It’s no secret that fast food could be unhealthy. Documentaries back it up. Research backs it up. Even huge fast food chains don’t try to hide the fact that theirs is not the healthiest option in the market.
But this mother doesn’t care in the slightest: she’d willingly feed her children fast food without a second thought.
“We always go to the same chain, which features kale salads and fruit cups and grilled nuggets. But the fries. Oh, the fries. The kids always want to snarf the fries, and I can’t blame them, because I throw down a size large myself,” said Elizabeth Broadbent in her Scary Mommy story.
At first when she first realized that she was feeding her children fast food five times a week, she was shocked, but quickly got over it. After all, she has her reasons.
Her culinary skills are limited to microwaving and scrambling eggs, and so if she wants to feed them something healthy she prepares PB&J and fruits—usually canned or pre-cut.
Elizabeth simply doesn’t have the time because she’s always running to something or attending to her children.
“On Mondays, before their homeschool PE class, I often run out of time, between, you know, actual homeschooling, and dressing myself, and dressing three children, at least one of whom prefers to be naked. And dammit, sometimes I just have to have a shower, for myself if not the good of humanity. Soon we’re out of time, and the fast food place it is.”
If they’re really late, they’d just run through the drive-thru.
Some days, before her kids go to music lessons, they drop by the fast food place because the play area is the perfect venue for her kids—both of whom have ADD—to exhaust some of their energy.
“I let them run for an hour while I sip tea and play on my phone. Then it’s off to their lessons, where they concentrate better, sit more still, and generally behave better.”
Elizabeth also has no qualms getting a fast food breakfast.
In the end, Elizabeth acknowledges that she may be feeding her children too much industrial-fried potatoes and sugary drinks. But it makes their lives run smoothly.
“My husband comes home every night and cooks attractive, nutritious meals, which the boys eat,” she said, “so they do get their colors and their greens and their meat. During the day, Mama gets her convenience. We couldn’t function without it. And I know I’m not alone.”
READ: 7 Unhealthy foods you think are healthy
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