food junkie review essay

OWU Nutrition: Food, Culture, & Society

Junk or soul : a lens into what soul food really represents.

Summary of Film

“Soul Food Junkies” is primarily set in the deep south of Atlanta, Georgia. The documentary is narrated by Byron Hurt as he proceeds to understand why his father’s struggled to give up Soul Food even after getting sick. “My father went from being young and fit to nearly growing twice his size”(0:01:36), Hurt recalls.  Therefore, his father’s struggle with food, made him want to explore black people’s relationship to food. Specifically: The History of Soul Food, Where Soul  Food came from, Why Soul Food is so important to Black Cultural Identity. Hurt’s father, Jackie Hurt passed away in 2004 from Pancreatic Cancer at age 63.

Storylines in  “Soul Food Junkies” : 

“Soul Food Junkies” recounts the story of Byron Hurt’s father at the same time it details the lives of others who have had similar cultural experiences. The film also highlights important people in the soul food and food equity movements. Ms. Peaches from Washington DC is an extraordinary figure, embodying how food activism and civil rights blend. She runs “Peaches,” a restaurant that fed freedom riders, protesters, and civil rights leaders during the March on Washington. She could not pay her bills, but she still fed folks. Peaches believes that “the ability to cook gave [her power].” In another case, Saint Philip’s School in New Jersey is creating change in the food movement for people of color. The school is in a predominantly black neighborhood and serves whole, healthy foods, teaching its young students about food diets, food racism, how to eat healthily, and how to grow your own food. Their program is creating healthy, knowledgeable, and equity-oriented young people.

Aim of “Soul Food Junkies”:

“Soul Food Junkies” aims to explore the questions: “How did Southern food become soul food? Is soul food causing illness in [the black community]?, and Is soul food good or bad for you?” (Hurt). As it explores these questions, the documentary discusses how intermixed black culture and soul food are. One unnamed interviewee said simply: “soul food is black.” The documentary examines the role of food and health-related inequities in the black community as well as the way that food can unify people, creating the possibility for genuine community.

Ideologies of “Soul Food Junkies”:

Important ideologies of “Soul Food Junkies” include: food racism is apparent and rampant in the US, healthy foods need to be accessible, and food and historical education are essential to building a just society.

History of Soul Food:

Soul Food has a long history for African Americans, which stems from the roots of slavery. Blacks were often slaves on plantations during the early 50’s and 60’s. As a result, they had to work twice as hard to indicate their existence. From the film, Soul Food represents the main themes of Love, Togetherness, and Culture. Slavery presented this idea of an economically based system where slave traders studied the slaves they captured and fed them staple crops on plantations such as corn, rice, or yams. This description represents how black people particularly black slaves endured daily constant life struggle.

Slaves often grew their own food, worked long hours both day and night, and were extremely exhausted by the end of the day. They often had to work for their food and provide it for themselves. Hunting and Fishing techniques originated from Africa and were often done with hand-crafted tools. 

One of the key supporting narratives in the film was that of Food Historian and Author, Dr. Jessica Harris, whose primary job is to educate the public with historically accurate information. This is her take on slavery and what that looked like for African Americans in relation to race and economy: “ Slavery may have been racially based but, it was an economic proposition. It wasn’t economic to put all those people in a ship. ” (05:48)

(Thomas, 2017)

Racism in Relation to Food:

Soul food is sometimes known as slave food because, as explained in the “History of Soul Food,” it was created in the context of slavery. In other words, soul food is a product of historical racism. At the same time and partly because of the centrality of soul food (as well as limited access to healthy whole foods), black people and people of color are much more likely to get health-related diseases. For example, Hurt’s father died of pancreatic cancer, and black people are 50-90% more likely to get pancreatic cancer (Johns Hopkins). These illnesses are not fully genetic; they are also caused by systemic/institutional racism. Our society as a whole is systemically racist, which is another way of saying that there are laws, cultural customs, and forms of social organization that benefit white people more than people of color.  This is overtly demonstrated by the presence of food deserts. A food desert is a neighborhood that has very few or no healthy food options; residents will often be forced to buy produce from corner stores or even liquor stores because there is a scarcity of grocery stores. Too frequently, it is impossible to buy healthy food in these areas. And we need to contend with the fact that “23.5 million Americans, 6.5 million of them being children, live in food deserts” (Michele Obama, quoted at a Let’s Move conference). The majority of these people who live in food deserts are people of color. This is a byproduct of structural racism (backed up by the Structuralist ideology), and the food deserts contribute to a sort of black genocide. We need to find ways to bring organic, whole, high quality, and affordable produce to predominantly black and brown neighborhoods.

(Cannon, 2020)

Foodways and Food Systems of African Americans: 

Soul food relates to Foodways because African Americans have specific customs and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. In the eyes of Soul Food from the film, examples of fresh grown produce, grandma’s mac and cheese, and fried chicken provide a learned experience of what Soul Food means. Cooking together as a family and washing fresh produce by hand like collard greens, for example, provides interactions between families that are able to be passed on from generation to generation. Customs create this representation of cultural traditions and how they impact culture. This film displayed the principle of food as being symbolic, social, and brought in the idea of social constructionism really well through people’s personal experiences.

(Vining, 2012)

Opinion of “Soul Food Junkies”:

Sarah: “ This documentary was a very fascinating lens into Soul Food and Black Culture. The representation throughout the film of how black people interact with each other, eat, and the history behind Soul Food was absolutely amazing to watch unfold. The film showed a very interactive lens of soul food with its storytelling. Having people from the community made it special to the individual telling their story and personal experiences. I really enjoyed this film and its message as it relates to health. It allowed a lens that is most talked about: the health of African Americans, and presented it in a way that was inspiring and engaging for the audience. I also agree that this is a must-watch film for all ages and races, to really understand the history of African Americans.”

