Fast Food Without the Guilt - Simple Recipes that Will Have You Skipping the Drive Thru

After a long day at work the last thing you want to do is come home and start slaving over a hot stove for an hour. Instead of caving into your desire for a bag full of grease, opt to go home and make your own fast food with a twist.

Salads from fast food restaurants are rarely made fresh and once you put on the small packet of dressing, the calorie content has gone through the roof along with the fat grams. If you keep a bag of ready to use lettuce in the refrigerator with a few other essentials like tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and carrots, a healthy salad is only a few minutes away. If you want some additional protein with your meal, add some grilled chicken, fish or small steak. This is a quick and healthy meal that can be made ahead of time. You can easily make large quantities of grilled meats then freeze individual servings. When you come through the door wanting nothing more than to collapse onto the couch, simply throw a serving of pre-grilled meat into the microwave while you assemble a fresh salad with the ingredients already on hand.

Maybe you prefer sandwiches over salads. Keep your favorite whole grain bread on hand. You can use the same grilled meat you did for salads or you can opt for deli style lunch meats. Lunch meats are a great time saver and can now be bought in air tight re-sealable containers. Top sandwiches with a low fat cheese and Dijon mustard and you have a healthy lunch or dinner. If you don't eat all of the whole grain bread for sandwiches, it is a great breakfast spread with cream cheese and topped with fruit. Here is a quick tip about deli lunch meats. While they are often low in calories and fat, these meats are likely high in sodium. Be careful which brand of meat you choose.

Soup can also be a very healthy, satisfying meal. Consider whipping up a big batch of your favorite soup on the weekend or a day off. It can also be frozen if stored properly. Divide the soup into individual servings and simply defrost when you have the craving for something quick and healthy. Soup is a great way to combine your favorite vegetables and meats. If you are doing the low carbohydrate thing then simply leave out any type of pasta or potato.

Eating healthy does not mean you have to spend a ton of money on ingredients in a health food store. With a little wise shopping and a little bit of time in the kitchen, a healthy meal can be part of your day.