I made a different radical change in my diet: I doubled down on my love of food. Instead of getting jazzed by Taco Bell and Mountain Dew, now I savor for sautéed spinach and salmon. A major portion of my life now does resolve around food, including cooking, shopping and learning; that mindfulness and focus on quality allowed me to drop fifty-ish pounds in 4 months. (The cost difference of eating out and buying high-quality groceries is a wash, though.)
I say this not to vilify calorie-counting, just to illustrate that there are many valid approaches to health awareness. The most important things, I think, are to be mindful, to experiment, and to choose a lifestyle that is enjoyable and sustainable, rather than one of puritannical self-flagellation and inevitable binging.
I think there's a component of this to what I'm doing. My wife and I are often making very healthy, high-quality meals instead of fast food as you suggest. I don't think that has to equal more calories or any less enjoyment of food.
I say this not to vilify calorie-counting, just to illustrate that there are many valid approaches to health awareness. The most important things, I think, are to be mindful, to experiment, and to choose a lifestyle that is enjoyable and sustainable, rather than one of puritannical self-flagellation and inevitable binging.