July 21 – National Junk Food Day

Posted on July 21, 2016

You probably know that junk is another word for rubbish, for worthless items (unless it's the name for a flat-bottomed sailing ship from China).

So junk food is food that has low nutritional value. Foods with little or no protein and few needed vitamins and minerals are likely to be high in the kinds of things we too easily overeat—saturated fats, simple sugars, salt.

Actually, when we use the term junk food, we are generally thinking of packaged snacks or desserts, rather than elaborate homemade desserts or appetizers. We're thinking Doritos, not homemade cheddar cheese straws, or Hostess Cup Cakes, not a decadent bakery chocolate cake with fudge-and-pecan frosting.

The thing is, eating junk food once in a while can be fun – and a lot of junk food is really tasty. The key is – just do it once in a while! Most of what you eat and drink should be healthy and nutritious, as well as delicious.

Once a year, on National Junk Food Day, you get to eat all junk food, all day. The good news is, you'll probably be sick to your tummy by the end of the day, and you will be so ready to good food tomorrow!

What are your favorite junk foods? Here are a few of mine: