• Fast food is quick.
• Fast-food restaurants are easy to get to.
• Fast food tastes good.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, these were the most frequently reported reasons for eating at fast-food restaurants by a group of adolescents and adults who often eat fast food. Do you agree? If so, here are some ways you can quickly cook up tasty, calorie-controlled meals in your own kitchen. How can it be more convenient than that?

1. Top store-bought whole grain pizza crust with marinara sauce, part-skim mozzarella cheese, and sliced vegetables (onions, mushrooms, red/green peppers).
2. Pan fry (with a little oil) marinated chicken breasts (5-10 minutes on each side) and serve on a whole grain bun with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions.
3. Top salmon filets with dijon mustard, salt, and pepper and bake on a foil-lined pan at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes per inch of salmon; serve with a small microwave-baked regular or sweet potato.
4. Stir fry frozen Chinese vegetables with chopped rotisserie chicken (skin removed); serve with black bean sauce and instant brown rice.
5. Boil frozen stuffed shells, ravioli, or tortellini and top with marinara sauce; serve with bagged salad.
6. Toss a 2-3 pound pork loin in the crock pot with 1 24-ounce jar of unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and tablespoon of cinnamon; add a few handfuls of chopped potatoes and baby carrots and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Do you have any "fast-food" recipes to share?

Rydell, S.A. (2008).Why eat at fast-food restaurants: reported reasons among frequent consumers. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 108, 2066-2070.