chicken wraps.

EXERCISE

So today we drove down to the beach!! Sorry, the "Oregon Coast". It is usually never warm enough to call it the beach, but today, it was. While the kids were playing in the sand and surf, I went with my parents on a walk down to the end of the point, and back. It was about 3 miles walking in the sand. It's a little different from going for a run, but it was still really challenging.

FOOD

Breakfast: 3 small pancakes

Snack: no mid-day snack because I got car sick on the drive down to the coast

Lunch: a grilled chicken ceasar salad from McDonalds and a few (like 8)

Snack: a peach and an apple

Dinner: a ceasar salad with homemade croutons, and herbed pork medallions, fabulous creamed mashed potatoes with mushroom sauce

Thanks for reading everybody!

What do you like to eat out that doesn't break the calorie bank?