Eva: “ This documentary is a must-watch if you care about social inequity. It was incredibly fascinating. I did not know the full origins of soul food. I am currently reading “Pig Tails n Breadfruit” by Austin Clarke for another class, and that novel helped me learn that soul food is slave food– but this documentary explained to me how and why this is the case. Soul food is so dynamic, and there are many facets to it. It can unify communities, cause health problems, and evidence a history of societal racism, but it can also demonstrate the care and love people have for others. Soul food has an amazing history and is essential to being both American and Black. It is such a powerful food tradition and this documentary lets you in on a piece of history that everyone should know. I highly recommend it. “Soul Food Junkies” made me realize how much work needs to be done to create equity at the intersection of race and food. The documentary also showed me the powerful cultural significance of food; if certain food traditions disappeared, a culture might fray or fall apart.”

References:

Blue, Angela. The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Deserts . 2 June 2020, https://foodbankonline.org/2020/06/02/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-food-deserts/.

Clarke, Austin. Pig Tails ’N Breadfruit: A Culinary Memoir . New Press, 2000.

Hurt, Byron. Soul Food Junkies . God Bless the Child Productions, 2012.

The Caribbean Camera Inc. Why Eat Slave Plantation Food ? 31 Aug. 2017, https://thecaribbeancamera.com/eat-slave-plantation-food/.

Vining, Lynn, and View my complete profile. Southern With A Twist . https://lynn-southernwithatwist.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-is-soul-food.html.

Peartree, M. (2021, February 19). “ Everything You Need To Know About Soul Food, According To Chef Millie Peartree” .Retrieved from: https://www.delish.com/food-news/a26356466/what-is-soul-food/.

Robinson, C. K. (2015, October 29). “Soul Food Junkies” sheds light on food-based apartheid in the U.S.” People’s World. Retrieved from: https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/soul-food-junkies-sheds-light-on-food-based-apartheid-in-the-u-s/. 

Durden, L.(Producer), & Hurt, B (Director).,Gonzalez-Martinez, S. Nelson, S. (Filmmakers). (2012). Soul Food Junkies [Motion Picture]. Media Education Foundation. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from:

https://owu.kanopy.com/video/soul-food-junkies

Feature Image:

Durden, L. (Producer), & Hurt, B. (Director). (2012). “Soul Food Junkies” Amazon . Retrieved from:

https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Food-Junkies-Byron-Hurt/dp/B00B0TO14G

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Dr. Vera Tarman – Author, Speaker & Food Addiction Expert

Sugarfree for Life Support Group I’m Sweet Enough Challenge!

Book: Review Food Junkies: The Truth About Food Addiction

March 9, 2015 Posted by Ken Swann

I have always loved candy, cake, pie, and chips, and on many occasions these are the things I substituted for my regular meals. I got away with it for years because I had always been pretty skinny as a kid and it didn’t really seem to have much of an effect on me until I started to get older and decided to quit smoking. I didn’t know what to do with myself; I was dying for a cigarette but instead kept running back and forth to the fridge eating one thing after another all night long. I was out of control and quickly gained a lot of weight around my stomach. After a few short months I had gained almost 30 pounds and my pants were-bent forward in the front where my belly stuck out, I was in trouble and I knew that if I didn’t make changes soon that my situation was only going to get worse.

This month I have chosen to do a book review on “Food Junkies” by Dr. Vera Tarman and Philip Werdell whose purpose is to present a fact-based examination of food addiction and offer vital information to the many individuals who struggle with unwanted eating behaviors.

Let’s start off by taking a look at the outside of the book first. The front cover presents the title “Food Junkies” in large print and underneath has an illustration of a pile of donuts covered in syrup possibly as an example of what junk food is or could be, it also has the name of the author and consultant at the bottom below the illustration. The back cover has a brief description of the book presented by the author and below that gives a short bio on both the author and consultant as well.

Looking inside the book we find that it is 242 pages long, has a preface and gives an opening introduction about the book. Continuing inside we find that there are 15 chapters which includes many stories from individuals as well as various information which has been compiled by the author and consultant. At the end of the book there is an epilogue and a closing statement, acknowledgements, notes, a bibliography and index. The printing of the book is fairly large which allows for easy reading while each paragraph is approximately 7 or 8 lines in length.

What makes this book stand out for me is the fact that it not only talks about the men and women suffering from food compulsions and addictions but also about the people who have found effective solutions for themselves. Whether its Mary or Ellen, Laura or Lawrence, Ruthann or Martha, you will be introduced to people who are struggling with this disease and hear their stories.

What caught my attention while going through the book was that these people suffering from food addiction weren’t like other people, like the normal people, no they were more like addicts and alcoholics with little or no control to stop once they got started.

Having had my own problems with drug addiction I thought that it was only drugs that I reacted to so addictively, but it wasn’t. I discovered that it didn’t matter what the substance or food, I always wanted more and more. My substance of choice may have been drugs but I could just as easily sit down and eat fifty cookies, and did many times. I seem to suffer from the disease of always wanting more and maybe the people in this book did as well?

This book offers a solution and their message is simple, if you see yourself as a food addict you must treat your trigger foods as a drug. They believe that by applying the principles of addiction to these destructive eating patterns could be the missing piece of the puzzle. It goes on to say that the most successful treatment for any drug addiction from alcohol to drugs to food is abstinence from the trigger substance.

Our addicted brain is wired to crave more as soon as even the smallest amount has entered our system. At the end of the book Dr. Tarman reveals that her intention is to instill hope based on her personal and clinical experience. She states that addiction of any kind has no cure, there is only a daily reprieve from its course, our job is to avoid the first bite, food sobriety can become food serenity.

So how did I solve my own problem of eating junk food instead of regular meals? For me it was the same solution this book talks about, complete abstinence. I got rid of every bit of junk food in the house, changed my diet and started working out a few times a week. For me the answer was simple, if it wasn’t there then I wasn’t going to eat it. This is something that I need to implement for the rest of my life.

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Take This Test and Learn How to Make Your Writing More Interesting

Student Project: Junk Food Junkies

• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

One way to make our writing more vivid and interesting is to add examples that support the main point. The following student  paragraph is clearly organized and effectively developed with specific examples. The one thing the paragraph lacks is a satisfactory concluding sentence. Respond to the questions that follow "Junk Food Junkie" and see if you can come up with a good ending for the paragraph.

