Opinion

Be wise, don't super size

I wish I had something kind to say about fast food. But no matter how I try, it's hard to spot the positives. Everything is high in fat, saturated fat, salt and kilojoules with very little in the way of fibre or vegetables. On its own, it doesn't make a balanced meal, even though it's often advertised as a "complete meal".

Even when it's not deep fried, fast food still has "hidden" fats. Fat does many things in fast food. It keeps buns or pizza bases soft and moist; it makes corn chips crisp; and it creates an aroma in anything served hot.

The sheer amount of fat and kilojoules you can take in is boggling. In our overweight sedentary world, no one needs this level of intake. A standard burger from a chain will set you back 25g of fat (most of it saturated) and 2000 kilojoules. Upsize to a "quad stack" or "super" version and you'll get double or triple the kilojoules.

Sizes of serves have been getting bigger and cheaper. What used to be a standard serve of fries is now double that of years ago. Serve sizes of soft drink have soared from a normal 200ml glass to a whopping 900ml bucket today. And fast food outlets are masters at getting you to upsize your meals for a fraction more (bargain Tuesday and "two-for-one" meals deals). It represents value for money - but it's a bargain that our waistlines don't need.

Fast food only encourages over-eating. You eat with your hands - not a fork and knife. You eat while you walk or while you drive - not seated at a table. You chow it down quickly - no leisurely dinners at take aways. For anyone trying to lose weight, these are the wrong strategies and work counter to what you should be doing.

So how to stay lean with fast food? Only eat it if there's nothing else. If there's a choice, opt for the smaller size. And don't buy anything named "super", "triple" or "whopper". Share large portions or fries with a friend. Or eat half now, half later.

Catherine Saxelby is a nutritionist and author of Nutrition for Life. Get more healthy eating tips at www.foodwatch.com.au

Posted By: Catherine Saxelby on 2/04/2009 2:18:05 PM | Comments (4)

Share on
Facebook

Tweet on
Twitter

Email to
a friend

comments

Date: Newest first | Oldest first

I must agree with the comment about the amount of fat we eat in western society. I have been living in Viet Nam with a local family and have dropped 10 kilos without even trying. Although I eat quite a lot of rice (twice a day here, maybe twice a week at home) I eat much less fat or oil here. It makes a huge difference.

Posted by MMcI, 2/04/2009 4:16:10 PM

For one: I am sick of hearing about losing weight, i have wanted to put on weight for ever, not loose weight. For two: Why is there almost absolutely no choice to buy cheap healthy food anywhere? or no ealthy fast food outlets anywhere? Wake up Australia

Posted by cem, 2/04/2009 4:59:11 PM

Cem, I thought that Subway had cashed in on that unsatisfied market-desire for healthier fast-food. And now even McDonald's is modifying their menu to include healthier options. On the other hand, you can try what we do in my household? We buy salad and cold meats and make sandwiches at home in the evening for the next day. In the morning, you just drop in a tub of yoghurt and a couple of pieces of fruit and you have "very fast" food on hand all day!

Posted by Dave P, 3/04/2009 9:37:09 AM

Interesting comparison MMci on the rice-based Vietnamese diet compared to the burgers-fries-doughnuts-based diet of most Aussies. Funny when you cut out fat, it's surprising how much actual food one can still consume and feel full! And good call Dave P on the best "fast food" - made at home and transported with you over the day. You know where it's come from and you don't need to queue! You've got my ideal quick home lunch - a sandwich plus yoghurt plus a piece of fruit. In the 1960s, they called this the "Oslo lunch" and promoted it through school canteens in Australia as the near-perfect healthy lunch for Aussie kids. Funny how thing go around in a circle.

Many thanks Catherine Saxelby www.foodwatch.com.au

Posted by catherine saxelby, 3/06/2009 9:07:14 PM

Nutritionist Catherine Saxelby talks about healthy eating in a junk-food world. From vitamins to eating out, she'll help you eat better and have a healthier daily diet without the pain.