Takeaway and fast food have healthy options in each cuisine.
Here’s how to make the jump to healthy eating out.
Takeaway or fast food in moderation is quite fine and you don’t have to cut it out of your life. Even if you want to cut it out completely, there are ways to make it healthier to help with your transition.
Check out how your body responds to dietary and exercise changes to see how cutting out fast foods and takeaways may not go so smoothly.
Now for ‘us’ with little to no willpower and no desire to go against a big juicy burger and a soft beverage to boot, making small changes to these foods can reduce toxins while keeping up with your palate.
Dietary guidelines recommend vegetables, meat, dairy, fruits, and grains while telling us to limit added salt, saturated fat, added sugars, and alcohol. Takeaway or fast food is highly concentrated in the latter meaning our bodies are deprived of fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
However, it is essential to note that not all fast food or takeaway is equal. There are healthier options to pick from the different cuisines.
First, let’s look at ways to diversify your takeaway consumption for healthy eating out.
1. Eat out on a cheat day
Get yourself fast food and takeaway on your cheat day. Chances are you have fewer cheat days in your health calendar, so use them to indulge in a takeaway order.
2. Cook the veggies and make your salads
Veggies and salads are easier to prepare than foo, so focus on making a healthy salad or veggie meal and order the rest of the meal. It also helps to know that such delicate meals which can easily be contaminated are made in the comfort of your home by yourself.
3. Portion your meals
Always take the food out of containers and serve yourself healthy portions. You can keep the leftovers for other purposes or for meals later.
4. Healthy options
Always go for the basics and avoid extra toppings, especially on non-cheat days. Instead of fried, battered, or crumbed options go for steamed, pan-fried, grilled, baked, roasted, and braised options.
5. Ask for sauces separately so you can control how much you eat.
6. Go for water, juice, and sugar-free drinks instead of soft beverages.
7. Drink plenty of water when you eat takeaway to clean the body faster.
