McToxic

I made a major tactical error yesterday, one I'm still paying for today. I was getting ready to go to my second job and I realized that I'd need a snack around break time but didn't want to get chips from the vending machine. I had no time to prepare anything, so I went through a McDonalds drive-thru and got a fish sandwich, fries and a diet Coke. I took that to work with me and ate it at break time. So far so good. A couple of hours later I was already off work and at the grocery store, doing late-night shopping so I could stay home today, when the effects of my McMeal began to make themselves felt. Within a few minutes I was utterly miserable, suffering from a wide variety of symptoms ranging from gastric upset to a complete lack of energy. Have you ever felt so drained that lying on the couch was too much of an effort, but so was getting up to go to bed? That's how my McMeal made me feel: there's something McToxic about McDonald's food. I don't know what it is, I don't know if it's only certain items that are bad for me, and I don't know if I'm affected while others aren't or if they just don't connect feeling McCrappy after eating McFood.

This morning when I woke up (two hours later than my usual time and still feeling exhausted) I was much hungrier than usual, as if my body had been starved of something. Like maybe nutritious food. I'm on the mend now, I think because I've focused on healthy, basic, unprocessed foods today, and my energy is beginning to return to normal. I think my fast food McHangover is finally subsiding, but for me the residual effect is to write this post as a warning to others.

If you eat McFood regularly my question is: how can you stand it? Or are you just so used to feeling bad that it's your norm? I used to incorporate quite a bit of fast food into my diet but in the last couple of years my body has begun to say "No more." Now I rely on fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans, cheese, hormone-free milk, soy protein and a little meat to make up my diet. It's amazing what getting real energy from real food feels like. You should try it sometime.

Here's a typical day's menu for me:
Breakfast: bran cereal w/milk, banana, orange juice, tea or coffee
Lunch (on workdays): a low-fat entree with lots of veggies, maybe with tofu as the protein, from one of the wonderful neighborhood restaurants near my office. The closest I ever come to fast food at lunch is Subway or Quiznos. When I'm not working I cook breakfast for Hubby in the early afternoon so for me it's breakfast for lunch, usually eggs, cereal and fruit.
Dinner: something home-cooked and wholesome, with whole grains and veggies. If Hubby is home the meal will usually contain meat; if I'm alone then beans and rice with salad or other veggies is a likely choice.
Snacks: Not many, although I do bake regularly and sometimes I indulge in a slice of cake or a brownie, but I know what's not in them: High Fructose Corn Syrup, transfats, preservatives.

Notice what's missing: soda, candy, burgers, fries, fake food of various descriptions. Seems almost un-American, doesn't it? After all, our culture runs on convenience and immediate gratification, which is why McFood has become so prevalent in our country. However, if you actually give it a try it's amazing how much you can improve your diet, and your energy level, without significantly increasing the cost and time invovled in food preparation.

Here's a quick and easy recipe for a satisfying cold salad:
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can kernel corn, drained
2 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
1/2 bell pepper, diced
1/2 cucumber, peeled and diced
1 tomato, diced
Italian salad dressing or vinaigrette dressing
Throw everything together in a bowl, mix well and let sit overnight in the fridge. Pack some of this in a container for a fast and nutritious lunch that will keep you fueled up without weighing you down, and just see if you don't feel better than when you succumb to the lure of McFood.

I guess my whole rant boils down to "you are what you eat." So don't eat McCrap.

Peace,
AuntieM