Think twice about fast food.

Alright...let me just set this up for you. I was driving passed Jack in the box..and I saw a sign that frightened me..they were serving teriyaki bowls. Hmm. Jack in the box. Teriyaki Bowl. Jack in the box. Teriyaki bowl.

I don't understand where the idea came from or why they would think they could serve Asian cuisine. A more important question..who would order that from Jack in the box?!?!?! Apparently, it was a menu favorite just 5 short years ago and is back by popular demand. SERIOUSLY? People are going to Jack in the Box to get their teriyaki fix? Tragic. Absolutely, positively tragic. It got me thinking about nutrition...and fast food..and how the two words just don't belong in the same sentence.




The latest fast food phenomenon (catastrophe) that sent me over the edge was the fried macaroni and cheese bites. Macaroni is bad enough...but then to deep fry it? You've got be kidding. So who would think of making this abomination a menu choice? Look no further.." Mac 'n' cheese is an American classic that's universally loved," said Teka O'Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions for Jack in the Box Inc. "Our new Cheesy Macaroni Bites offer the same great flavor of the original dish, but in a unique, finger-food style that's very convenient and portable."

It occurred to me that one of the biggest problems with people is that we measure something by its level of convenience..and not its ultimate value. Macaroni and Cheese is a staple comfort food--follow me with this, we are now getting pseudo comfort; conveniently and quickly on-the-go.





When people are ordering macaroni bites (440 calories in 6 pieces)...I doubt they are on their own. Paired with a soda and another menu choice..or even one packet of ranch...we are looking at almost an entire day's caloric intake in one crappy meal. Just one of the buttermilk house dressing packets has 290 calories and 30g of fat. At what cost?

And really..after re-reading my entry from London..I discovered my tasty big mac treat had 560 calories. Plus french fries at 250 calories = 810. And if you want the whole truth, i'll throw myself under the bus..I had 2 big macs that night...1,370 calories!!!

So i'm not totally above an occasional fast food slip up..obviously...Last thursday I went out, had a couple drinks and then took a trip across the border and indulged in 2 burrito supreme's and a taco. I'm repentant..not only because of the stomach ache that accompanied my fast food treat, but also due to the fact it wasn't as satisfying as I would have hoped. So how much damage did I really do?



1 burrito supreme: 440 calories, 162 fat calories
x 2 =880 calories
+ 1 beef taco: 170 calories,90 from fat

= 1,050 calories.


Here it is, I was looking for convenient satiety. As a result of my fast food aberration, I felt terrible. The food is bad quality and offers no nutritional substance. So from now on, after counting calories, I realize that the convenience is definitely not worth it.