So I have been thinking a lot about breakfast. It has been hailed as the most important meal of the day. When a person is dieting, or trying to eat healthier, it is drilled into them how important it is to get the day off on the right foot. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends the average woman consume between 1,800 and 2,400 calories per day, while the average male should get between 2,400 and 3,000 calories daily. These are for the average folk, not voluptuous (read as tubby) like me and himself. The number of these calories that you devote to breakfast depends on how you divide your meals for the day. Most diets say a healthy breakfast should be between 350-500 calories. Although an article in Medical News Today talks about a study from Tel Aviv University that says a good breakfast should be 700 calories a day and your other meals should be smaller. That is an interesting concept that I may look into at a later time, today I am looking at eating healthy via convenience.
As a working Mom with a life that has to be on the road at OMG o'clock in the morning, making a hearty, filling, and healthy breakfast at home is almost never a feasible option. Not without a ton of planning, anyway. So a lot of days Himself and I stop and grab something, along with the heavens nectar that is coffee.
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| The real truth! |
We started discussing all these options one morning on our commute as we ran through (the shits inducing hell that is) McDonald's.
Here are the three things I know about breakfast food:
1. It is a cheap meal to make so it is a huge money maker to restaurants
2. It is not a hard meal to make, so no rocket science needed.
3. It can be customized to suit every dietary need.
KNOWING these things... why is it so hard to get a good healthy fast food breakfast, or even just a healthy, breakfast on the go?!
Perfect examples: McDonald's has some 'healthier' options, but does not list saturated fat or sodium in the nutritional info, only total fat. It also loads up it's lower fat options (Fruit and Yogurt Parfait) with sugar.
Dunkin' Donuts offers healthier options for under 400 calories or with whole grains or lower fat, and their website also provides more detailed information. It gives sodium, saturated fat, and sugars information. It does offer some options.
What if a person does not have time for that? What if they need gas, so stopping at a convenience store is the only option? Here things get tricky. On the way into work Himself and I pass no less than 4 Turkey Hill Minut Marts, 1-2 Sheetz, and 1 Wawa, probably more, but I am only mentioning the ones we have stopped or are willing to stop at.
I will also narrow down the playing field since Himself has an aversion to Sheetz on the whole. (I want to SEE my food prepared if I can... not wonder what happened behind that unclean soda fountain machine) That leaves Wawa and an assortment of Turkey Hills.
Wawa has, hands down, the better coffee, but let's look at food options. Not all Turkey Hills are the same; some have little kitchen stations, some are pretty bare bones. The one that we stop at for gas most frequently is a bare bones Turkey Hill, little to no fresh fruit, no hot food, and a few protein bar choices (protein bars taste like chalk or maybe dirt, although maybe fortunately take forever to eat, so I must be burning calories while chewing!). They have a couple things of yogurt in a case, and donuts in a donuts dehydrator (SERIOUSLY... What Wiley Coyote GENIUS decided to put a power ventilator on the doughnut cases??? Himself says HARRUMPH!).
When I was on Weight Watchers, at Turkey Hill I would get an Uncrustable PB&J that came in at a ridiculous 7 points. With really no fresh fruit option on other plans like the 21 day fix or Whole 30, it is not a option to eat anything there at all.
I will also narrow down the playing field since Himself has an aversion to Sheetz on the whole. (I want to SEE my food prepared if I can... not wonder what happened behind that unclean soda fountain machine) That leaves Wawa and an assortment of Turkey Hills.
Wawa has, hands down, the better coffee, but let's look at food options. Not all Turkey Hills are the same; some have little kitchen stations, some are pretty bare bones. The one that we stop at for gas most frequently is a bare bones Turkey Hill, little to no fresh fruit, no hot food, and a few protein bar choices (protein bars taste like chalk or maybe dirt, although maybe fortunately take forever to eat, so I must be burning calories while chewing!). They have a couple things of yogurt in a case, and donuts in a donuts dehydrator (SERIOUSLY... What Wiley Coyote GENIUS decided to put a power ventilator on the doughnut cases??? Himself says HARRUMPH!).
When I was on Weight Watchers, at Turkey Hill I would get an Uncrustable PB&J that came in at a ridiculous 7 points. With really no fresh fruit option on other plans like the 21 day fix or Whole 30, it is not a option to eat anything there at all.
Wawa does better in that they always have fresh fruit options, and a decent amount of yogurt and hot food options (egg white and turkey sausage on whole wheat English muffin is actually pretty tasty!).
They also have some things that sound like a good option, but are in fact lies. Their protein snack pack, with cheddar cheese, grapes, almonds, and a little muffiny/ bread thing comes in at 14 Weight Watcher points. I know nuts are high in fats but they are good fats. Cheese is a good source of protein but also high in fats. And grapes should be free (zero points).
They also have some things that sound like a good option, but are in fact lies. Their protein snack pack, with cheddar cheese, grapes, almonds, and a little muffiny/ bread thing comes in at 14 Weight Watcher points. I know nuts are high in fats but they are good fats. Cheese is a good source of protein but also high in fats. And grapes should be free (zero points).
I guess I am just very grumbly about having so few good convenience options when one wants to eat healthy on the go. Breakfast is one of my favorite meals when done right.
I once read a quote by John Gunther, "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast," add to that a tasty cup of coffee and the company of a good partner, and I can see where Mr. Gunther was going there.
My food for thought, maybe happiness just cannot be found in hasty breakfast.
I once read a quote by John Gunther, "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast," add to that a tasty cup of coffee and the company of a good partner, and I can see where Mr. Gunther was going there.
My food for thought, maybe happiness just cannot be found in hasty breakfast.
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