Junk Food

Beware eating calories for energy… it's a "junk diet"

Because junk really means "of little or no significance," we may need to reconsider calling some of these foods "junk foods".
The term "junk food" refers primarily to foods which contain a lot of calories in the form of fat and sugar and relatively few other nutrients. Some foods which have been labeled as junk include: pizza, hamburgers, french fries, ready-to-eat cereals, ice cream, candy, gum and soft drinks. Because junk really means "of little or no significance," we may need to reconsider calling some of these foods junk foods.

For the most part, nutritionists agree that no food is truly worthless. There are, however, foods with limited nutritional value. If a food contains large amounts of sugar or fat, its nutritional value may be low. These high fat, high sugar foods contain a lot of calories but few nutrients.

Look for nutritional balance…

A better use of the term "junk" would be to describe total diets rather than particular foods. A diet made up mainly of foods containing calories for energy but lacking in protein, vitamins and minerals would be a poor diet, or a junk diet, because it would not help insure good health.

Choose from a variety of "good" foods…

Proper selection of a variety of foods which contain recommended nutrients is the best way to meet your body's needs. These nutritious foods include fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, milk, milk products, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans and peas. If you need additional calories, you can get them by eating nutritious foods that are higher in calories but provide other nutrients as well.

For more information on junk food contact your local County Extension Office.