Fast food...

[TenPly]

Hey all,

So, I was thinking -- how do you feel about fast food?

I had my valve replacement (mitral and aortic) 2 years and 7 months ago and I've only recently had fast food. I went to Burger King one night after leaving school -- it was raining, and I didn't want to cook, so I got a chicken sandwich with fries. I felt bad about it after though. After going so long without fast food, I actually kind of hate it now, and probably won't eat it ever again. My diet is otherwise really healthy. I eat a lot of vegetables and fruit in particular. Probably more than I need to, but I enjoy it just that much.

Anyway, my question is -- is it really that bad if you just eat fast food once after your surgery?

 

[JCSydney]

Hi Bryan,

The thing about fast food, regardless of surgery, is not to eat it all the time. I think if my wife and I ate healthy all the time we would go nuts. We enjoy a treat once a week, we both exercise (walking), and watch our weight. I am only 8 weeks post AVR this week.

Jeff.

 

[WayneGM]

Like anything, fast food in moderation is fine. Go for it and live a little!

 

[Ross]

A man has to eat to survive. Fast food is food. Don't make it a habit, but occasionally a nice greasy cholesterol laden burger does one good.

 

[hensylee]

hardly ever eat fast food unless traveling but I sure love the bk kids meal - no mustard, thanks. When out for a special meal, will eat Chinese, shrimp to the utmost, seldom steak. At home, I eat eggs! Nothing is ever fried at home - Raised my children without frying food. if we use oil, it's olive.........

 

[Bina]

I suppose an occasional fast food outing can be fun.... I used to look at it that way....but now that I can't handle high sodium, fast food is verboten.
Fortunately we have a little cafe in our village where they make home made soups, sandwiches, salads, etc. as per your instructions.

 

[Ross]

I know this much, if this certain drive in chain, Sonic, doesn't stop advertising their food, I'm going to either have to drive 130 miles to try it or complain until they build one here. It really is nerve shattering.

 

[Gusdog]

You blew it

You blew it

Anyway, my question is -- is it really that bad if you just eat fast food once after your surgery?

Yep. You may be ok if you go to your cardiologist right now and confess, and you'll need to wear a scarlet "FF" on your chest from here on out.

 

[catwoman]

TenPly:

I don't often do fast-food, but when I do, I love Whataburger's. (Don't care for McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's burgers). I get a Junior Burger, small fries and a small drink. If I get a regular Whataburger, it's too huge for me. Junior Burger is just right -- about 8 bites or so.

At Weight Watchers, we often have group exercises in learning how to eat at a fast-food place. We break up into small groups and are assigned a FF eatery and given menus, with point allocations for menu items. And told we can only eat XX points.
You learn how to make healthy choices (or less-tempting splurges) at FF places. For instance, you can get a plain baked potato (no butter or anything else) + dinner salad + fat free dressing at Wendy's.

I'm flying tomorrow to Philly and will have to deal with the FF issue at the airport restaurant offerings. AARRGGHH!

 

[Wise]

There comes a time when fast food is just handy, sometimes necessary if you're unexpectedly derailed from your normal routine. There are a lot of healthier choice at fast food joints these days. A lot of them have nice salads. Lite Italian dressing is a good choice. Grilled chicken sandwiches aren't bad at all, sans mayo. Several places now offer fruit cups, apples slices, etc.

Like Ross says, depending on what you like, a greasy burger every now and then is good thing. Especially if you're already eat as healthily as you, I can't imagine that one FF visit means anything at all. One a day is a different story.

 

[Bonzo Dog]

To chime with some above posts, take aways are fine so long as they don't become a lifestyle.

Chinese food is a no no for me. All that Mono Sodium Glutamate gets the heart really racing. Burgers, not really, pizza hardly ever as I'm not big on bread. Southern fried chicken sometimes, but never the bundled in fizzy drinks.

Once a week we have a take away curry from K2 a local Kashmiri restaurant.

I'm almost salivating at the thought of it. Sooooo tasty and such good value. My home town of Bradford is the curry capital of the UK so competition is keen. Large meal for four people is £16.

The regional take out food is fish and chips. Do you have 'chippies' in the States? Got to be served with mushy peas. Fish is battered and deep fried in beef fat. Used to be a regular once a week also; not any more though.

 

[terryj]

Ross, I love Sonics and there is one 3 miles from my job. I have never eaten anything there that was not good. But, I limit myself to twice a month. When they first opened I was going nearly everyday. They also serve breakfast. Bad for you but soooo good.

