EAT THIS, NOT THAT – Book Review

Last Updated on March 10, 2010 by Jimson Lee

Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds–or More!

What is the best fast food in the world? That’s like saying, “Strychnine can act as a stimulant, but how much can kill you?”.

If you are on the road a lot, and have no choice but to eat at fast food restaurants, then this is a must read book and entertaining book.

I remember an incident back in 1991 at a dual meet in Albany, NY. Prior to the meet, Quebec distance runner Philippe Laheurte tragically died in a car accident, and we paid our respects prior to our long bus ride.

Afterwards, we had to cross the border and clearing immigration & customs, arrived on campus late, got lost finding the dorms, worked out the room assignments, then realized it was past 9:00 PM and no one had eaten dinner! The only restaurants in walking distance were fast food outlets like McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy’s.

Of course, the athletes panicked.

But I didn’t panic because I knew how to eat fast foods. Salad bars were available. Eat a baked potato instead of french fries, and order 2 burgers… use one bun to soak up the grease from the patties to make a single double burger. Avoid soft drinks. There are smart choices out there if you can avoid them.

Then we headed to the 7-11 to find some late night snacks if you didn’t pack them already. Smart choices include granola bars or unsalted nuts (as long as you don’t have a nut allergy!).

Bottled water was always readily available. Back then, it was safe to drink out of plastic bottles. Today, you’ll see metal bottles everywhere, including primary schools and high schools!

Eat This, Not That! is jam-packed with secrets the restaurant industry doesn’t want you to know.

For example:

Burger King doesn’t want you to know that a BK Big Fish® Sandwich and fries have a whopping 1000 calories… nearly half your daily caloric intake! Or, Pizza Hut doesn’t want you to know that a standard pizza in Italy contains 500 to 800 calories, but the same meal at Pizza Hut can top 2,100 calories!

If only you knew the industry secrets, you could eat at any of your favorite restaurants and know that every decision you made was smart, healthy, and the best possible choice for you.

Also, did you know:

At McDonald’s, an Egg McMuffin is actually a healthy choice, with just 300 calories. The Hotcakes pack more than double that amount! At Krispy Kreme, all you need to do is order the Very Berry Chiller instead of the Mocha Dream Chiller, and you’ll save 500 calories!

This book is an easy read, which can easily be read in one sitting, so check your local library first.