Crafting Your Own Healthy Fast Food Favorites
Welcome to the world where indulgence meets well-being, where your love for fast food takes a healthy twist. If you've ever craved the convenience of fast food without compromising on health, you're about to embark on a culinary revelation. It's time to say goodbye to takeout guilt and join me on a journey where flavor meets nutrition.
A Personal Shift: Embracing Healthier Choices
Allow me to share a personal experience that might resonate with you. Like many, we found ourselves in a cycle of devouring takeout meals, indulging in the allure of fast food's convenience. Zane and I, just like you, had our favorites that we couldn't resist. From burgers to pizza, we gave into the convenience of DoorDash.
As COVID-19 reshaped our routines, takeout became our norm. The weight gain and that lingering feeling of lack of energy were undeniable reminders that a change was long overdue. Not to mention the staggering amount of money that we mindlessly spent on our fast food indulgence. Seriously though, we would spend an average of $800 a month on DoorDash!
It wasn’t until this past April that we decided that we couldn’t keep doing this. Plus our clothes were not fitting anymore… a sad truth. I started doing more home cook meals with our favorite dishes and learning how to use spices to our advantage to make healthy options taste amazing!
Craft Your Own Crispy Coatings
Our adventure led us to the heart of crafting DIY meat coatings. The secret herbs and spices that once tantalized our taste buds found a healthier home in our kitchen.
Fast food chicken is notoriously unhealthy, and we don’t really know what exactly is in pre-prepared food. Luckily, you can make delicious and healthier alternatives to your favorite takeouts. Fried chicken is an easy recipe. However, for something a little more fitting for the family or guests, you can at last break out the panko breadcrumbs for chicken Milanese for dinner this week.
Burgers: Light on Fat, Heavy on Flavor
Who doesn’t love a good burger? But they get a bad rap because burgers are associated with poor health. Yet it doesn’t need to be this way because you can control the meat’s fat content when you DIY a burger. Craft your own burger by controlling every ounce of fat without compromising taste. Elevate your burger experience with succulent meat, vibrant condiments, and caramelized onions, all while embracing a healthier version of an all-time classic.
Pizza Pleasures, Reinvented
Like burgers, there are tons of unhealthy options for pizzas. Yet also, like burgers, you can create healthier versions of pizzas, including cheaper food alternatives.
Craft your dough, add your freshest garnishes, unprocessed meat, and a savory sauce, all kissed by the heat of your oven. Bid farewell to unhealthy options and embrace a pizza experience that's as wholesome as it is delicious. Plus this is perfect for a date night or girls’ night in!
Beyond Fries
French fries are delicious and make a great accompaniment to almost any dish, especially chicken, burgers, and pizza. But they are pretty unhealthy when bought from fast food joints because of the tons of oil, salt, and carbs. You can, of course, make fries and oven-bake or air fry as an alternative to deep frying. However, some popular alternatives to fries include carrot and parsnip cut into strips, parmesan asparagus, and of course, tasty sweet potato fries.
The Art of Oils and Cooking Mastery
One of the main reasons for a higher calorie and fat count for fast food recipes is the way the food is prepared and cooked with unhealthy trans fats. The lipoproteins in these are used to make poor-quality ingredients taste better, and to help them last longer before being cooked, kind of like false freshness. Yet you can make your own fast food recipes taste superior using the right oil and cooking methods. For instance, use rapeseed oil to sear burgers in a frying pan.
As Zane and I embraced the art of healthier options, we found ourselves hooked by the constant discovery! So, if you're ready to elevate your fast food experience, join us on this journey. Let's reimagine your favorite guilty-pleasure and transform them into nourishing delights that resonate with your body and soul.
