One of the things I've come to realize -- and I hope I keep realizing it for the rest of my life -- is that I can never go back to eating many of the foods I used to love, certainly not in the quantities in which I used to eat them.
But as a busy, commuting professional, one who doesn't always remember to bring to work a frozen, low-calorie "steamer" meal for the microwave, fast food is just a reality.
And I do have some choices that won't make me outgrow my bikini, or require me to put in an extra hour on the gym bike. (Whoopee -- two episodes of "Property Brothers" on HGTV.)
Thank God I am not sick of Subway.
In fact, I crave it, still. Whether I get a 6-inch roast beef, turkey breast or oven-roasted chicken, on sunflower crunch or 9-grain wheat, the veggie choices are the same -- onions, green peppers and a few jalapenos. And if I go to the Subway in DeForest, Wisconsin, on my way to or from work, there are zero-calorie beverage choices without caffeine to choose from. No chips or cookies, however, not even if my Subway Rewards Card tells me I've got a free one coming.
There have been days when I've had Subway for both lunch and dinner, or even for breakfast (whole-grain flatbread, egg white, same veggies). But it's not my only option, not even in Portage where the fast-food choices are somewhat limited.
Now and then, I still go to my beloved Culver's. But instead of a double sourdough melt or a double Butterburger with cheddar and grilled onions, I pick from:
I'm no fan of Taco Bell, but in a pinch, a couple of chicken tacos -- Fresco style, with pico de gallo instead of cheese -- make for a satisfying choice.
The only thing I get at McDonald's anymore is an occasional large cup of Diet Coke. The McDonald's foods that meet my low-calorie requirements are tasteless, and the high-calorie choices, including my formerly beloved Filet-O-Fish, don't offer any true nutrition as compensation for the calories.
Portage doesn't have a Starbuck's, unfortunately, but at airports and hotels in better-equipped cities, I've discovered the yogurt and fruit parfaits, and the egg bites, as healthful options to accompany my unsweetened black iced tea.
Portage also doesn't have a Chipotle, but a fajita burrito in a bowl (no tortilla, rice, cheese or sour cream), with extra veggies and a smattering of black beans, makes for a satisfying lunch, especially if I add a dash of green chili Tabasco.
But as a busy, commuting professional, one who doesn't always remember to bring to work a frozen, low-calorie "steamer" meal for the microwave, fast food is just a reality.
And I do have some choices that won't make me outgrow my bikini, or require me to put in an extra hour on the gym bike. (Whoopee -- two episodes of "Property Brothers" on HGTV.)
Thank God I am not sick of Subway.
In fact, I crave it, still. Whether I get a 6-inch roast beef, turkey breast or oven-roasted chicken, on sunflower crunch or 9-grain wheat, the veggie choices are the same -- onions, green peppers and a few jalapenos. And if I go to the Subway in DeForest, Wisconsin, on my way to or from work, there are zero-calorie beverage choices without caffeine to choose from. No chips or cookies, however, not even if my Subway Rewards Card tells me I've got a free one coming.
There have been days when I've had Subway for both lunch and dinner, or even for breakfast (whole-grain flatbread, egg white, same veggies). But it's not my only option, not even in Portage where the fast-food choices are somewhat limited.
Now and then, I still go to my beloved Culver's. But instead of a double sourdough melt or a double Butterburger with cheddar and grilled onions, I pick from:
- The Garden Fresca salad, with or without grilled chicken, with sesame-ginger dressing.
- The cashew chicken salad -- a rare choice, because the cashews, while nutritious, have calories that really add up.
- In the summer when it's available, the Strawberry Fields salad.
- Occasionally, a small cup of George's Chili. There are supposedly lower-calorie soups served at Culver's, but they never seem to be available on the days I visit.
- Also occasionally, a pot roast sandwich, in a value basket, with green beans instead of fries. I have to overlook the reality, unfortunately, that the beans are buttered.
I'm no fan of Taco Bell, but in a pinch, a couple of chicken tacos -- Fresco style, with pico de gallo instead of cheese -- make for a satisfying choice.
The only thing I get at McDonald's anymore is an occasional large cup of Diet Coke. The McDonald's foods that meet my low-calorie requirements are tasteless, and the high-calorie choices, including my formerly beloved Filet-O-Fish, don't offer any true nutrition as compensation for the calories.
Portage doesn't have a Starbuck's, unfortunately, but at airports and hotels in better-equipped cities, I've discovered the yogurt and fruit parfaits, and the egg bites, as healthful options to accompany my unsweetened black iced tea.
Portage also doesn't have a Chipotle, but a fajita burrito in a bowl (no tortilla, rice, cheese or sour cream), with extra veggies and a smattering of black beans, makes for a satisfying lunch, especially if I add a dash of green chili Tabasco.
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