Fun Holiday – Junk Food Day

Junk food is a term used to refer to food that has a lot of calories but very little or no nutritional value. Popularized in the United States in the 1950s, the word is widely used for foods that are heavily processed, and have high amounts of sugars, fats, and salt.

Studies have shown that consuming junk food once-in-a-while does not have a negative effect on health - it is only when one eats junk food for a majority of their meals that their diet can be considered unhealthy. Consuming large amounts of foods considered to be junk, can lead to several health problems, including a high risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart issues.

Different Definitions

Different cultures have their own different definition of what constitutes junk food - what may be junk food in one culture, may be considered nutritional food in another. Many people believe that fast food is usually junk food, though some kinds of fast food are prepared in a healthy way and can be very nutritional.

How to Celebrate?

• Have junk food for all your meals!
• Start the day with your favorite junk food – may we suggest several slices of bacon and an egg omelet wedged between two slices of a glazed donut washed down with a big glass of orange soda? If someone questions your choice, you can always point out to the fact that eggs, bacon, donuts, and orange juice are all breakfast items.
• Have a potato chip sandwich for lunch and a waffle burger – a burger between two waffles – for dinner.

Did You Know...

...that the first cotton candy (candy floss or fairy floss) machine was invented by a dentist? Dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton created the machine in 1897 and introduced it to the public at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. Made out of pure sugar and some flavorings, cotton candy is widely considered to be a junk food.