Fast food can seem like the perfect option when short on time…running from one board meeting to another or carpooling from school to dance class, then straight to football practice. It’s quick, convenient, cheap, and can hit the spot when the cravings are real… But, it’s high in sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and full of funky ingredients you should steer clear of whenever possible. Consuming too much fast food can lead to health issues, such as obesity (processed foods with too much sugar can lead to weight gain), high blood pressure (can be raised from consuming high salt contents), and you can develop a risk of heart disease from poor diet quality when consuming items higher in fat, saturated fat, and sugar (Summit Medical Group, 2019) Eating healthy, whole foods ensures you and your little ones are getting enough vitamins, minerals, and essential ingredients that help with brain function and aid in overall health — less anxiety, less depression, less brain fog, more energy, better digestion, less fatigue, clearer skin, and less risk of developing certain diseases Eating processed foods can cause similar high blood sugar levels to type 2 diabetes (Science Daily, 2019). Healthline states, “You can also control your blood sugar level and diabetes by eating foods that are low in sodium, foods that are low in saturated and trans fat, whole unprocessed carbs such as vegetables, fruits, and whole high fiber grains, a managed amount of carbohydrates, an adequate amount of protein.” Try swapping one of your go-to fast food meals for something like in the image above, and learn more fast food alternatives you can make easily at home by downloading our Back to School, Back to You Magazine — link in bio. #BacktoSchoolBacktoYou #FIT4MOM #themotherhoodisreal
