Fast food is just that, it is fast. Americans eat at fast-food establishments because we want something fast, we don’t want to cook, or we are craving something that just doesn’t taste the same if you cook it at home. There is something about a fast-food cheeseburger that you just have to have, on occasion. Some individuals eat at fast-food establishments a lot more than others. They are single, don’t want to cook, are on the go a lot, or a variety of other reasons. Then you have families, like mine, who rarely eat out. Maybe once or twice a month we will give the family a ‘treat’ and we will eat at a fast-food establishment. But for a family of 4+ eating out, no matter where can get expensive.
The answer; stop going to fast-food establishments. Go to the grocery store and buy food. Think of all the wonderful food that you could purchase from the grocery store. Imagine all the amazing dishes that you could cook at home, in your own kitchen, hot and fresh. No one is forcing you to go to a fast-food establishment once, twice, or four times a week. That is your decision and all you have to do is make a commitment to STOP. There is no complex answer, no complicated reason on how to stop eating fast food. If you sat down and calculated how much you spend in a month on fast food, you would be in awe.
The biggest reason that individuals eat at fast-food restaurants is the convenience. We also choose to ‘eat out’ because we don’t have anything in the house that is appealing, we have had a very busy, rough day and do not feel like cooking, or we want something that only our local fast-food restaurant offers. But as mentioned above, it is super easy to stop eating at a fast-food establishment.
Can Eating Unhealthy Food be Addictive?
Unfortunately, yes, eating unhealthy can be addictive. According to healthline.com, “junk food stimulates the reward system in the brain, similar to the way that addictive drugs do.” Just as with any other health condition, you may be susceptible to being addicted to ‘junk food.’ Some individuals can control the cravings for unhealthy food, while other people can not. This has nothing to do with an individual’s “will-power.” It is actually a much more complex situation. In order to explain this complex situation, we would need a whole other article. So, before you criticize someone for consistently eating at a fast-food establishment (or eating other unhealthy food), look back on this article and remember, it is an addictive issue and not something that they can easily control or walk away from.
Can You Withdraw from Fast Food?
This is also a simple, yet complex question to answer. The simple answer is yes, some people can experience withdrawal systems when they stop eating fast food or other highly processed ‘junk food.’ Those that have the predisposition for getting ‘addicted’ to unhealthy food, can actually go through anxiety, depression, irritability, and have headaches when they attempt to stop eating the unhealthy food. These withdrawal systems make changing your diet very challenging and a lot of people will just go back to their unhealthy eating habits because it is easier than dealing with the symptoms that come with giving up the unhealthy diet.
How do I Break My Addiction to Fast Food?
My personal suggestion, because of the statements above, would be to slowly ween yourself off of the fast-food and other highly processed foods. Instead of stopping suddenly, gradually decrease how many times you eat out and start eliminating any ‘junk food’ that you may have in your house. If you try to quit “cold turkey” it will be similar to quitting smoking. You may very well have the withdrawal symptoms that are listed above. So just as with quitting smoking, you have to gradually cut out the ‘bad foods.’ Allowing your body to get used to not having the overprocessed items. If you eat out five times a week, cut it back to three for a week. Then cut it back again the next week and continue doing so until you are not eating at a fast-food restaurant at all. It is not going to be easy for some individuals and you may have ‘back-slides,’ but keep trying, you can do this.
Why Can I Not Stop Eating Fast Food?
The fast-food industry has found a way to maximize the pleasure of eating their food. They have the perfect blend of fat, sugar, and salt. For some, that is a huge problem, as stated above. For others, it doesn’t affect us at all to stop eating junk food, fast food, or other unhealthy items. Most individuals do not realize that getting enough sleep and eating balanced meals will greatly reduce your cravings for junk food and fast food. When we are tired, depressed, or upset we turn to unhealthy food (chocolate, greasy cheeseburgers, french fries) to make us feel better. Your brain eventually is programmed to crave those items when we are not happy or when we have not received enough sleep.
Conclusion
Fast food and other over-processed foods are very addictive. Some people are more prone to ‘addiction’ than others, just as with addictive drugs. When you try to stop eating over-processed foods, there is a chance that you will have the same withdrawal symptoms as individuals who are trying to stop smoking (or getting off of other highly addictive drugs). This article has given me some insight, as I didn’t realize that you could actually be addicted to fast food. My addiction is chocolate! I have a very hard time not having ‘dessert’ after dinner. Thankfully I do not have any of the withdrawal symptoms listed above. For those of you that do and want to eat healthier, take your time. Ween yourself off of the highly processed items, do not try to do it ‘cold turkey.’ Stay positive, do your best, and don’t give up!