Junk Food Junkie

I confess: I am the worst junk food junkie in this great gluttonous galaxy of sugar, salt, and fat. You can keep your lentils, granola, and prunes. I want calories and carbohydrates, burgers and fries. Within minutes after waking up grouchy and puffy-eyed in the morning, I stumble to the kitchen and pour myself a tall glass of ice-cold Pepsi. Ahh! My tongue tingles and my eyes pop open. I then have the energy to eat. I rummage through the refrigerator, push aside the yogurt and apples, and there it is: a slice of congealed pepperoni pizza. That's enough to get me off to school and through my first class. Of course, I then head to the store on my first break for a Snickers bar and a Diet Mountain Dew. The "lite" soft drink, you see, compensates for the calories in the candy. An hour or two later, for lunch, I gobble down a row of Golden Double Stuf Oreos and a peanut butter sandwich, all sloshed down with a pint of chocolate milk. Later in the afternoon, I stop at Five Guys to devour a double bacon cheeseburger and a monster order of sodium-loaded fries. Finally, before going to bed, I knock off a bag of Philly Cheese Steak Rippled Potato Chips—dripping with onion dip.

Study Questions

• The writer uses a chronological order to organize her examples. List the time transitions that you find in the paragraph.
• Identify the short sentences used by the writer to guide us from the Pepsi example to the pizza example.
• What sentence does the writer use to guide us from the pizza example to the next example?
• Create a sentence that you think would conclude this sentence effectively.

Sample Responses

Here are examples of one student's response to the four study questions:

(1) The time transitions in this paragraph include "Within minutes after waking," "then," "An hour or two later," "Later," and "Finally."

(2) and (3) These sentences should be easy to spot: - "Ahh! My tongue tingles and my eyes pop open. I then have the energy to eat." - "That's enough to get me off to school and through my first class."

(4) Various answers are possible. Here's the concluding sentence that appeared in the student's original paragraph: "Only then do I drift off to sleep, counting onion rings in the deep fry and hot dogs on the grill."

Note that complete sentences, as well as individual words and phrases, can be used to make smooth transitions in a paragraph.

• How to Write a Good Descriptive Paragraph
• Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
• How to Find the Main Idea
• Cohesion Strategies: A List of Transitional Words and Phrases
• How to Write a Paragraph Developed With Reasons
• Practice Composing Effective Topic Sentences
• Sentence Combining #3: Martha's Departure
• What Is Cohesion in Composition?
• Paragraph Unity: Guidelines, Examples, and Exercises
• Bogus Writing Rules
• Definition and Examples of Climactic Order in Composition and Speech
• Model Place Descriptions
• College Essay Style Tips
• Nutritional and Nutritious
• Coherence in Composition
• Whimperative (Sentence Types)

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On orthorexia nervosa: A review of the literature and proposed diagnostic criteria

Affiliations.

• 1 Campus Box 94, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
• 2 California Pacific Medical Center, 3700 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
• PMID: 26724459
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.12.006

There has been a growing interest among clinicians and researchers about a condition where people restrict their diet based not on quantity of food they consume, but based on its quality. Bratman (1997) coined the term "orthorexia nervosa" to describe people whose extreme diets - intended for health reasons - are in fact leading to malnutrition and/or impairment of daily functioning. There has also recently been intense media interest in people whose highly restrictive "healthy" diet leads to disordered eating. Despite this condition being first described in the U.S., and receiving recent media interest here, orthorexia has largely gone unnoticed in the North American literature. This review article details the literature of orthorexia nervosa, describing its emergence as a condition first described by a physician in a yoga magazine, to its being discussed in the scientific literature. It also reviews prevalence studies and discusses marked shortcomings in the literature. Finally, diagnostic criteria are proposed, as are future directions for research.

Keywords: Eating disorders; Orthorexia nervosa; Unhealthy eating.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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“Soul Food Junkies” sheds light on food-based apartheid in the U.S.

Recently Netflix, the international provider of on-demand internet streaming media, has added a variety of new programming to its options for subscribers. One of those new options is an independent documentary, produced by Byron Hurt, entitled Soul Food Junkies . The documentary deals with the question of eating habits within the African-American community and the often tumultuous relationship between healthy living and tradition. It is a documentary that deserves a look at not only for how well done it is, but also the larger question it raises of how, even food, is not only personal, but political, given who has access to healthy options .

Within this documentary Hurt, an American activist, lecturer, writer, and award-winning documentary filmmaker, explores the origins of soul food, the cuisine often associated with black people who live in the southern region of the United States of America, its impact on the health of African Americans, and whether or not black people, as a community, are “soul food junkies”. Although the documentary begins as one gearing towards the exploration of soul food, it soon takes a poignant turn in serving as a jumping off point to the larger conversation of the industrialization of the food industry, and its impact on proper food access to working class communities that are predominately African-American.

Hurt’s incentive behind making the documentary is the loss of his father to pancreatic cancer. Hurt wonders if his father, a man who loved to eat enormous amounts of soul food all his life, fell victim to the health problems that unhealthy eating can generate. Hurt believes his father was addicted to soul food, and just like his father fell ill, Hurt believes many within the black community continue to fall victim to same health problems that an unhealthy diet can create.

Soul Food is a modern term associated with cuisine that originated during the era of slavery in the United States. It consists of meals created by African Americans who were enslaved during this era, who were often given the scraps of food left over from their slave masters. From these scraps, and other materials harvested by the enslaved Africans, a variety of colorful, unique, and delicious meals were created. Hurt speaks to a variety of historians and activists to expound on the origins of soul food and how it’s able to still resonate in the black community today. He learns that the term soul food actually originated during the mid-1960s Black Power movement as a way to identify such a staple of black culture. Through the variety of interviews Hurt gets a sense that this kind of food was seen as a source of pride within the black community, yet, as the documentary continues, it has become evident to Hurt that what constitutes as soul food, (often meat based with high fat content), could also be seen as one of the detriments to health for many within this community. These detriments include a number of ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

As StateofObesity.org found in their special report Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obesity, “African American adults are nearly 1.5 times as likely to be obese compared with White adults. Approximately 47.8 percent of African Americans are obese (including 37.1 percent of men and 56.6 percent of women) compared with 32.6 percent of Whites (including 32.4 percent of men and 32.8 percent of women).”

