Fast food has a way of pulling you in, doesn’t it? One minute you’re promising yourself, “This is the last time,” and the next, you’re wiping ketchup off your chin at the drive-thru. It’s quick, convenient, and always there when you don’t feel like cooking, like a greasy, golden mistress that keeps coming back. We’ve all been there, so no judgement.
But some brave folks have managed to quit the golden arches for good, and Reddit is buzzing with people spilling their secrets for ditching fast food. Honestly, I’m here for it.
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#1
I had a lot of help by the prices of fast food going through the roof.
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#2
I don't know - I just feel awful afterwards and decided years ago that I was going to avoid it from now on.
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#3
People legitimately think this is b******t. But if you can do a week without eating s**t food and drinking soda and drinks filled with sugar, it goes a long way.
That said, that's how I did. I realized how much better I felt and it led me to make other decisions that were better for my overall health.
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This may sound weird, but fast food is literally engineered to hook you harder than your favorite soap opera cliffhanger—and yes, I mean the kind that has you shouting at the screen. Yeah, those burgers and fries are not just tasty; they’re practically science experiments.
According to experts, the salt, sugar and fat combo tickles the brain’s reward system, releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine. In short, it’s a happiness hack that’s hard to beat. Think of it as instant gratification served up hot.
#4
Once you stop eating it for a week you'll stop wanting it. For me I realized a lb. of cooked shrimp is cheaper than a meal at Mcd...
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#5
Grew up poor, never had it. Always home cooked food. That gets ingrained into your brain, fast food and restaurant food tastes like s**t anyway.
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And honestly, fast food is the ultimate lazy hack, showing up exactly when you don’t want to deal with dinner. Who wants to spend an hour chopping veggies when you can have a cheeseburger in five minutes flat? It’s no wonder we’re hooked.
But unfortunately, this convenience often comes at the cost of health. That double bacon cheeseburger? Yeah, it’s a sodium bomb, drenched in fat and sugar. Hello weight gain, high blood pressure, and heart disease. But hey, at least it’s delicious.
#6
Did a blood test found out i an pre diabetic and my cholesterol at the roof, so i wanted to do something good to myself been training and eating healthier for the past 4.5 months and lost 10 kg because of it. Still pushing through i ate almost one fast food meal a month when i feel like it and thats it sometimes i even forget!
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#7
I stopped it for a long time. Long means a few months. I still don’t eat fast food a lot but when I ate it, I always felt remorse when it was finished. I wished I had my money back.
I started eating more and more at home, cooking for myself.
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#8
I no longer saw it as worth it when I can make a healthier, cheaper, and tastier meal at home in less time than it would take me to go get fast food. Get good at cooking. It’s so worth it and it easily impresses others when you can make a delicious meal from scratch. .
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#9
I sort of just stopped when I got in my 30s. The burgers and fries started tasting like battery acid. When I found out that McDonald's fries don't go bad, I was like "yeah I'm all set" and never looked back. I felt the same way about soda. I haven't had soda in 5 years. Never really looked back.
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Oh, and fiber? Forget about it. Your digestive system is crying for help at this point. It’s like filling up a Ferrari with cheap gas and then wondering why it’s sputtering down the highway. Besides, fast food can also mess with your mood, leaving you sluggish and cranky.
Basically, eating fast food too often is like giving your body a hangover—fun at first, but you’ll regret it later. I don’t know about you, but those greasy fries and fatty burgers don’t seem so tempting to me anymore.
#10
As I got older, I developed a more sophisticated sense of taste. When you get used to real food, the thought of eating fast food regularly is just disgusting. Maybe once or twice a year I'll go to In-N-Out for a Double-Double, but even then, it's usually because someone is visiting from out of state,.
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#11
I’ve been priced out of it. Get poor lol.
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#12
Just stop going. Seriously it's that easy. If you need to eat go to a grocery store and hit the deli. It's home made and no f*****g chemicals that just make you more hungry in a few hours. I go in and get some meats and cheese for 7 bucks and it's a nice lunch that doesn't weigh you down.
