How Much Fast Food Should You Eat In A Month? This may seem like an easy question, but the answer is surprisingly complicated. The math will show that it doesn’t matter how much fast food you eat as long as you stay within the recommended average for your body type. So is it just a matter of how many days in a month you eat fast food? The answer is not that simple, either.
Fast Food Is Fattening Fast food can be fattening, but only if you overeat it. Most people eat fast food with other foods, not on its own. It’s usually not even the main meal of the day; it’s something you eat in addition to your regular meal. The calories and fat in the food are added to the calories and fat from that other meal. That’s why it’s not as bad as it seems when you look at the nutritional values of fast food packaging.
Average Americans Overeat Fast Food The worst part of fast food is not necessarily the high calorie or fat content, but that almost everyone overeats it. Fast food chains are successful because they appeal to our desires for instant gratification.
Do you Know How Much Fast Food Should You Eat In A Month?
The answer is that there’s no specific amount of fast food you should eat in a month. That said, it doesn’t matter how much fast food you eat as long as your average intake is within the recommended calorie intake for your body type and lifestyle. So, if it’s not just a matter of how many days in the month you eat fast food, what other factors come into play? The answer to this question is also not cut and dry; it depends on some factors.
It all boils down to how many calories come from each meal. Fast food may be fattening, but only if it’s part of an excessive calorie intake for that day. Most people don’t just have one meal for lunch, so if people eat fast food as part of an unhealthy lifestyle, it’s not that much worse than any other food choice. That said, there is a specific recommendation for how much you should see each month.
Actual Fast Food Calories on a Fast Food Value Menu:
Fast Food calories can vary widely from one location to the next, but if you look at the nutrition information for what some may consider bad fast food, it’s not as bad as it seems.
1. McDonald’s Big Mac:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 550 |
| Fat | 29 g |
| Sodium | 1040 mg |
| Saturated Fat | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g (13% recommended daily value) |
| Protein | 25 g (50% recommended daily value) |
2. Taco Bell Beefy 5-Layer Burrito:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 700 |
| Fat | 32 g |
| Sodium | 1530 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 61 g (13% recommended daily value) |
| Protein | 32 g (116% recommended daily value) |
3. Taco Bell Chicken Burrito Supreme:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 520 |
| Fat | 27 g |
| Sodium | 1430 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 51g (11% recommended daily value) |
| Protein | 31g (104% recommended daily value) |
4. Wendy’s Jr:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 290 |
| Fat | 9g |
| Sodium | 1030mg |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g (11% recommended daily value) |
| Protein | 9g (50% recommended daily value) |
5. KFC:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 550 |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Sodium | 1260 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 51g (10% recommended daily value) |
| Protein | 7 g (100% recommended daily value) |
How much fast food should you eat in a week?
An average adult should consume 2,000 calories per day. Most fast-food restaurants provide nutritional information based on a daily calorie intake of 2000.
Fast Food Calories vs. Healthy Food Calories:
| Fast Food | Calories | Healthy Food | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. McDonald’s Big Mac | 550 calories per serving. | 1. Salmon | 120 calories per 3 oz serving. |
| 2. Taco Bell Beefy 5-Layer Burrito | 700 calories per serving. | 2. Tilapia | 130 calories per 3 oz serving. |
| 3. Taco Bell Chicken Burrito Supreme | 520 calories per serving. | 3. Chicken Breast | 100 calories per 3 oz serving. |
| 4. Wendy’s Jr | 290 calories per serving. | 4. Bagel | 140 calories per serving |
| 5. KFC | 550 calories per serving. | 5. Pasta w/ Sauce | 350 calories per 1/2 cup serving and 220 calories for 1 cup serving |
| 6. Domino’s Pizza | 600 calories per serving. | 6. Potato | 130 to 150 calories for one medium |
| 7. Papa John’s Pizza | 500 calories per serving. | 7. Bread (Whole Wheat) | 110 to 120 calories per slice |
| 8. Subway Chicken Club Sub | 510 calories per serving. | 8. Oatmeal | 210 calories per cup |
| 9. Arby’s Steak & Cheese | 580 calories per serving. | 9. Corn | 100 to 110 calories for one medium ear of raw corn |
| 10. Burger King Whopper Jr. | 520 calories per serving. | 10. Broccoli | 40 calories for 1/3 cup serving |
How long can you eat unhealthily?