When looking at facts similar to the one just mentioned, Hurt explains that it can be easy to point the finger towards soul food alone when it comes to the health issues blacks face, and concluding that it is individual choices to eat unhealthy forms of traditional food that has created the so called obesity epidemic within the black community. Yet, Hurt goes on to interview a variety of activists who point to other, more systemic, factors that come into play.

Food justice advocate and author of “Vegan Soul Kitchen,” Bryant Terry, explains that people need to, “complicate their understanding of soul food,” and that it would be easy to say that soul food is the bane of African American health, but that the “bigger issue is the industrialization of our food system,” and how this happened four to five decades ago. Terry asserts that corporations are in the habit of making mass produced fast and cheap foods, with adverse health results for those that consume them.

Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, who is a professor and author, brings up the term “food deserts”. Food deserts is a term to refer to parts of the country that lack fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy whole foods. These food deserts are often in impoverished areas. Hill explains that many of these food deserts are populated by African Americans, and that this lack of access to healthy food has been normalized in the United States. Hill states that there is, “no better example of racism in the 21 st century than the relationship between black people and access to healthy foods… You want a 21 st century genocide, all you have to do is keep doing what we’re doing and deprive people of access to healthy food.”

As the Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Obesity report explains, “Lower-incomes and poverty correlate strongly with an increase in obesity, since less nutritious, calorie-dense foods are often less expensive than healthier foods. African-American families have earned $1 for every $2 earned by White families for the past 30 years.”

Hurt’s film goes on to show ways in which those in impoverished communities are attempting to lead healthier lifestyles by growing their own food, along with advocating for better access to higher quality supermarkets. The film shows that healthy living isn’t just an individual choice, but is affected by the very system under which we live.

The documentary can currently be found on Netflix, and will re-air on PBS on Monday, December 7, 2015.

Soul Food Junkies

Director: Byron Hurt

Writer: Byron Hurt

Runtime: 64 min 

CONTRIBUTOR

Chauncey K. Robinson is an award winning journalist and film critic. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, she has a strong love for storytelling and history. She believes narrative greatly influences the way we see the world, which is why she's all about dissecting and analyzing stories and culture to help inform and empower the people.

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Frontiers for Young Minds

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The Impacts of Junk Food on Health

Energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, otherwise known as junk foods, have never been more accessible and available. Young people are bombarded with unhealthy junk-food choices daily, and this can lead to life-long dietary habits that are difficult to undo. In this article, we explore the scientific evidence behind both the short-term and long-term impacts of junk food consumption on our health.

Introduction

The world is currently facing an obesity epidemic, which puts people at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Junk food can contribute to obesity and yet it is becoming a part of our everyday lives because of our fast-paced lifestyles. Life can be jam-packed when you are juggling school, sport, and hanging with friends and family! Junk food companies make food convenient, tasty, and affordable, so it has largely replaced preparing and eating healthy homemade meals. Junk foods include foods like burgers, fried chicken, and pizza from fast-food restaurants, as well as packaged foods like chips, biscuits, and ice-cream, sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, fatty meats like bacon, sugary cereals, and frozen ready meals like lasagne. These are typically highly processed foods , meaning several steps were involved in making the food, with a focus on making them tasty and thus easy to overeat. Unfortunately, junk foods provide lots of calories and energy, but little of the vital nutrients our bodies need to grow and be healthy, like proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Australian teenagers aged 14–18 years get more than 40% of their daily energy from these types of foods, which is concerning [ 1 ]. Junk foods are also known as discretionary foods , which means they are “not needed to meet nutrient requirements and do not belong to the five food groups” [ 2 ]. According to the dietary guidelines of Australian and many other countries, these five food groups are grains and cereals, vegetables and legumes, fruits, dairy and dairy alternatives, and meat and meat alternatives.

Young people are often the targets of sneaky advertising tactics by junk food companies, which show our heroes and icons promoting junk foods. In Australia, cricket, one of our favorite sports, is sponsored by a big fast-food brand. Elite athletes like cricket players are not fuelling their bodies with fried chicken, burgers, and fries! A study showed that adolescents aged 12–17 years view over 14.4 million food advertisements in a single year on popular websites, with cakes, cookies, and ice cream being the most frequently advertised products [ 3 ]. Another study examining YouTube videos popular amongst children reported that 38% of all ads involved a food or beverage and 56% of those food ads were for junk foods [ 4 ].

What Happens to Our Bodies Shortly After We Eat Junk Foods?

Food is made up of three major nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. There are also vitamins and minerals in food that support good health, growth, and development. Getting the proper nutrition is very important during our teenage years. However, when we eat junk foods, we are consuming high amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which are quickly absorbed by the body.

Let us take the example of eating a hamburger. A burger typically contains carbohydrates from the bun, proteins and fats from the beef patty, and fats from the cheese and sauce. On average, a burger from a fast-food chain contains 36–40% of your daily energy needs and this does not account for any chips or drinks consumed with it ( Figure 1 ). This is a large amount of food for the body to digest—not good if you are about to hit the cricket pitch!

• Figure 1 - The nutritional composition of a popular burger from a famous fast-food restaurant, detailing the average quantity per serving and per 100 g.
• The carbohydrates of a burger are mainly from the bun, while the protein comes from the beef patty. Large amounts of fat come from the cheese and sauce. Based on the Australian dietary guidelines, just one burger can be 36% of the recommended daily energy intake for teenage boys aged 12–15 years and 40% of the recommendations for teenage girls 12–15 years.

A few hours to a few days after eating rich, heavy foods such as a burger, unpleasant symptoms like tiredness, poor sleep, and even hunger can result ( Figure 2 ). Rather than providing an energy boost, junk foods can lead to a lack of energy. For a short time, sugar (a type of carbohydrate) makes people feel energized, happy, and upbeat as it is used by the body for energy. However, refined sugar , which is the type of sugar commonly found in junk foods, leads to a quick drop in blood sugar levels because it is digested quickly by the body. This can lead tiredness and cravings [ 5 ].

