Let's face it, L.A. is one of those cities where you live in the fast lane (unless you're on the 405 at rush hour on a Friday) and you are ALWAYS busy. You run out of the house (like I do every school morning sans breakfast and with extremely wet hair) and forget your lunch (which I've done), a snack for later (which I've done), and therefore depend on vending machines (which I've done plus depended on my school's cafe).
Then you find yourself depending on your workplace/school's cafeteria or if you don't have one, the McDonalds/Starbucks down the street. Well, if this is the case, I would 1. suggest watching Super Size Me (which single-handedly put me off McDonalds for life) and 2. look up how many calories are in a frappuccino (and quite sadly the first suggestion that comes up in google search is "frappuccino happy hour").
There are better options than running out to the nearest Quiznos for lunch. Some involve a little effort and others are just better options all around when choosing to eat out. And hopefully, by writing this I will learn to lead by example.
First, options involving effort.
Grocery shopping. The most basic thing that will get you to eat food that isn't fast. When grocery shopping, make a list of what you need and how much you need of it. Go for healthy options that you will still eat and if you're interested in saving money, go generic. Keep in mind finding healthy items does not mean you have to go to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods or Bristol Farms. Your local Ralphs or Vons will do just fine.
Just remember that the list will keep you on track, and as long as you stick to it, you won't be tempted to buy those cookies that you want but don't really need at the moment, and chances are you will be saving money (also, to save money, compare prices). Once you're good on groceries, you will hopefully have enough to last you through the week (or two).
To ensure that you don't go overboard on fast food, EAT BREAKFAST. You won't get hungry as fast so you won't have to go on a Starbucks run halfway through the morning. And when I say breakfast, I mean eat a yogurt or something, not something you picked up at Randy's Donuts. Also, making yourself a lunch is a great idea. That way you know what you're eating, you can make your own portions, and you can ensure that it hasn't been ill made by the Subway employee.
Now, options that are easy on you. I would still suggest making your own lunch and bringing your own drink, but if you really need fast food, choose a good option or limit yourself to once or twice a month. One of my favorite options for good fast food is Daphne's Greek Food, but even that you have to limit yourself. If you want fast food and you are limiting yourself, go for something like Chipotle or Panera.
The way to live simply this way is you're cutting out what's generally considered bad, replacing it with a way for YOU to control what you eat, and most likely saving money doing it.
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