“Americans talk skinny but eat fat. No matter that First Lady Michelle Obama has been on a crusade for a year and a half to slim down the country. Never mind that some restaurants have started listing calories on their menus. Forget even that we keep saying we want to eat healthy. When Americans eat out, we order burgers and fries anyway.”

That was an excerpt from this article in the AJC.  I’m conflicted. Granted, I don’t eat out much. I enjoy cooking, so if I do visit a restaurant it’s for a date or night out with friends. I also rarely eat fast food – especially since a friend of mine gave me a Top Secret Restaurant Recipes cookbook a few years back.

Here’s the thing. When I do eat out, I honestly don’t expect for the food that I eat to be as healthy as what I would find in my own refrigerator. In fact, when I go out to eat – I splurge because it’s my one time to let go.  I certainly wouldn’t expect a salad at Wendy’s to be as healthy as one from my home.  Think about it. As a matter of fact, do this. Buy a salad from Wendy’s. Buy some (REAL) lettuce from a farmer’s market. Put both in the refrigerator. That salad from Wendy’s is still sitting there looking pretty 2 weeks later, while your (REAL) lettuce has your fridge smelling like PFunk.  ((O_o))

I know it SOUNDS segzy to have calorie counts on your restaurant menus and more “health conscious” options in fast food restaurants, but people have GOT to start using common sense. We are not supposed to receive the bulk of our nutrition from assembly line establishments. It’s perfectly OK to order that BigMacFiletOFishQuarterPounderFrenchFriesIceCokeThickShakeSundaeAndApplePie from Mickey D’s…in moderation. But let’s not psychologically trick people into thinking that replacing the upsized combo with that mutant ninja salad they’re serving, isn’t going to lead to a world of problems too.

Stop using the excuse that eating healthy is expensive. You seriously don’t have to shop at Whole Paycheck and TradeYouHeauxs to eat healthy. Whole Foods is expensive because you’re paying for the experience of Whole Foods. Same thing with Trader Joe’s. But visiting your local farmer’s market or small grocery store is not. You’d be surprised (even you city folks) that local farmers are still out there desperately attempting to sell their food in the community.

Stop assuming that the government is responsible for making sure the the food you eat is going to keep you healthy. Are you seriously thinking that the same government responsible for pushing medication down your throat with no regard for the side-effects, is going to be responsible for your nutrition??? *epic side-eye*