It's tough to be healthy all the time—let me tell you. I've recently returned from an out-of-town trip where food options were relatively slim and it occurred to me yet again just how much the food service industry caters to the avid meat-eating crowd.The town I spent the last several days visiting was blessed with six restaurants—McDonalds (of course), Bojangles, KFC, Subway, Zaxby's and Wendy's—and while all offered a "healthy" alternative to eating a cheeseburger or fried chicken, none offered what I would call a sustainable option for a person whose diet is 85-90 percent devoid of meat or meat-products.
Now, I'll be honest and say that by this point in time I have grown accustomed to such dilemmas in traveling to smaller cities and towns—vegetarians and vegans are still in the minority for the most part where major food chains are concerned—and I usually combat such issues by packing my own snacks and meal options (I typically also opt for hotel chains that offer fully stocked kitchens where I have the option of preparing my own meals if necessary). However, this wasn't a planned trip and, as such, I was left totally unprepared.
As a result, my days were spent eating veggie subs from Subway and tossed salads from wherever the smell of hot grease didn't overwhelm my delicate nose sense.
So what can you do when you find yourself in fast food hell? My best advice is to stick to the side of the board that seems most friendly to your heart and hips. Here's a hint: if you have to think too hard about it, then it's probably a 'no'.
Second, if you find that you don't have many options—and you're not averse to eating meat—try eating burgers minus the cheese and mayo, stick to chicken that's grilled, and the less fare you order on your salad the better (i.e., skip the cheese, ham, croutons, sunflower seeds, and dressing).
And it goes without saying that anything fried is a no-no.
Start there and then just use your good sense the rest of the way and you'll be fine.
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