Fast Food for Athletes?

For me, cycling and then triathlon started out as a way to lose some weight. Unfortunately my job keeps me busy enough that I don’t always have time to cook and prepare a good meal (i.e. nutritious). I have tried pre-cooking meals and freezing them which has worked to a point, but there are always the days where I have nothing ready to go and I’m in a hurry.

Does anyone have any recommendations for eating out/eating on the run so that I don’t have to go down the high fat fast food route that got me into trouble in the first place?

When I lived in the US, I frequented Subway and Taco Bell, I found you could get some pretty good and reasonably healthy fast food if you look though the menus.

12" veggie delight on wheat from Subway and a bean and cheese burrito from TB. Mind you, I would occasionally hit the TB drive through on the way home from training and scarf down a 7 layer with all that lovely mayo and guacamole.

Damn, now I’m hungry and there’s nothing like it here.

J.

are you kidding me? from a macronutrient perspective, taco bell might appear reasonable, but that stuff is processed beyond belief.

stores like trader joe’s, wild oats, and whole foods have a lot of healthy, easy to prepare or pre-prepared selections.

do you think the ‘veggies’ at Taco Bell and Subway taste anything at all??

No, it’s not the best food out there nor is it the tastiest, and if you live near something like a trader joe’s or a whole foods then that opens up a bunch of options (bento box anyone) but most of the US doesn’t have those stores, whereas pretty much any town has a subway.

The original poster wanted fast food, so I stuck to ‘fast food’ places that are open late and available, and I still think either of my options is better than a quarter pounder with cheese, a side of fries and a coke, which is the traditional fast food.

As a 20 year vegetarian, I could give out all sorts of great recipes that you could make up yourself, but that’s not what we’re looking for here.

J.

Here are some of mine, all have similar fat/calorie count, dinners:

Subway - 12" turkey, ham, or roast beef, no mayo or oil, white/italian bread toasted

McDonalds - classic grilled chicken sandwich w/o mayo, grilled ceaser chicken salad w/o dressing

El Pollo Loco - thighs w/o skin, 2 sides of veggies, one side rice

Rubios - 5 street grill tacos
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Oh, and I do sushi 3x per week for dinners.

I was going to suggest sushi also, My local “all you can eat” chinese buffet has sushi. I can get 6-8 pieces for carry out for less than $4, they charge by the pound for carryout. No its not great sushi, but it is fast, cheap and healthy.

I normally do Ichiban, 16 california rolls and I am totally stuffed
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That is what I don’t understand??? For the time it takes it you to drive thru or walk into a TB or other fast food joint, you could actually wander into a non-chained joint that you know is not processed and get a healthy and just as quick meal. Not to mention you might actually strike up a conversation, get to know the locals and socialize a bit vs. sitting in the drive thru line polluting my air! Relax, sit back and enjoy life…

You can usually find a grocery store within shouting distance of fast food joints. I just walk through and grab anything that looks tasty.

That is what I don’t understand??? For the time it takes it you to drive thru or walk into a TB or other fast food joint,

Dont forget Quiznos Sub.

The veggie is very healthy, it has olives,red onion guacamole, mushrooms cheddar cheese, light viniagarette dressing, lettuce on wheat bread. My favorite.

ok gary…you gotta convince May-lise that 3x sushi a week is a good thing!!!
could eat there everyday…

squid salad, traditional rainbow, handroll cones with spicey tuney, vegas roll (not super healther as battered fried though)…love that!

Lots of good choices at places like Panera Bread, Atlanta Bread or Zoe’s. Yeah, they’re a little more expensive than Taco Hell, but the food is more food-like. Just skip the potato chips and stay away from foccacia bread (too greasy) and desert pastries.

Publix has good sandwiches and premade salads, as well as take out sushi and rotisserie chicken. (just remember to not eat the skin)

Ooooooo…Publix subs…

I have to alternate days, then I crave it again

Great food for maintaining/losing weight, not too expensive if you go to the little mom and pop shops, like $4-5 for 8 california rolls
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A protein drink banana and a spoon of peanut butter maybe a half a multivitamin,
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