It has been proven that tomatoes have high levels of antioxidants that reduce your cancer risk. Since tomato sauce is essentially pureed, concentrated tomato, be sure to drown any menu items in the stuff. Naturally, this applies to condiment practices at home and in other places, too. Some research also concluded that pizzas were beneficial to the health of a population sample of Italians, thanks to the tomato paste applied on bases. Remember though that most tomato sauces are about 25% sugar.

Greasy food tastes better when it is hot, since the grease and fat is still liquid. Once it starts to cool, your yummilicious KFC variety bucket will gum up with tacky grease, turning it into a tub of luke-warm roadkill. Short of carrying around a portable microwave oven or thermal pack, just keep all menu items wrapped up until you are ready to eat them. Ergo, only open carry-bags when you want to gobble up the next tasty treat.

If you cannot resist side-orders of fries and the like, then get the smallest serves available. The craving will be ably satisfied with a small dose. Keep the spare cash in your pocket or choose something else from the menu to add variety to your Babette's McFeast.

French fries, chips, desserts and soft drinks are loaded with simple sugars and saturated fat. Stick to the main meal items and other liquid refreshments for a less damaging pigout-a-thon. Ask for diet versions of soft drinks and no mayonnaise on burgers. Maccas also let you ask for no-salt fries, which is a great idea, since salt is a totally unnecessary flavour 'enhancer'. It also makes you thirsty, prompting an expensive drink purchase, not to mention contributing to high blood pressure problems and heart disease. Beware that diet soft drinks use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (Equal) and sodium saccharine (Sugarine).

A general nutrition guideline dictates that foods high in carbohydrates and sugars should not be eaten after 2pm or 3pm in the afternoon. Therefore, try to save junk food sorties for lunchtime. Evening meals should be as small as possible. I usually buy one burger or hot menu item for dinner unless I have been fasting since breakfast, which often happens on weekends. Chicken Strips, Mashies and nuggets are great snack alternatives for late-night alcohol-induced hunger pangs.

While you are eating, chew your food properly, no matter how famished you are. Effective chewing aids digestion. After the meal, allay your guilt by walking or exercising off the calories. Whenever possible, I walk to and from the chosen fast-food Venus Fly-traps back to home base, or I visit them when I am on the go shopping. The risk of developing diabetes can be reduced if you burn off your elevated sugar and carbohydrate levels. Eat fruit and vegetables in the next meal. I munch an apple straight afterwards, which is also good for cleaning your teeth.