We all have our bad habits and mine was McDonald’s.

Driving home for the weekend? Going to stop at McDonald’s. Driving home from Target? Better get some McNuggets. Studying late at the library? Need some fries and a McChiken. McDonald's was more of a staple food in my diet than water or Rosé. It was cheap, fast and always exactly what I needed at 1 AM. My addiction to McDonald’s got so bad that it was practically all I ate for two weeks straight. How did I get to this point you are wondering? Well, it was a couple of things… First of all, the kitchen at the sorority house closes at 6, but just because it’s not open does not mean I won’t get hungry. Secondly, instant Mac n’ cheese cups, my other main food group, can only fill me up so much. Finally, fries. I was constantly craving McDonald’s fries because who isn’t?

But while I couldn’t stay away from America’s favorite fast food I also couldn’t stay away from the bathroom. Just one of the ways constant greasy sandwiches were ruining my life. Speaking of greasy, my skin was becoming as oily as the food I was eating and that was NOT a good look in flash pictures.

It quickly became clear I needed help when I would ask my roommates who wanted to stop at McDonald’s and they responded with “we already went once with you today!”. So I turned to the experts to help me in my time of need; my roommates. Trying to devise a workable game-plan to keep me away was no easy task, but they came up with the most ingenious plan.

A bet.

I had to go a whole month without ANY fast food because if it wasn’t McDonald’s my paycheck was going to it would be Jimmy Johns or Wendy’s. The loser had to buy the other a meal of their choice. And if there is anything college kids hate more than group projects, it’s picking up the tab at dinner.

The first week wasn’t so bad, I was well stocked on box macaroni and cheese, but like all good things that came to an end. Week two was long and withdrawal symptoms were hitting me hard and I had to resort to ‘adult’ grocery shopping. I looked like a deer in headlights in the fruits and veggies section trying to tell myself ‘this is for your own good’ and proceeding to call my mom four separate times to ask different questions about chicken.

That following weekend though my bestie was kind enough to give me one cheat night and we headed over to Wheel Pizza after a night out. Week three rolled around and I had now become the master of packing snacks for class and making spaghetti with meatballs. I finally also found the courage to prepare and bake raw chicken, I then contemplated going to culinary school after that I was so proud. Week four showed up and I was in the home stretch! I ended up going home to Minnesota for a long weekend so I would have good ol’ home cooking all weekend long. And on my drive back to Kansas I realized something very important. I had just won the bet! So to celebrate, of course, I stopped for some victory McDonald’s.

However, it didn’t taste as sweet as I hoped it would, in fact, it tasted like slightly undercooked soggy chicken and burnt oil and made me feel faintly nauseous. So I constantly chugged water on the rest of the drive to compensate for the poison I just ate. When I arrived in Lawrence I promptly went over to my besties house to rub it in her face she owed me a meal and this is how the conversation went:

Me: I would like to thank not only God but Jesus as well as my parents and mom and dad for this amazing moment. They said I couldn’t do it, they didn’t want to see me succeed but here I am!

Her: Wow. I’m surprised, I didn’t think you would make it! Have you eaten McDonald’s yet?

Me: Yes.

Her: And?

Me: I could go another month or two or twelve without it.

Her: YAY!

So long story short she is buying me Cheesecake Factory this weekend and I’ll be the prettiest date she’s ever had because I’m no longer oily in pictures.

Thanks, Cass, love ya!