I’ve been traveling for work the last two weekends and, in doing so, I’ve been stuck with dining out and the choices have not been particularly healthy. On the other hand I am starting a 10-day juice fast (thanks to inspiration from the film, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead) on Monday so hopefully I can detox my system and get back on track with some healthy eats very soon.
But this lack of healthy choices really made me realize just what is causing Americans to grow heavier and heavier. Aside from the lack of exercise or the fact that we don’t have to work very hard to survive (not physically anyway and certainly not like folks did 100 years ago) there is also the horrifying buffet of fatty, greasy food choices sitting right there in front of everyone making it so easy to grab, go and grow.
I’m in Norfolk this weekend and I can safely say, from what I’ve seen of downtown anyway, that it is by no means a hotbed of healthy restaurants. The nearby mall, like almost every other mall in this country, has a designated den of dietary debauchery (some call it a Food Court). Here, starving from my travels, I was offered the following choices:
- Burger King
- California Pizza Kitchen
- Charley’s Grilled Subs
- Chili’s
- Mrs. Fields
- Panda Express
- Sbarro
- and a few others
I’m not blaming these restaurants. I’m just suggesting that their combination of cheap meals, speedy preparation and proximity to things we need (clothes and healthcare) make it very difficult for already exhausted Americans to chose NOT to eat there.
I’ve been feeling very bloated as a response to my travels and the poor choices I’ve been making. So, as noted above, I’ll be starting a ten-day juice fast on Monday. I’m looking forward to it and testing my endurance. I’ll let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed that some of this bloat dissipates and I can make better choices post-fast.
Tommy Karr 