I Want Junk!

I want junk!

So let's say I want a burger, a pizza, or hot wings. Doesn't sound at all like a wise idea. But we all crave junk! Here a scoop. Even skinny girls want fat. The only difference between you and them is the way they indulge in it.

So what you want is a burger? Basically it is two pieces of bread, a meat patty, some ketchup, and that's it. It’s a pretty simple recipe and that doesn't sound that bad. In fact, a plain burger from McDonald's is around 250 calories, an acceptable number that leaves some space for let's say a small box of fries. But when you go for a Whopper or a Big Mac, you automatically double if not triple (depending on toppings you add) the fat percentage, and calorie count. You add to it a big box of fries, and dessert, and you've almost reached your daily needs in term of calories.

Now let's look at the pizza scenario. You are craving the melted cheese topped with pepperoni slices and that fluffy crust from Pizza Hut. So basically you're craving pizza. What difference would it make to the end experience if you replace that thick soft crust with a thin crust? Again, what difference would it make if you go for a traditional Italian pizza from the pizzeria next door? You can always make it lighter by going for the vegetarian option, or adding some vitamins and fibers by topping the pizza of your choice by some rocca leaves. By switching from option A to option B, you will be saving around 400 calories on a small pizza, and by going to option C, you would be saving even more, and you would be consuming better quality primary food products.

What about hot wings? You are craving those mouthwatering fried skinless wings with the blue cheese dip, and a plate of nachos and cheese or Texas fries. Well, go for grilled wings that you can find at “Lord of the Wings”. Or if you prefer another outlet, go for normal wings without the blue cheese dressing. In addition, go for a smaller portion than the usual, and skip the nachos and Texas fries. If you insist on eating nachos or fries, skip the wings and order a plain mixed greens salad with grilled chicken on top and lemon/olive oil dressing, and indulge in your portion of loaded fries or nachos. You can replace the Texas fries (which are a combination of fries, gravy and cheese), with fries and cheddar. By skipping the gravy, you will shave off 300 calories. Of course if you feel full half way through, there’s absolutely no need to finish it. You can always share it with a colleague or a friend, therefore calories will be divided by two, and you will still be getting fibers and good quality proteins from the salad, to fill you up before diving into your fatty treat.

Now of course, as a dietician I would not recommend relying on such swaps to decrease your fat and calorie count daily. However, if you really want to go for junk, by applying these tips you will be minimizing the damage on your waistline and health. Try to keep these fast food meals to a maximum of once per week, and try to eat healthy most of the time and exercise frequently.