about Healthful fast food, by mark bittman; several links included,

[elleng]

with link for 'affordable (and fast) burger, fries and shake for fewer than 800 calories,' whose link I can't isolate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/magazine/yes-healthful-fast-food-is-possible-but-edible.html?hp&_r=0

[cbayer]

1. I heard a really interesting interview with one of the founders of veggie grill recently.

I have not yet tasted their food, but he did make it sound very appealing.

There are more alternatives out here on the West Coast than in other ares, but, still, given the choice, I'm going for In'n'Out Burger every time.

[Warpy]

2. I once did grilled veggies for a fajita night at work

and when I left 6 years later, people were still talking about it.

Grilling veggies makes them incredibly sweet as the Maillard reaction converts all the carbos to sugars on the outside.

I wish I could remember what I put in the marinade, I do know it was loosely Mexican with oil, oregano, chile pepper, and cinnamon. I was half asleep when I made it.

People were wrapping the veggies in tortillas and skipping the meat. It was that good.

Unfortunately, fast food joints haven't discovered this yet, at least around here. It's either big chains or hole in the wall taco stands. The hole in the wall places are good, they're just not healthy enough to eat every day.

[cbayer]

3. Love grilled veggies and I am slowly but surely losing my desire for meat.

Must be an age related thing.

It is a great irony that I live relatively close to the area where some of the best produce in the country is grown, but I have a terrible time accessing it.

Anyway, Southern California does have plenty of healthier alternatives, but (and this is a big but), they are generally much more expensive than other fast food places.

So given the choice and limited funds, many people are going to go to McDonalds.

[Warpy]

4. I think you're right. I eat less and less bird and fish

and red meat is now a once or twice a year thing--it's just too heavy.

I hear that about the more expensive veggie fare. It hasn't been centralized and corporatized yet, so there's not some factory where people sweat their lives away making veggie burgers for a big chain, to be delivered frozen. In addition, the meat and bread are subsidized. Veggies aren't.

So McPtomaine's need not worry for a long time. Until we get more sensible ag laws in this country, it'll be meat, grease and carbs for the proletariat.

Unless they learn how to cook...

[cbayer]

5. I have become passionate about cooking over the last several years.

And I've become increasingly critical of the food that other people cook. In particular, I am very critical of most restaurants and truly prefer to stay home and eat my own food most of the time.

We are, however, about to embark on a long road trip where eating regional food is an important part of the journey. This I look forward to very, very much.

I saw a good documentary recently about how most "peasant" food is generally very healthy and how poverty has forced it to become much less healthy. It was aimed particularly as soul food in US african american communities. It changed because of lack of access and high costs of good, healthy food.

Tragic.

[Lucinda]

6. This. ^

My point of view too. We can cook it better at home, unless we are traveling, then I like to explore.

[Lucinda]

8. I went crazy for roasted veggies, especially after I started adding sweet potato to the mix

I keep mine simple...usually just a little olive oil, seasalt, pepper and garlic powder, but I love the idea of the chile pepper and cinnamon!

[Warpy]

9. Or use tamari. Root veggies are great roasted with just plain tamari.

People who've only eaten them boiled are usually in for a shock the first time they eat veggies that have been either grilled or roasted.

[elleng]

10. There's something about fajita veggies I love,

the marinade? or just the process? The onions are particularly good.

[Warpy]

11. Onions are sweet anyway, but caramelize them on a grill

and they become ambrosial.

[elleng]

12. Yup. Happens every time.

I feel silly, sometimes, at tx/mx places, digging through fajita JUST FOR the onions!

[Lucinda]

7. Thankie for the link!

Love Bittman, but I don't think to read him often.