How to Quit Fast Foods

Fast food is readily available and often cheap, quick and easy. Many fast food restaurants are open 24 hours a day and don't require you to leave your car to place your order. Unfortunately, fast food is high in unhealthy fats, calories and food additives. Eating too much fast food increases your risk for obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, as stated by the Center for Young Women's Health. Quitting fast food can improve your health and help you avoid some medical conditions.

Instructions

• 1

  Make a commitment and set a goal to motivate yourself to avoid fast food. Write down the reason why you want to stop eating fast food. Maybe you want to lose a certain amount of weight or live a healthier lifestyle. Look at the piece of paper daily or whenever a moment of weakness sets in.

• 2

  Avoid social pressure to eat at fast food restaurants. Pressure from friends to go to fast food establishments can sabotage your diet. Suggest going to a restaurant that serves both healthy and unhealthy foods. If your friends refuse, opt out of the fast food restaurant visit. Eventually your friends will realize that if they want you to join them, they'll have to go somewhere healthy food is served.

• 3

  Reduce your fast food intake gradually. If you eat fast food three times per week, cut it down to two times per week, followed by one time per week and then eat it twice a month. Do this at your own pace to eventually stop eating fast food. If you quit eating fast food cold turkey, you may feel deprived and experience uncontrollable cravings and urges for unhealthy foods.

• 4

  Eliminate junk food from your home. Restock your pantry and refrigerator with healthy foods, such as low-fat cheese, nuts, tuna, salmon, chicken, vegetables and fruit. Not having junk food within your reach reduces temptation.

• 5

  Eat healthy meals and snacks throughout the day so your blood sugar levels stay stable and you avoid cravings for fatty, sugary foods. Avoid skipping meals, which can trigger hunger and strengthen cravings for unhealthy foods.

• 6

  Incorporate exercise into your lifestyle. Exercising promotes your health and motivates you to make more nutritious choices. You may be less tempted to blemish your healthy lifestyle.