Today was an artery-clogging first — with Josh out of town, the little people finagled a trip to McDonald’s for lunch and KFC for dinner (AKA “Chicken Kentucky”). I can’t even imagine what sort of sodium and fat totals we racked up today. I can say that except for maybe a few times during a cross country move, I’ve never eaten at two fast food places in one day. Two Starbucks in one day? Of course. But two junk food meals? The healthy eater in me is wondering how much sooner I’ll be rolling over in my grave if this keeps up.
We have eaten more fast food during our month in Oman than in the past 3 years in Monterey. I’m pretty sure we went to McDonald’s once and Burger King once and the last time I went to a KFC was probably when we lived in Oklahoma and I was pregnant with Calvin and they had the KFC/Taco Bell combo restaurant with the all you can eat KFC buffet. Mmm. I don’t know why anyone would order a taco when you could have unlimited mashed potatoes and biscuits with gravy, but whatever. (I also gained 55 lbs with that pregnancy, but I’m sure those two things aren’t related . . .)
So as a general rule I don’t eat fast food (Not counting Chipotle and In N Out), but here the American fast food chains are the only affordable restaurants. For example, at the mall food court they have an Indian option, a middle eastern option, and a sandwich option, but the combo meals of meat and rice are at least $10. Even a sandwich without any sides or drink is $6. Meanwhile, over at McDonald’s you can get a Big Mac or a chicken sandwich for a dollar or two and a complete meal with fries and drink for under $5.
Over at KFC they have complete meals with 3 pieces of chicken, fries, coleslaw, a bun and a drink for under $5 or you can get a family meal with 9 pieces of chicken and large sizes of all of the above (including a 2 liter of soda) for 13.50. Which is why we’ve had KFC 3 times and McDonald’s at least 5 times. When you can do lunch for $15 instead of $50 it’s hard to pass up the junky option. Especially when you’re at the food court and you figure all the food is junky on some level.
Unfortunately the prices for real restaurants are even higher. But that’s for a different post. At least with KFC the boys have been trained not to eat the skin. Except for Caleb, who at dinner tonight proudly stated, “I love the skin” and proceeded to munch away at his drumstick.