• Figure 2 - The short- and long-term impacts of junk food consumption.
• In the short-term, junk foods can make you feel tired, bloated, and unable to concentrate. Long-term, junk foods can lead to tooth decay and poor bowel habits. Junk foods can also lead to obesity and associated diseases such as heart disease. When junk foods are regularly consumed over long periods of time, the damages and complications to health are increasingly costly.

Fiber is a good carbohydrate commonly found in vegetables, fruits, barley, legumes, nuts, and seeds—foods from the five food groups. Fiber not only keeps the digestive system healthy, but also slows the stomach’s emptying process, keeping us feeling full for longer. Junk foods tend to lack fiber, so when we eat them, we notice decreasing energy and increasing hunger sooner.

Foods such as walnuts, berries, tuna, and green veggies can boost concentration levels. This is particularly important for young minds who are doing lots of schoolwork. These foods are what most elite athletes are eating! On the other hand, eating junk foods can lead to poor concentration. Eating junk foods can lead to swelling in the part of the brain that has a major role in memory. A study performed in humans showed that eating an unhealthy breakfast high in fat and sugar for 4 days in a row caused disruptions to the learning and memory parts of the brain [ 6 ].

Long-Term Impacts of Junk Foods

If we eat mostly junk foods over many weeks, months, or years, there can be several long-term impacts on health ( Figure 2 ). For example, high saturated fat intake is strongly linked with high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, which can be a sign of heart disease. Respected research studies found that young people who eat only small amounts of saturated fat have lower total cholesterol levels [ 7 ].

Frequent consumption of junk foods can also increase the risk of diseases such as hypertension and stroke. Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure and a stroke is damage to the brain from reduced blood supply, which prevents the brain from receiving the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. Hypertension and stroke can occur because of the high amounts of cholesterol and salt in junk foods.

Furthermore, junk foods can trigger the “happy hormone,” dopamine , to be released in the brain, making us feel good when we eat these foods. This can lead us to wanting more junk food to get that same happy feeling again [ 8 ]. Other long-term effects of eating too much junk food include tooth decay and constipation. Soft drinks, for instance, can cause tooth decay due to high amounts of sugar and acid that can wear down the protective tooth enamel. Junk foods are typically low in fiber too, which has negative consequences for gut health in the long term. Fiber forms the bulk of our poop and without it, it can be hard to poop!

Tips for Being Healthy

One way to figure out whether a food is a junk food is to think about how processed it is. When we think of foods in their whole and original forms, like a fresh tomato, a grain of rice, or milk squeezed from a cow, we can then start to imagine how many steps are involved to transform that whole food into something that is ready-to-eat, tasty, convenient, and has a long shelf life.

For teenagers 13–14 years old, the recommended daily energy intake is 8,200–9,900 kJ/day or 1,960 kcal-2,370 kcal/day for boys and 7,400–8,200 kJ/day or 1,770–1,960 kcal for girls, according to the Australian dietary guidelines. Of course, the more physically active you are, the higher your energy needs. Remember that junk foods are okay to eat occasionally, but they should not make up more than 10% of your daily energy intake. In a day, this may be a simple treat such as a small muffin or a few squares of chocolate. On a weekly basis, this might mean no more than two fast-food meals per week. The remaining 90% of food eaten should be from the five food groups.

In conclusion, we know that junk foods are tasty, affordable, and convenient. This makes it hard to limit the amount of junk food we eat. However, if junk foods become a staple of our diets, there can be negative impacts on our health. We should aim for high-fiber foods such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits; meals that have moderate amounts of sugar and salt; and calcium-rich and iron-rich foods. Healthy foods help to build strong bodies and brains. Limiting junk food intake can happen on an individual level, based on our food choices, or through government policies and health-promotion strategies. We need governments to stop junk food companies from advertising to young people, and we need their help to replace junk food restaurants with more healthy options. Researchers can focus on education and health promotion around healthy food options and can work with young people to develop solutions. If we all work together, we can help young people across the world to make food choices that will improve their short and long-term health.

Obesity : ↑ A disorder where too much body fat increases the risk of health problems.

Processed Food : ↑ A raw agricultural food that has undergone processes to be washed, ground, cleaned and/or cooked further.

Discretionary Food : ↑ Foods and drinks not necessary to provide the nutrients the body needs but that may add variety to a person’s diet (according to the Australian dietary guidelines).

Refined Sugar : ↑ Sugar that has been processed from raw sources such as sugar cane, sugar beets or corn.

Saturated Fat : ↑ A type of fat commonly eaten from animal sources such as beef, chicken and pork, which typically promotes the production of “bad” cholesterol in the body.

Dopamine : ↑ A hormone that is released when the brain is expecting a reward and is associated with activities that generate pleasure, such as eating or shopping.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

[1] ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2013. 4324.0.55.002 - Microdata: Australian Health Survey: Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2011-12 . Australian Bureau of Statistics. Available online at: http://bit.ly/2jkRRZO (accessed December 13, 2019).

[2] ↑ National Health and Medical Research Council. 2013. Australian Dietary Guidelines Summary . Canberra, ACT: National Health and Medical Research Council.

[3] ↑ Potvin Kent, M., and Pauzé, E. 2018. The frequency and healthfulness of food and beverages advertised on adolescents’ preferred web sites in Canada. J. Adolesc. Health. 63:102–7. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.01.007

[4] ↑ Tan, L., Ng, S. H., Omar, A., and Karupaiah, T. 2018. What’s on YouTube? A case study on food and beverage advertising in videos targeted at children on social media. Child Obes. 14:280–90. doi: 10.1089/chi.2018.0037

[5] ↑ Gómez-Pinilla, F. 2008. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 9, 568–78. doi: 10.1038/nrn2421

[6] ↑ Attuquayefio, T., Stevenson, R. J., Oaten, M. J., and Francis, H. M. 2017. A four-day western-style dietary intervention causes reductions in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory and interoceptive sensitivity. PLoS ONE . 12:e0172645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172645

[7] ↑ Te Morenga, L., and Montez, J. 2017. Health effects of saturated and trans-fatty acid intake in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 12:e0186672. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186672

[8] ↑ Reichelt, A. C. 2016. Adolescent maturational transitions in the prefrontal cortex and dopamine signaling as a risk factor for the development of obesity and high fat/high sugar diet induced cognitive deficits. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 10. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00189

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Essay on Junk Food: Samples in 150, 250 Words

• Updated on  
• Oct 5, 2023

Food is the main source of energy. It is important to consume healthy food. Any food product that contains a high percentage of saturated fats or trans fats is referred to as Junk food. The term junk itself indicates that it is harmful to our health. To lead a healthy lifestyle it is important to avoid the overconsumption of junk food. However, junk food has gained popularity because we consume it on a regular basis. Here we have provided an essay on junk food for children and school-going students. It will provide a general overview of how to draft an essay on junk food. Continue reading!

