Do you dream of getting comfortable with a bag of crunchy, salty potato chips? Do you ever wish you could eat unlimited amounts of chocolate and experience no guilt at all? Today is your chance to feel good about indulging. July 21 is National Junk Food Day! Yes, you read right- it’s your lucky day. You can give in to your junk food cravings because you’re being a joiner- you are participating in a national tradition, and who would fault you for that? Not me, that’s for sure. I say go for it!
Junk food is classified as food with little or no nutritional value that is also high in fat, sugar, salt, and calories.The origins of this day are unclear, maybe it was started by junk food junkies who wanted a day to justify indulging in the delicious empty calories they crave, or maybe it was a day set aside by nutritionists saying that it’s okay to designate one day a year to give in and enjoy some not so healthful treats. Maybe it was dentists? Whatever the intention behind it, I’m sure it’s a day that is appreciated by many. The average American eats 25 pounds of candy and 45 slices of pizza each year.
Of course it’s extremely important to take care of our bodies and that always includes eating well. The FDA has a website choosemyplate.gov that can direct you on how to ensure that your diet includes the proper amounts of each food group each day. But everyone needs a treat once in a while, and in fact, treats should be part of your regular food repertoire so that feeling deprived won’t make you despair and ditch the whole healthy eating plan for good. It’s also important to keep in mind that food that is good for you can also taste delicious and that healthy alternatives to not-so-healthy treats do exist. But enough about healthy eating- today is a day to celebrate junk food, so eat the real thing and don’t feel bad at all. Which is another important point about healthy eating and junk food- when you decide to eat that sticky/greasy/sweet/salty/crunchy whatever does it for you, make sure you enjoy every bite. If you’re going to eat the whole piece of chocolate cake, or enjoy a triple-scoop of ice cream with all the toppings, wouldn’t it be a waste if you ruined the delicious experience with a serving of guilt? And today is a day to indulge without guilt, so make the most of it! How will you celebrate National Junk Food Day?
