What Are You Craving?
A choice you enjoy is easier to repeat. Compare cost, taste, convenience and nutrition, then choose what works for today.
Most options are foods and orders I use, drawn from my Healthy Swaps & Craving Defeaters. Additional chain options are identified separately. There is no need to force a restaurant, packaged or homemade option into every craving.
Read the ratings: More filled bars is better for that factor. Cost = affordability; taste = expected enjoyment; convenience = less time and effort; nutrition = overall fit of the stated portion. Any option with 10 calories or fewer per gram of protein earns 5/5 for nutrition. This protein-to-calorie rule does not assess every aspect of a balanced diet; for estimated ranges, we use the highest calories and lowest protein shown. These are practical editorial comparisons, not scientific scores or measured customer reviews. Taste is subjective. Compare similar meals: snacks and drinks are not complete meals, and a low nutrition rating does not mean a food is forbidden.
Any food or meal with 10 calories or fewer per gram of protein earns ★★★★★ for nutrition. Divide calories by grams of protein: 400 calories ÷ 40 g protein = 10:1. Lower is better for this ratio.
This rating measures protein relative to calories—not every aspect of nutrition. Fiber, vitamins, minerals, sodium and the rest of your day still matter.
Cost: $ = usually under $10, $$ = about $10–25, $$$ = over $25 per serving. Dollar ranges are planning estimates, not current quotes; tax, tip and delivery are extra. Taste reflects my preferences—yours may differ.
Your options
Calories and protein cover the exact serving shown, not every possible add-on. ≈ means estimated. My published meal figures are carried over from the Healthy Swaps page; check current menus and labels. Nutrition also includes variety, fiber, produce and sodium—not just these two numbers.
No matching option here yet. Choose “Any” to see the foods available for this craving.
What Are You Buying? What Are You Sacrificing?
Compare your options using the original four-way framework from Cut the Crap.
Does it meet your body's needs?
Will you enjoy it enough to repeat?
Does it fit the time and situation?
Is it worth the money?
No automatic winner: compare the actual meal, your budget and your circumstances. Homemade is often easier to customize, but not necessarily best for everyone.
Make today's decision. Understand the bigger picture.
This tool helps you choose a meal right now. The chapter “What Are You Buying? What Are You Sacrificing?” in Cut the Crap explains the philosophy behind these choices and how to apply it throughout your life.
Get Cut the CrapThe tool is free. The book provides the bigger picture.
Some purchase buttons are paid links reused from my Healthy Swaps page. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Grocery search links help you locate the named item; availability and prices vary. No purchase is required to use this tool.
Last content update: November 11, 2026. Food needs and portions differ. Use the specific product label or current restaurant guide when logging your meal.