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Essay on Junk Food in 150 Words

Junk food has become a prevalent component of the modern diet. It is not only attracting the young generation but is also getting induced in their daily diet. Habitual consumption of junk food causes serious health issues because it is high in calorie content. Processed food with high content of saturated and trans fats, or high sugar content comes under this category.

Street food places and the majority of food chains and restaurants are serving food in high quantities, thereby reducing the consumption of healthier options. People are now prioritizing taste and neglecting the culinary diversity of traditional food.

Another aspect of the over-consumption of junk food is ordering food on a daily basis due to a busy schedule. Besides that, munching on snacks to satisfy hunger is another bad habit that leads to health issues. Such food products lack nutritional components such as dietary fibres, protein, vitamins, iron, etc. 

To conclude, health is an important part of life so, it is important to take care of healthy food habits and avoid the excess consumption of unhealthy or junk food.

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Essay on Junk Food in 250 Words

Junk food refers to the unhealthy food. Consumption of junk food such as pizzas, burgers, fried items, pastries, etc. has alarming consequences. Its effect is witnessed as the global obesity epidemic because the masses are more inclined towards eating junk food.

Impact of Consuming Junk Food

Food high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats contributes to weight gain. It will ultimately cause obesity. Obesity is the key source of other diseases that are difficult to cure. Some of the chronic diseases that occur due to the consumption of junk food are high risk of heart failure, GIT disorders, hypertension, diabetes, etc. So, it is crucial to eliminate or reduce the consumption of unhealthy food and replace it with nutritional food. 

Affordability

Another factor that contributes a lot in favour of a high intake of junk food is its affordability. Junk food is more accessible as it is available on the streets at a cheaper price. The price factor affects people who cannot afford healthier options. Thus, people tend to consume junk food that is comparatively more affordable and accessible.

Taste over Nutritional Value

Nowadays, people are more inclined towards enjoying the taste of food. It’s obvious that crispy and spicy food will attract you more as compared to salads and pulses i.e. much healthier options with high nutritional values. Consuming junk food on a regular basis has become common for many, and this has led to homogeneity in their diets. So, it’s important to choose the healthy option over a tastier option to minimize the negative health impact due to junk food.

In conclusion, having junk food occasionally is acceptable when you visit any party or celebrate any occasion. However, its regular consumption will disturb your dietary habits and also hamper your health for the long term.

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Junk food is processed and refined food products high in calories due to the high percentage of saturated and trans fats. Most restaurants generally serve junk food as they know that such food is popular among the young generation. However, it is not nutritious and also causes serious health issues such as obesity, diabetes, etc.

Following are 10 lines on junk food: Junk food does not possess nutritional value; It causes serious health illness; Junk food is mainly fried food products or packaged foods that have high-calorie content; It lacks dietary fibres; Heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, all such health issues are caused by junk food; Talking in terms of accessibility and affordability, then, such food items are cheaper as compared to healthier options; Excess availability of junk food in the market at cheaper rates is leading to a loss of culinary diversity; Over-consumption of junk food leads to anxiety, depression, and upset stomach; Junk food products are also high in sugar content causing harmful health effects, and Fast food chains and junk food brands are prevalent worldwide, homogenizing diets.

The 10 harmful effects of junk food are listed below; Cardiovascular disease; Obesity; Fatty liver; Hypertension; Diabetes; High cholesterol; Kidney damage; Weight gain; Addictive eating patterns, and Dental problems.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

Kajal Thareja

Hi, I am Kajal, a pharmacy graduate, currently pursuing management and is an experienced content writer. I have 2-years of writing experience in Ed-tech (digital marketing) company. I am passionate towards writing blogs and am on the path of discovering true potential professionally in the field of content marketing. I am engaged in writing creative content for students which is simple yet creative and engaging and leaves an impact on the reader's mind.

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Orthorexia Nervosa: An Obsession With Healthy Eating

Despite a focus on eating, orthorexia nervosa may lead to malnourishment, loss of relationships, and poor quality of life.

First named by Steven Bratman in 1997, orthorexia nervosa (ON) from the Greek ortho , meaning correct , and orexi , meaning appetite , is classified as an unspecified feeding and eating disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5). 1 , 2

HYPOTHETICAL CASE

Mr. P is a 30-year-old male who presented to the mental health clinic with his wife. The patient recounted that he had wanted to “be healthy” since childhood and has focused on exercise and proper diet, but anxiety about diet and food intake have steadily increased. Two years ago, he adopted a vegetarian diet by progressively eliminating several foods and food groups from his diet. He now feels “proud” to eat certain organically grown fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and drink only fruit or vegetable juice.

His wife stated that he spent between 3 and 5 hours daily preparing food or talking to friends and family about “correct foods to eat.” He also believed that errors in dietary habits caused physical or mental illnesses. He reported significant guilt and shame whenever he “slips up” on his dietary regimen and eats anything containing seafood, beef, or pork products, which he corrects by a day of fasting. His wife was frustrated because he refused to go to restaurants and started declining offers from friends to eat dinner at their homes unless he could bring his prepared food. He describes feeling “annoyed” when he sees other people eating fast food or meat.

Mr. P reported no significant medical or surgical history. His family history was significant for anxiety in his mother. He used to drink alcohol socially but ceased a few years ago due to its carbohydrate content. He never smoked or used illicit drugs.

