Ditch the Drive-thru: Melon and Meat
June 30th, 2008 at 6:02 am (Helpful)
I just keep learning things about myself. Like, nothing transports me to BingeVille quicker than an empty stomach and a sense of self-pity. To solve this, I eat small, balanced meals throughout the day and very rarely let myself feel more than a slight hunger. So far, it’s worked for me even when I can’t keep the pity at bay.
Another thing I’m learning is that I must, must, must have protein at my first meal. I can couple that protein with healthy carb/fiber, but full-on grains just kill me in the morning. I don’t just mean bagels or toast — even a healthy breakfast of steel-cut oats can send me crashing to the bottom of Carb Canyon and then messes with my digestion. So, for breakfast I try to pair a lean protein with fruit or vegetables and it’s enough fuel to see me through to lunch.
Weight Watchers mornings present a special challenge. My meeting is late enough to allow me to sleep in. (Blessed, blessed sleep.) With a 10:00 start time, I don’t get so ravenously hungry or thirsty before weigh-in that I feel I’ve done real damage. Then, though, the most reasonable time for me to do laundry is after the meeting. More than once, to fuel up for the laundromat, I’ve thought — “I’ll just grab some fast food. Just this once can’t hurt.”
But, it’s not just the calorie of the thing. It’s the soft-serve, hot-and-cold-running crap that awaits me at the fast food drive-thru. It’s the fake cheeses, fake eggs, and fake meats. Generally, I’m pretty good about packing lunches and snacks. But, when I’m on the run and have a hunger emergency, I sometimes need to find fast food in other places than the drive-thru. Sue me.
Here’s one solution that I’ve found:
Most grocery store produce sections will have sliced-up melons and fruits for sale in cups. It’s way too pricey for every-day use, but it works in this particular pinch. Then, I’ve found that many deli-meat manufacturers are selling single-serve pouches of meats. These pouches contain 70 or 90 calories of turkey. Yes, deli meats are notoriously high in sodium, but that salty flavor makes the breakfast feel like a melon and prosciutto plate. Since I first tasted that delicious combination in Paris, I always feel like it is super fancy and even the cheap grocery-store knockoff version satisfies me on an emotional and mental level in addition to the physical.
I swing by the store’s salad bar and smuggle a fork and a napkin and, if I need to, grab a bottle of water at the register. Voila! For less than the cost of a drive-thru meal, I’ve satisfied my need for protein/fiber combo and avoided that dangerous, soul-sucking hunger.
What do you do when you’re on the run? Help me continue to Ditch the Drive-thru!
Sarah said,
June 30, 2008 at 7:59 am
I tend to buy a box of 100 calorie packs when I am in a pinch for a snack. This usually happens when I am out shopping, say at target. I usually can eat just one package. I rarely crave fast food anymore. And when I actually do crave it, I let myself eat it. I eat a lot of salad/sandwiches/soups when I go out for lunch. I also get Asian food with brown rice, steamed veggies, stock chicken, and the sauce on the side.
erin said,
June 30, 2008 at 8:20 am
I eat a lot of bananas. Seriously.
Big Girl said,
June 30, 2008 at 10:01 am
Your solution is brilliant. I’m going to have to try that. Right now if I’m on the run and starving, I ususally snack on beef jerky which I have stashed in the car. That way it keeps me distracted enough from my hunger until I get home to fix a little something. Water also helps. Whenever I get hungry, I drink a glass of water and a lot of times that is enough to get me through.
vickie said,
June 30, 2008 at 10:49 am
I too have used the store ready fruit cups - I have used them - in a pinch for the kids too. I ate them with nuts from the baking aisle (walnuts, almonds NOT salted). If really hungry - I would add a plain single serve yogurt - they have plastic spoons available in the deli. Apples work well too - I clean them with a wipe in the car.
I keep zip lock bags, wipes and plastic spoons in the trunk of my car - so that I am always ready.
I eat protein with every meal. Sometimes it is protein/carb/fruit/dairy and sometimes it is protein/carb/veggie. But I always have a single serve of a protein. I had cold (cooked) salmon for breakfast this morning.