Eating healthy foods your whole life will lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. You’re also more likely to have a slimmer waistline than if you eat unhealthy foods.
Healthy eating can be done in many ways. The following are some ways in which people can go about eating healthy:
- Eat plenty: Following a good exercise routine, one should lose weight over time. This will encourage them to continue doing so.
- Build muscle: This is better than losing fat because it will help one’s metabolism and allow them to burn calories at an increased rate without too much effort.
- Drink lightly or not at all: This is best for those who want to lose weight. It is advisable not to drink any alcohol.
- Eat your veggies: This is one of the best habits you can develop. Include vegetables in every meal and choose from yellow, green, orange, and red colored vegetables. Fiber veggies are very healthy and will allow you to lose weight faster.
- Avoid sugar: Refined sugar should be avoided because it will cause health problems if you are overweight.
- Exercising regularly: This will help to keep your weight at a healthy level.
- Consider better options: Aside from watching what you eat, you should also change your lifestyle. Of course, you should still eat healthy food but in smaller portions.
- Find an exercise you enjoy doing: If you don’t enjoy the activity, it will be challenging to do it every day.
- Buy nutritious food: It is best to buy natural food. Most people spend a lot of money on processed foods which are expensive and unhealthy.
- Learn to cook at home: This will allow you to save money and know what goes into your food. You can order healthy foods online if you don’t have time to cook them.
- Losing weight gradually: This is best for those who have weight issues to contend with.
5 Fast Food Meals That Aren’t That Bad for You:
1. Taco Bell Chicken Soft Tacos:
There are several different kinds of tacos, but they’re all filled with taco beef, lettuce, and sauce. The shell of these tacos is made of a corn tortilla filled with four pieces of chicken. The chicken is cooked and seasoned inside and still white on the outside.
This gives Taco Bell a point for disguising their chicken’s true nature by making it look like taco beef. There are also two soft tacos for two different price points: $1.59 and $2.59. The tacos have an RDA of 15 and 30 grams of fat, respectively, and 320 calories and 14 grams of saturated fat per serving.
2. Taco Bell Steak Soft Tacos:
These tacos consist of ground beef and lettuce in soft corn tortillas. The shells are made of the same stuff as the tacos above, and the meat has been seasoned in little “chips” on the inside to make it look like steak. The soft tacos are $1.59 and $2.29. Each soft taco has an RDA of 20 grams of fat, 130 calories, and 10 grams saturated fat.
3. McDonald’s Chicken Deluxe Meal:
Now with a salad, which comes with bacon bits in it! This meal comes with baked chicken breast, a side salad, and French fries with ketchup on them. This meal is perfect for you because it’s pretty healthy. Not only does it have an RDA of 10 grams of fat, but it also has 270 calories, 7 grams of saturated fat, and 200 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.
4. Subway Turkey Sub:
This sub has turkey breast, swiss cheese, salami, and mayo. The meat is the same as the other sandwiches above and it’s a healthy choice. It has an RDA of 20 grams of fat, 260 calories, and 5 grams of saturated fat per serving.
5. Arby’s Prime Roast Beef Sub:
This sub has roast beef in it with provolone cheese and lettuce. The hero also has a “secret sauce” on the bottom. This sandwich is pretty healthy because Arby’s uses lean beef to make it. The hero has 80 grams of fat, 220 calories, and 7 grams of saturated fat per serving.
The following are some healthy eating guidelines that you should follow:
1. Eat meat more than four times per week:
A well-balanced diet should consist of at least 50% carbohydrate, 20% protein, and 30% fat or less. Most Americans eat more than 50% carbohydrates, which is the least amount of food you should make up for your diet. Most Americans overeat protein and fat (remember the old saying “Carbs and fat make you fat”?)
2. Everything in moderation:
Moderation is key to health. Moderation means that you don’t overeat or go on a diet. It means consuming moderate amounts of calories, proteins, and carbohydrates while avoiding eating unhealthy foods high in fat, salt, or sugar.
