Hidden Dangers In Restaurant Food
It's no secret that most restaurant meals, especially fast food and takeout, tend to be high in low-quality fat, sugar, processed sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients. But beyond just leading to physical and mental illness, the actual ingredients in restaurant cuisine can pose some serious health risks.
Let's take a look under the hood at some of the sketchy substances frequently found in restaurant fare. Trust me: I spent over 10 years in the restaurant industry.
Vegetable Oils
Those "vegetable" oils used for frying foods are usually anything but healthy plant sources. Most restaurants rely on highly processed seed oils like soybean, corn, and canola oil that are extremely high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. Consumption of these oils has been linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
Reheated, Pre-Cooked, and Old Foods
Cost-cutting measures lead many restaurants to hold raw and pre-cook foods like eggs, meats, and starches for up to 5 days before reheating, cooking, and serving. This process of cooling and reheating creates advanced glycation end products (AGEs) - inflammatory compounds linked to diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's and cancer. Holding ingredients like meat, vegetables, and sauces for up to 5 days before cooking increases likelihood of food borne illness.
Hidden Sugars
That savory restaurant entree or sauce may seem healthy, but chances are there's added sugar hiding in there for flavor enhancement. The average American already consumes 6 Tablespoons of added sugar per day from all sources - far exceeding recommended limits.
Chemical Preservatives and Flavor Enhancers
To extend shelf-life and cut costs, restaurant meals are often loaded with preservatives like sodium benzoate and propionate, as well as artificial flavors and Colors like yellow dye #5. Many have been linked to hyperactivity, asthma, and even cancer.
Conventionally Grown Produce
Unless highlighted as organic, you can assume the restaurant is using conventionally grown fruits and veggies treated with pesticides like atrazine and chlorpyrifos - endocrine disruptors linked to reproductive and fetal health issues. This is precisely how restaurants make money: buy the least expensive ingredients and charge the most you are allowed to get away with. So what gets sacrificed? Quality and your body. Think fine-dining Michelin star restaurants choose better? After 10 years in the fine dining industry, I can tell you with confidence: they do not.
Factory-Farmed Meat
That chicken breast or burger is almost certainly sourced from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) where livestock are fed GMO grains and pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones. These substances accumulate in the meat we consume then, our liver takes the burden of filtering it bite after bite.
“We are what we eat ate.”
Studies Confirm: Home Cooking is Healthier
Numerous studies back up the fact that frequently dining out is associated with weight gain and other negative health outcomes, while home cooking allows you to control ingredients and portion sizes for a more nutritious diet. A 2015 study found those who cooked at home more frequently had overall better nutritional intake. Research by the University of Washington found those who ate more home-cooked meals had lower levels of inflammatory fat, low-quality calories, sugar, preservatives, and refined salt in their diet.
Benefits of a Personalized Meal Prep Service
The clear solution is to minimize dining out and take control of your own nutrition by cooking at home. But in our busy modern lives, who has time for planning, shopping, prepping and cooking day after day? This is where a quality personalized meal prep service can be a game-changer.
The best meal prep companies like Seasoned Soul Wellness® LLC choose only high-quality, certified organic produce, wild-caught seafood, and meats from animals raised on pastures without antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs. We can accommodate any dietary template - vegan, paleo, Mediterranean, low-carb, etc. Instead of processed ingredients and mystery sauces, we rely on whole foods seasoned with herbs, spices, and homemade sauces reflecting a variety of worldly cuisines. No inflammatory oils, just healthy fat sources like olive oil, coconut, and avocado. We also do not bake or cook with refined sugar but rather organic Quality A maple syrup.
With weekly in-home meal prep services, you can enjoy healthy, delicious meals catered to your specific needs, without the hassle of grocery shopping or tedious prep work. It's the best of both worlds - home-cooked nutrition with the convenience of restaurant takeout. Make the switch to support your long-term health and vitality.