I cook all meats as I buy them - then freeze in single servings. I also hardboil 2 dozen eggs (there are 5 of us) every other week. So a wide variety of proteins are always available. I NEVER freeze raw meat. This has made a HUGE difference in the ease of my food. If I lived alone - I would still cook in batches and freeze as I do now. I cook batches of dried beans and freeze in single servings too.
Your meat package picture made me think of my brother camping. He buys some type of chicken at the store that does not need refrigerated. I have not read the label - don’t know what is added. He does week long wilderness camping - poo in the bushes kind of camping - and uses the meat packets for that. He camps with my nephew - they have to be able to carry everything between them - supplies and equipment for a whole week. some places they camp - are pure green - you carry everything in and have to take everything OUT - including your poo.
honi said,
June 30, 2008 at 2:29 pm
i do what you do.. I have a Publix right by my office so I stop there in the AM .. every so often.. I will usually get a baking potato.. and I will add a variety of things in the produce department you can find tomatos already diced up in a little container.. so i dump those in.. ( save protein for dinner.. since I have night time hunger issues) then I might use a little assorted sprinkle cheese on the potato as well plus some spray on butter or butter buds which ever I have.. and viola Lunch.. nuked for about 8 minutes and usually around 2 bucks.. the tomatos and whatever else I might add will usually be good for two servings.. I usually have a potato 2 times a week. its a very filling lunch for me.. If I have to do fast food.. its usually subway.. and if I am on the road .. I do a jr hamburger, with lettuce tomato and a little ketchup… then we stop at a store later.. and get fruit ( we ride a motorcycle and travel on weekends sometimes) and some cheese to nosh on later.. we try and be as careful as we can when we travel.. of course when we were in Israel I ate like a monster and still lost 7 pounds but we did so much walking it was amazing.. I think preperation is always key in daily life.. so I always pack my lunch or do a very quick early am publix run.. sometimes I will even get sushi and a container of water melon .. just depends what I am in the mood for that day..
Amy said,
June 30, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I keep a granola bar in my bag so I don’t go all crazy with the hunger and eat my arms, or you know, cookies by the dozen. I don’t eat meat so I buy a lot of stonyfield yogurt smoothies, also Odwalla protein or superfood. If I want something sweet I get iced tea because I can control the amount of sugar in it, for salty I get those 50 cent packs of peanuts because at least they have some protein instead of like chips or something. Most of the time I try to eat what I want and enjoy it and most of the time I want yummy things, this time of year is all about fresh peaches and I’m loving it so much. I buy a ton and I eat them all the time, unless you read my blog today but usually it works to make me feel decadent without drowning in chocolate.
G.G. said,
June 30, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Nuts and dried fruit when I know I’m going to be out and can’t keep something cool. Protein bars (like Lara or Luna bars). Fresh fruit that keeps well, like apples. PB & J sandwiches (natural PB, double-fiber bread). Or, in a pinch, I’ll find a carton of 1% or 2% milk and drink it–can help hold me till I can get some real food.
Also–I drink lots and lots of water. For some reason, if I’m hydrated, I don’t get as hungry.
I had the same issue with the carb crashes, even with the good kind of carbs. I learned to “link and balance” the carbs with protein (or a fat like nuts), too, and it’s really, really, REALLY helped me not get hungry.
You’re doing so well!
honi said,
July 1, 2008 at 4:59 am
if you have a minute please stop by blog, i left you an award with info regarding that award in the post below todays post.
Jen said,
July 5, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I love the takeout sushi available in a lot of grocery stores now. My Kroger’s even now carries some brown rice sushi, which still tastes good. I don’t usually get the raw stuff there, just California or eel rolls, because I don’t like the idea of it sitting around. Still, it’s a quick grab-and-go thing.
You could also pack yourself a lunch, something as simple as a turkey sandwich and some veggies, if you were feeling really ambitious!
MizFit said,
July 13, 2008 at 4:46 pm
lovelovelove the melon and meat!!
I did a short post on FOOD TO BRING ALONG IN YER TRUNK a few moths back…linking this wednesday for new readers if youre in my ‘hood.