as if i needed another reason to commit to letting go of fast food for good...this article connecting fast food to increased phthalate levels is another. fast food is also notorious for piles of waste, terrible nutrition, disgusting meat backstories, and poorly paid employees. ok, so...i somehow reveal many of my dark little secrets here...and here's another: i like the idea of fast food...and i like to eat it sometimes too. a cheap, quick fix to a midday stomach rumble has definite appeal to me...especially when we're out and about. providing food for my tribe 3-5 times a day is not one of my favorite tasks, mostly because it is just relentless.
there are lots of good fast food alternatives out there, but i want this to truly work for me. it will be useful to consider my unique preferences in regards to 'fast food', which include:
-variety is the spice of life, and i want to have and provide a spicy life.
-i don't want to have to buy lots of different ingredients.
-the food has to be relatively cheap. i don't have a lot of extra money to spend.
-i don't want to have to spend a whole afternoon cooking ahead of time for these 'easy' snacks.
-fast food means fast.
-less waste and unprocessed...so prepackaged alternatives are out.
-nutrition is important.
there are lots of good fast food alternatives out there, but i want this to truly work for me. it will be useful to consider my unique preferences in regards to 'fast food', which include:
-variety is the spice of life, and i want to have and provide a spicy life.
-i don't want to have to buy lots of different ingredients.
-the food has to be relatively cheap. i don't have a lot of extra money to spend.
-i don't want to have to spend a whole afternoon cooking ahead of time for these 'easy' snacks.
-fast food means fast.
-less waste and unprocessed...so prepackaged alternatives are out.
-nutrition is important.
these are some of the drive-thru thoughts that tempt me when i'm out in the car. i'm sure yours would be different, but the idea is the same: come up with an acceptable, doable alternative before the temptation sets in.
-coffee shop drink: take a mason jar + ask if they would be willing to put the drink in there.
-frozen strawberry lemonade: split a smoothie poured into mason jars...that we keep in the car with us. or make strawberry lemon smoothies at home (so good!).
-warm chocolate chip cookies: get bulk cookies in a cloth bag at the grocery store or bakery. or make cookies at home + keep dough in the fridge/freezer ready to go.
-donuts: ask for those donuts to be put in our cloth bag or do it myself at the grocery store. or banana cookies (or other treat) from a bakery...put into a cloth bag or bandana.
-tacos: chipotle burrito(s) + ask them to put them into our container.
-burger (with or without fries): make it a rare treat + eat in at a place that serves them on plates. or make homemade baked potato or sweet potato 'fries' at home.
-dollar menu lunch: bulk bagels in cloth bag from panera, the grocery store, or bakery.
-frozen yogurt or ice-cream: get it in a cone or take a mason jar + spoon.
i have never taken to having a 'zero-waste kit' with me, because i feel like we can make zero-waste choices without extra supplies to worry about. just going home for a snack or lunch is usually preferable to eating one out anyway...or leaving the house prepared with a snack of fruit + nuts, granola bars or balls, sandwiches, or homemade cookies is what i try to do. we can choose to eat out at places that use real dishes instead of disposables. we can refuse straws, so we haven't invested in metal straws or portable cutlery. i envision having dirty cutlery and/or difficult to clean metal straws (i know there are straw cleaning brushes, but my goal is to have less stuff) in my bag...still dirty the next time i want to use them. i know myself. :) obviously prompt clean-up and replacing supplies in the kit is key.
but, i am considering keeping a few things in the car now...especially for an upcoming road trip.
and...my mind is so feeble...especially when hungry and tempted with ease...i'm going to keep a little cheat sheet listing my alternatives in the glove compartment, so there are no excuses. i need all the help i can get to make good choices. setting myself up to do just that seems a good place to start.
love,
jane
-coffee shop drink: take a mason jar + ask if they would be willing to put the drink in there.
-frozen strawberry lemonade: split a smoothie poured into mason jars...that we keep in the car with us. or make strawberry lemon smoothies at home (so good!).
-warm chocolate chip cookies: get bulk cookies in a cloth bag at the grocery store or bakery. or make cookies at home + keep dough in the fridge/freezer ready to go.
-donuts: ask for those donuts to be put in our cloth bag or do it myself at the grocery store. or banana cookies (or other treat) from a bakery...put into a cloth bag or bandana.
-tacos: chipotle burrito(s) + ask them to put them into our container.
-burger (with or without fries): make it a rare treat + eat in at a place that serves them on plates. or make homemade baked potato or sweet potato 'fries' at home.
-dollar menu lunch: bulk bagels in cloth bag from panera, the grocery store, or bakery.
-frozen yogurt or ice-cream: get it in a cone or take a mason jar + spoon.
i have never taken to having a 'zero-waste kit' with me, because i feel like we can make zero-waste choices without extra supplies to worry about. just going home for a snack or lunch is usually preferable to eating one out anyway...or leaving the house prepared with a snack of fruit + nuts, granola bars or balls, sandwiches, or homemade cookies is what i try to do. we can choose to eat out at places that use real dishes instead of disposables. we can refuse straws, so we haven't invested in metal straws or portable cutlery. i envision having dirty cutlery and/or difficult to clean metal straws (i know there are straw cleaning brushes, but my goal is to have less stuff) in my bag...still dirty the next time i want to use them. i know myself. :) obviously prompt clean-up and replacing supplies in the kit is key.
but, i am considering keeping a few things in the car now...especially for an upcoming road trip.
and...my mind is so feeble...especially when hungry and tempted with ease...i'm going to keep a little cheat sheet listing my alternatives in the glove compartment, so there are no excuses. i need all the help i can get to make good choices. setting myself up to do just that seems a good place to start.
love,
jane