A mental status exam revealed a thin male who appeared his stated age. He was cooperative, casually dressed, and made fair eye contact. He spoke clearly with an anxious tone and appropriate rate and volume. His affect was congruent with stated anxious mood. He was alert, awake, and oriented to person, place, and time. He reported no paranoia, auditory or visual hallucinations, and suicidal or homicidal ideation.

A physical exam revealed a thin male in no distress who measured 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds, which yielded a body mass index of 20.8. His vitals included temperature of 98° F, blood pressure 115/76, pulse 74, and oxygen saturation 98% on room air. The remaining physical examination revealed no abnormalities. A complete blood count, thyroid function, urinalysis, and urine drug screens were within normal limits. Comprehensive metabolic profile revealed decreased sodium of 130 meq/L. Electrocardiogram revealed bradycardia.

An ON diagnosis is made primarily through a clinical interview. Collateral information from individuals familiar with the patient can be helpful. Experts have proposed and recently revised criteria for ON ( Table ). Although the ORTO-15 assessment tool may assist with diagnosis, the tool does not substitute for the clinical interview.

Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for Orthorexia Nervosa 10

There is no reliable measure of prevalence of ON, though Varga and colleagues initially estimated ON to occur in 6.9% of the general population, and ON may occur more frequently in health care professionals and performance artists. 3 However, these may be overestimates, as the assessment tool used in the study does not adequately separate people with healthy eating habits from those with ON. 4 , 5

Most prevalence studies were conducted in Europe and Turkey, and prevalence of ON may differ in the U.S. population. A recent assessment determined a prevalence of about 1%, similar to that of other eating disorders. 5 No study has reported a correlation between ON and gender, but a survey of 448 college students in the U.S. (mean age 22 years) reported highest ON tendencies in Hispanic/Latino and overweight/obese students. 6

Relationship to Other Illnesses

There is significant debate whether ON is a single syndrome, a variance of other syndromes, or a behavioral and culturally influenced attitude. 7 , 8 Although ON may lead to or be comorbid with anorexia nervosa (AN) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), subtle differences exist between ON and these conditions.

To meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for AN, patients must weigh below minimally normal weight for their height and age, have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, and have a disturbed experience of their weight or body shape or cannot recognize the severity of the low weight. 2 In contrast, an individual with ON may possess normal or low-normal weight. Patients with AN focus on food quantity, while patients with ON tend to focus on food quality. As summarized by Bratman, “People are ashamed of their anorexia, but they actively evangelize their orthorexia. People with anorexia skip meals; people with orthorexia do not (unless they are fasting). Those with anorexia focus only on avoiding foods, while those with orthorexia both avoid foods they think are bad and embrace foods they think are super-healthy.” 9

Similarities between ON and OCD include anxiety, a need to exert control, and perfectionism. However, patients with OCD tend to report distress from compulsive behavior and a desire to change, thus exhibiting insight into their illness. 8 , 10 Similarities between obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and ON include perfectionism, rigid thinking, excessive devotion, hypermorality, and a preoccupation with details and perceived rules. 11

While no studies have yet described ON as a feature of somatoform disorders, some experts have hypothesized that preoccupation with illness in a patient with somatization disorder may engender a preoccupation with food and diet as a way to combat either real or perceived illness. 11 Finally, there is a report of ON associated with the prodromal phase of schizophrenia, and the development of ON may increase risk for future psychotic disorders. 11 , 12

Pathophysiology

The exact cause of ON is unknown, though it is likely multifactorial. Individuals with ON have neurocognitive deficits similar to those seen in patients with AN and OCD, including impairments in set-shifting (flexible problem solving), external attention, and working memory. 11 , 13 Given these cognitive deficits as well as similar symptomatology, there may be analogous brain dysfunction in patients with ON and AN or OCD. Neuroimaging studies of patients with AN have revealed dysregulation of dopamine transmission in the reward circuitry of the ventral striatum and the food regulatory mechanism in the hypothalamus. 14

Dysmorphology of and dysfunction in neural circuitry, particularly the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical pathway, have been implicated in OCD. 15 Neuroimaging studies have revealed increased volume and activation of the orbitofrontal cortex, which may be associated with obsessions and difficulty with extinction recall. 14 , 15 In contrast, decreased volume and activity of the thalamus may impair its ability to inhibit the orbitofrontal cortex. 15 , 16 Decreased volume and activity of the cingulate gyrus may be associated with difficulty in error monitoring and fear conditioning, while overactivation of the parietal lobe and cerebellum may be associated with compulsive behaviors. 15 , 16

Risk Factors

Factors that contribute to the development of AN and possibly ON include development of food preferences, inherited differences in taste perception, food neophobia or pickiness, being premorbidly overweight or obese, parental feeding practices, and a history of parental eating disorders. 14 One survey associated orthorexic tendencies with perfectionism, appearance orientation, overweight preoccupation, self-classified weight, and fearful and dismissing attachment styles. 17 Significant predictors of ON included overweight preoccupation, appearance orientation, and a history of an eating disorder. 17

In contrast to patients with AN, patients with ON may be easily amenable to treatment, given their pursuit of and emphasis on wellness. 18 Experts recommend a multidisciplinary team approach that includes physicians, psychotherapists, and dieticians. 11 Treatment may be undertaken in an outpatient setting, but hospitalization for refeeding is recommended in cases with significant weight loss or malnourishment. 11 Physical examination and laboratory studies are warranted, as excessive dietary restrictions can lead to weight loss and medical complications similar to those seen in AN, including osteopenia, anemia, hyponatremia, pancytopenia, bradycardia, and even pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. 19 – 21

There are no reported studies exploring the efficacy of psychotherapy or psychotropic medications for patients with ON. However, several treatments have been proposed given the symptom overlap with AN. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be beneficial for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive traits. 18 However, patients with ON may refuse medications as unnatural substances. 18

Cognitive behavioral therapy may be beneficial to address perfectionism and cognitive distortions, and exposure and response prevention may reduce obsessive-compulsive behaviors. 11 Relaxation therapy may reduce mealtime anxiety. Psychoeducation may correct inaccurate beliefs about food groups, purity, and preparation, but it may induce emotional stress for the patient with ON. 11

Orthorexia nervosa is perhaps best summarized as an obsession with healthy eating with associated restrictive behaviors. However, the attempt to attain optimum health through attention to diet may lead to malnourishment, loss of relationships, and poor quality of life. 11 It is a little-understood disorder with uncertain etiology, imprecise assessment tools, and no formal diagnostic criteria or classification. Orthorexic characteristics vary from normal to pathologic in degree, and making a diagnosis remains a clinical judgment. 22 Further research is needed to develop valid diagnostic tools and determining whether ON should be classified as a unique illness or a variation of other eating or anxiety disorders. Further research also may identify the etiology of ON, thus enabling targeted multidisciplinary treatment.