3. Follow the 80/20 rule:
Eat about 80% of your calories from the food groups that provide the most health-giving nutrients (protein, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains), and 20% from less healthy foods (fatty meats, refined grains, added sugars).
4. Eat five or fewer servings of processed foods per week:
Eating just one cup of white rice daily would contain approximately 500 milligrams of salt. You should avoid foods containing added sugars, lactose, and trans fats. Processed meats are also unhealthy because they have nitrates in them. The salt in your body can cause hypertension or high blood pressure, which causes the hardening of the arteries and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
5. Cut back on greasy fast food:
Fast food restaurants use frying cooking oil rich in saturated fats, so if you eat foods cooked at these places, you will consume lots of saturated fat. Consuming saturated fat will boost your cholesterol level in the blood and increase your risk of heart disease.
7. Eat a variety of foods:
Eating a healthy diet means getting protein and vitamins from fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes (lentils, beans), and vegetables. You will eventually get sick if you eat the same thing repeatedly without getting the proper nutrition.
8. Have a snack at least once a day:
Try snacking on nuts and seeds, some dark chocolate (90% or higher), cheese cubes, small pieces of fruit, and raw vegetables. Studies show that people who snack are less likely to be obese than those who skip their snacks.
9. Make sure to include some non-starchy vegetables, a few servings of protein, and whole grains:
Everyone needs to eat fish, poultry, beans, eggs, or nuts for these key protein sources. Some protein sources are beef, veal, pork, liver, and kidneys. Vegetarians can get their proteins from tofu and soybeans. Non-starchy vegetables contain lots of vitamins and, most importantly, fiber. Fiber is essential for a healthy bowel movement that can assist in digestion. Whole grains make you feel full for a longer time, so that you will eat less overall.
10. Choose healthy fats:
People need some fat in their diet to maintain healthy skin and hair. Cholesterol is one of the main building blocks your body needs, so you need to eat foods containing cholesterol. The most important healthy fats are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils such as olive, canola, peanut, and sesame seed.
How Much Should I Eat?
The general rule of thumb is to start with what your doctor recommends. If you don’t want to consult a physician, the USDA provides nutritional guidelines for healthy eating. You should make sure that you are eating the recommended number of servings from each group that the USDA suggests:
- 2 cups of fruit per day (or one serving)
- 3 cups of vegetables per day (or two servings)
- 5 ½ ounces total grains per day (or three servings)
- 2 ½ ounces of protein sources per day, combined in two or more servings
- 3 cups milk, yogurt, or cheese daily (in one or more servings)
If you follow these guidelines and still have weight concerns, then it’s not you. It’s your environment that’s the issue.
General health guidelines include:
- Stop smoking
- Eat a balanced diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Exercise regularly, monitor weight, and other health measures
- Check blood sugar levels regularly
- If you’re overweight, lose 10 percent of your body weight
- five pounds in six months
Is it Ok to Eat Fast Food?
The answer to these questions is yes. It’s ok to eat fast food if you are the type of person who can control their intake and not overeat.
There are many disadvantages to eating fast food but also many advantages. Some people may be able to put the calories from a meal like this into perspective, and some will not. Fast food should be avoided if you don’t have self-control or it is hard for you to make rational decisions about what you want to eat.
Fast food restaurants allow people who don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking but also provide accessible options that people crave as opposed to healthier options that they don’t know how or won’t know how to prepare on their own. The nutritional values of fast food are still low, but it is a cheap option, and sometimes that’s all that matters.
Fast food is also convenient. People who work jobs where they are required to go to various locations throughout the day or if they travel a lot during the week may benefit from eating fast food because they don’t have to plan their meals ahead of time and can grab something on their way out the door.
Bottom Line:
In this experiment, I found that fast food can be an effective tool for someone who does not have the self-control to make proper decisions about what they eat. The nutritional values of fast food are low, so make sure you consider that when you are eating these foods.
Fast food should also not be consumed daily because it can hurt your body. Fast food can be eaten in moderation for a short period but should not replace healthier meals. If you lead an unhealthy lifestyle and want to change, fast food is not the solution to your problems.
