Why should I avoid eating junk food?

Junk foods consist of foods with little to no nutriitional value. These foods are typically high in fats, sugars, and calories and are basically empty calories. When planning your nutritional menu it is important to include foods from all categories such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, meat,and milk. Fats and sugars should be consumed in moderation.

Besides contributing what we call “empty calories” (calories without much nutritional value behind them) to your intake, junk food also does less to satisfy you. When it comes to managing your weight, managing hunger is a key priority. Junk food is often full of salt, sugar, fat and calories, and lighter on protein and fiber. It’s often the perfect combination of salt, fat and sugar that makes junk food taste so good; while protein and fiber can however go a long way in creating a sense of fullness from a healthy snack or meal. Junk foods are temporarily satisfying and encourage your body to work for more of them. This leads to more cravings for these types of foods and an increase in the calories you consume, and therefore an adverse affect on your waistline.

It’s important to be sure you don’t feel deprived and allow yourself a treat now and then but junk food should not be a regular part of your week. It can ultimately lead to weight gain because they don’t serve to control hunger relative to their healthier counterparts.