 

[Superbob]

SUPERBOB's eating-out secrets

SUPERBOB's eating-out secrets

Eating out -- whether "fast" food, or take-out, or at a sit-down restaurant -- is a necessity for many of us thoroughly modern types. I would agree that an occasional big ol' burger is not going to kill you. However, some choices are better than others when eating out. I recommend "The Doctor's Pocket Calorie, Fat & Carb Counter" (www.CalorieKing.com) to help. If you're going to Burger King, you can get the original Whopper with its 710 calories and 42 grams of fat, or you can go with low-carb version, which has 280 calories and 20 grams of fat.

And do not think that just because you're in a nice seated restaurant instead of the drive-through that your choices are free of the "fast food" snares. Consider one of my favorite chain restaurants -- Outback. If you have to wait for a table and go to the bar to quaff an ale or three beforehand, beware those Aussie cheese fries to go with it --- 2,900 calories! And the bloomin' onion has 2,210 (that's bloomin' gross!). Enjoy the 8 oz prime rib -- 450 calories -- some fresh veggies (80 cals), and a jacket potato plain (270 calories) instead of with the potato with the works (400 calories)....

Just some of SUPERBOB's eating-out tips. And yes we do eat out a lot -- because my dear wife has been cooking meals for me for nearly 42 years, and still does 4 or 5 evenings a week. But she likes to go out -- and she deserves to. The secret is to make good choices. Tonight we're going to Applebee's and SUPERBOB will order from the Weight Watchers menu.

 

[catwoman]

Superbob:

My husband likes the Weight Watchers quesadillas at Applebee's. Last night, I noticed that Weight Watchers is marketing quesadillas in the frozen foods under the Smart Ones label (I think with H.J. Heinz). Saw this at Kroger's.

 

[Ross]

Bonzo Dog can you describe the taste? I'm interested in trying some curry and indian cooking, but hesitate because I'm not sure I can deal with the spices.

We have Chips with our Fish in some places, some continue to call them fries or wedges or whatever their thing happens to be.

 

[Wise]

Superbob:

My husband likes the Weight Watchers quesadillas at Applebee's.

I like them too! Just had them recently. I had the French Onion soup also. I was 10 WW points altogether, but I planned for them. Yum!

 

[Ross]

Ross, I love Sonics and there is one 3 miles from my job. I have never eaten anything there that was not good. But, I limit myself to twice a month. When they first opened I was going nearly everyday. They also serve breakfast. Bad for you but soooo good.

It's just not right having to watch their commericials when we aren't anywhere near their market area. Bums me out BIGTIME.

 

[Superbob]

To chime with some above posts, take aways are fine so long as they don't become a lifestyle.

Chinese food is a no no for me. All that Mono Sodium Glutamate gets the heart really racing. Burgers, not really, pizza hardly ever as I'm not big on bread. Southern fried chicken sometimes, but never the bundled in fizzy drinks.

Once a week we have a take away curry from K2 a local Kashmiri restaurant.

I'm almost salivating at the thought of it. Sooooo tasty and such good value. My home town of Bradford is the curry capital of the UK so competition is keen. Large meal for four people is £16.

The regional take out food is fish and chips. Do you have 'chippies' in the States? Got to be served with mushy peas. Fish is battered and deep fried in beef fat. Used to be a regular once a week also; not any more though.

We visited a friend in the Cotswolds several years ago and I enjoyed fish and chips at more than a few pubs. However, I am wondering: Why are the mushy peas mandatory? Is that the equivalent of being served grits whether you want them or not in the Deep South, USA? (I like grits, BTW, and can tolerate mushy peas -- Superbob enjoys almost everything except beets. ) Just wondering if the mushy peas are for tradition's sake or for color or what?

 

[Bonzo Dog]

........However, I am wondering: Why are the mushy peas mandatory? ......... Just wondering if the mushy peas are for tradition's sake or for color or what?

Tradition covers it. Eat some veg with the fish and carbs. there can be an embarrassing side effect to mushy peas. They are soaked overnight in a water bicarb of soda mix, prior to cooking. The soft pulse and residual bicrab often leads to flatulence.

 

[Gnusgal]

I'd have to pass on the mushy peas part. But I must say it's awful cruel of you to post such a delicious looking picture. I almost licked the screen!