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Most of us eat junk food from time to time. Some people seem to live on
it. But what is it and why is it bad?
Junk food is food that contains a high level of sugar, saturated fat,
salt and additives.
Sugar is sweet. Obvious I
guess but still important to point it out. It makes food that we may not
like that much taste good. Foods with a high sugar content are biscuits,
sweets, chocolate, jelly, jam, many relishes such as ketchup, Sunny Delight,
even some breakfast cereals contain a high level of sugar. Did you know
that Sugar Puffs contain 49% sugar!
 Fat
is added to many foods because it improves taste. It also bulks up foods.
Foods that contain a high level of fat are burgers, chips, biscuits, ice
cream, cheese, and most foods coated in bread crumbs.
Salt improves flavour and
is regularly used in the kitchen and by food manufacturers. Once you get
the taste for salt, food without it seems bland. Foods that contain salt
are biscuits, relishes, some breakfast cereals, Pot Noodles, crisps, salted
peanuts, most ready meals and, of course, we may add it to our food on
the table.
Over 3000 chemicals are available to food manufactures and additives are
found in 68% of children’s food. Additives improve the flavour, colour
and texture of food. E numbers are found in most processed food we eat.
Why is it bad?
Sugar contributes to tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity. Salt can contribute
to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Too much fat in
the diet can lead to obesity and heart disease. Although many additives
are harmless they can provoke allergic reactions.
Healthy snacks
Nuts (not salted). Roast them in a dry pan for a couple of minutes.
This will really bring out the flavour.
Fruit cheap tasty and healthy. The perfect convenience food.
Drink plenty of water, rather than drinks containing sugar.
Toast.
Homemade pop corn.
Sandwiches
Remember that healthy eating is only part of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise,
sleep, stress, not smoking, moderate alcohol intake, genetics and a little
bit of luck all have an important part to play in remaining happy and
healthy.
Back to
Veggin Out index
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Which foods are the baddies?
I do not consider that any food should be off limits altogether. I am
rather partial to a plate of chips and a veggie burger myself with a good
dollop of ketchup! The following do not need to be avoided altogether,
they may also contain ingredients that are good. What we should do is
to make sure we don’t live off them.
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Food
|
Fat
|
Sugar
|
Salt
|
Additives
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good
bits?
|
|
chips
|
x
|
|
x
|
|
fibre
|
|
burgers
|
x
|
|
x
|
|
protein,
fibre
|
|
milkshake
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
|
calcium
|
|
chocolate
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
|
iron
|
|
cakes
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
iron
in fruit cake
|
|
biscuits
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
very
little!
|
|
cheese
|
x
|
|
x
|
|
calcium,
protein
|
|
fried
food
|
x
|
|
x
|
|
depends
on what is fried
|
|
sweets
|
|
x
|
|
x
|
none
|
|
salted
peanuts
|
x
|
|
x
|
|
protein,
vitmins, folic acid
|
|
fizzy
drinks
|
|
x
|
|
x
|
none
|
|
jam
|
|
x
|
|
|
very
little
|
|
ice
cream
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
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calcium
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But
they taste so good! I know that but they are not the only food that tastes
good! And taste is not the only factor that attracts us, clever advertising
plays a part.
Here are some of their tricks.
1. Make the product finger friendly. Have you ever noticed how many foods
are consumable without a knife and fork or at least with the minimum fuss?
2. Bright colours on the packet.
3. Use of characters such as a clown.
4. Marketing them as healthy or energy boosting.
5. Endorsement by a famous person.
6. Loyalty schemes. Collect the token to claim the prize.
So what do we do? We seem to be surrounded by clever advertising and tasty
junk food. Is eating healthily such an impossible challenge? NO IT’S
NOT. (promise) And it does not mean giving up all your favourite treats
either.
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