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But why do we cave to fast food? Hunger and lack of options, basically. But meal prepping can save you from the dreaded “Ugh, there’s nothing to eat” moment. Okay, I know, it’s not as thrilling as a late-night nugget binge, but trust me, future you will thank you.
And, if you’re craving a burger, why not make your own healthy version at home? You’d be surprised how satisfying a DIY version can be. And plus, you know exactly what’s in it. That’s a win-win in my book.
I get it, I love a good pizza on movie nights too. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to ban fast food forever. You can allow yourself the occasional indulgence, but make it a deliberate choice rather than a mindless habit. Plus, a diet with less fast food can improve your energy levels, mood, and even your skin. Turns out, skipping fries might actually do more for your skin than a $50 face mask. Who knew?
#13
I started by telling myself I could only go if im with someone else and THEY are the ones that suggest it. After doing that for a bit I upped it and when I did go I forced myself to only get something I thought I wouldn't like so the association was no longer satisfaction or pleasant. Obviously we're human and everyone liked a fast food fry here and there but the craving has gone down almost entirely.
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#14
When I work out 5x a week I feel more reluctant to put garbage in my body.
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#15
It was too expensive and inconvenient. Plus, I already knew how to cook... it's actually quite scary how few people in my generation seem to have never been taught how to cook.
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Giving up fast food isn’t just about saying goodbye to greasy burgers—it’s about feeling like you’re finally in charge of what goes on your plate. Or at least trying to be most of the time; no judgment if you still sneak a fry or two.
So, the next time the drive-thru calls your name, think about how much better you’ll feel whipping up a colorful meal at home. Sure, it takes more effort, but, hey, maybe your body will stop yelling at you. Worth a shot.
#16
I decided one day that I should drink less soda.
Fast food meals always come with soda, so I started by just drinking half and then pouring the rest out.
Eventually I started asking for fast food meals without any drink.
Then one day I said, this feels dumb… I’m just gonna give up the food too.
I feel healthier. I look better. Haven’t looked back.
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#17
I just remind myself how bad I feel after eating it, then embellish that memory with gory details, like how Whoppers always make me throw up(thats actually true) or how the shakes give me the squirts(also true), but you get the idea. Its negative reinforcement in a way.
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#18
I cook everything at home and learned recipes of fast food items that are higher protein and lower calorie/more calorically balanced. It’s 2nd nature to me at this point, and I genuinely rarely crave fast food, because I “have it” frequently in my normal diet.
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#19
I just decided my money was best spent on groceries and learning how to cook simple meals. Way more bang for your buck. Also, it's so bad for you. Delicious? Yes. But you feel like s**t after.
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#20
I still eat fast food but I’ve moved to local businesses. Funny enough I stopped going to chains after McDonalds did that stupid Trump thing. Haven’t been to a national chain since then. Local fast food is more expensive and that has helped me realize that I can save money as well.
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#21
The cost rose too much, and i have to regually wait 15-20 for food. Now I just go to smaller local restaurants. Better quality and similar cost.
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#22
I bought a slow cooker.
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#23
That s**t is too expensive.
When it’s the same price as a nice pub dinner I’m gonna get that instead.
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#24
Think about the s**theads making your food, touching your stuff with their dirty unwashed hands. That’s one way, another is to just make your own food.
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#25
Changed my habits around the fast food, I guess. Prioritized better sleep to cut down on cortisol. Drank more water to feel fuller. Started taking a different way home that didn’t go past Chick Fil A.
Also, running seemed to make my body crave healthier food. Not super intense running. Just jogging for 30 minutes a day.
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#26
Got diagnosed as celiac.
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#27
Only eat real (organic food) for a while and you don't want to go back.
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#28
It's poisonous garbage that cost more than many sit-down have a server restaurants. Including tips. Also it's far, far cheaper to make it at home. The McDonald's your mom said we have at home is actually better .
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#29
Started to understand that I only have 1 life. It's very hard, but men don't change unless they absolutely have to.
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#30
Inflation! I'm not paying $15 for a footlong Subway sub that cost me $5 pre-pandemic. My salary has not increase during the pandemic. I just can't afford it.
#31
You can find more, better food now for the same prices, you maybe just have to get out the car once in a while to grab it.
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