Scheduling to Limit Fast Food

by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

There have been books, even movies, describing our obsession. We are a fast food nation.

There are multiple reasons why but one of the biggest is the fact that we are an overscheduled nation. We have numerous dual income families and many of our kids are involved in late afternoon and early evening sports. This can be a nightmare for scheduling and the obvious problem is where do you fit in the meals?.

Do you have time to cook? The answer is often no and that is where the fast food comes in. It is relatively cheap, it is filling and it is fast. My advice to my patients is that for most of us, it is fine on occasion, but a steady diet is a path to obesity and health problems.

Some suggestions are to look at the healthy options on the fast food menu such as salads without too much dressing and an avoidance of fried foods. Another important option is planning ahead with light meals that can be prepared at home.

The most important step might be an avoidance of overscheduling. Does your child need to be on two travel teams? Is it essential to work those extra hours? The answer may be yes, but we need to schedule family time and meal time. It is important for both mental and physical health.