Author disclosures

The author reports no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Federal Practitioner , Frontline Medical Communications Inc., the U.S. Government, or any of its agencies. This article may discuss unlabeled or investigational use of certain drugs. Please review the complete prescribing information for specific drugs or drug combinations—including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects—before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.

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6 Tips To Stop Being A Junk Food Junkie

Want to end your junk food junkie life? You can teach yourself how to stop eating unhealthy foods with these tips!

Giving Up on Junk Food

What is junk food, 1. make the rrrs a habit, kick your food cravings to the curb, 2. consider eating healthy junk food, healthy lessons from a vegan, 3. try the no junk food challenge, 4. make healthy foods accessible, 5. treat yourself once in a while, 6. train your kids to eat well, final thoughts, natural alternatives to synthetic food coloring, fatty liver carbohydrates might be the culprit, ride a bike why cycling is great exercise and good fun.

You may have already lost count of the number of times you said, “Good lord, when will I stop being a junk food junkie?” We know it’s hard.

Giving up junk food isn’t easy. There are so many reasons you eat it.

Junk food appears to be cheaper and quicker than making your own food. Just compare the price of a bag of Fritos corn chips to a pound of broccoli.

Sadly, many people live on junk food and don’t even realize what they are doing to themselves… And here’s why:

Junk food marketers know how to grab your attention and trick you. They use buzzwords like the following:

• All-natural
• Gluten-free

What is GMO? GMO stands for genetically modified food or plants and organisms with altered genes.

They make their junk foods sound healthy and good for you. At the same time, they have hidden a lot of added sugars, sodium, and chemicals to make you crave them.

From plain yogurts and cereals to salads and trail mixes, many of these foods are much worse for you than they may appear.

There’s a silver lining, however. We have some excellent tips on how to stop being a junk food junkie, make better food choices, and embrace a healthier lifestyle.

But before that, let’s dive a little deeper into identifying exactly what junk food is.

Junk food can be defined as any food you consume that has zero to little nutritional value. It is typically processed food that’s been mass produced and has a very high calorie count.

This type of food is bad for your overall wellness and can increase your risks for many chronic diseases.  According to a study , these can include heart disease, as well as hypertension, diabetes, and  obesity .

Junk food can be found anywhere including convenience stores, restaurants, shopping malls, theaters, and sporting events.

You see and hear junk food advertised on TV, radio, billboards, and flyers. Every week, your mailbox is filled with coupons for special offers, tempting you with pretty pictures to eat out or grab a quick bite instead of making a meal for yourself.

It’s no wonder so many folks eat junk food without a second thought… But you can put a stop to it.

6 Tips on How to Stop Eating Junk Food

If you want to eliminate junk from your diet, here’s our first tip: Give the following RRR steps a try.

One of the best ways to eat less junk food is to stick to the RRRs:

Step 1: Recognize

Step 2: record, step 3: replace.

For the next three months, begin applying these RRRs every day. Take baby steps  to keep  moving forward, especially when you start to see and feel the results of changing your junk food consumption.

If you take the time to journal during this time, you will have a place to reflect on what you’ve discovered about yourself. This can be an invaluable gift.

Have fun, start slow, and be kind to yourself!

Starting today,  practice mindfulness by looking at everything you are eating. If you haven’t checked a product label before, start doing that immediately.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How much sugar is in it?
• How about the sodium level?
• What about the  dietary fiber  or carbohydrates?
• Can you see any vitamins and minerals?

Check out our guide on how to  read nutrition facts and labels . A quick tip : manufacturers list their ingredients in order according to their content percentage.

Take a look through your cupboards, your pantry, and your countertops. Do you have  junk food visible, handy, and tempting you to eat something quick and easy?

Open your refrigerator. Is there a pint of ice cream or creamy dessert telling you, “Hell yeah, come and get me!”?

How about in your car or on your desk at work? Are there any unhealthy snacks there?

Hmmm, what to do? Now you are aware of these things, the choice is yours.

It is up to you to decide what to do with these items. Do you keep them until they’re gone, throw them out, or hide them?

Listen to your body when you look at this food. If you want to eliminate junk food from your diet, you now have a place to start.

The best way—and only way—to really change something and end your junk food junkie life is to identify what it is you want to change and why.

I’m sure you agree that it’s hard to change something when you don’t know what that something is, right? This second step is where you will begin to identify the changes you want to make.

You can keep track of this in a journal, on your laptop, or personal device. You can even do it in your head (although we don’t recommend that, as most of us tend to forget things).

Take note of the following when you  have junk food cravings:

• What time is it?
• When was the last time you ate?
• Where are you?
• What are you doing?
• What are you craving: sweet, sour, salty, hot, cold, crunchy, or creamy?
• How much are you spending on food and where are you spending?

For the last question, break the answer down into the following:

• Convenience stores
• Fast food restaurants, ordering in, or eating out
• Grocery stores
• Farmer’s market  or health food grocer

If you log this information once a week, by the end of the three weeks, you should notice a difference in your awareness level and possibly even in your consumption. Recording daily is even better as you will notice your habits sooner.

https://youtu.be/qXzq2PQbs1M Making BIG Change Ten years ago two people’s individual passions collided to create a move that changed the world. Alex Jamieson had a passion for cooking and health food; Morgan Spurlock had a passion for film making. Together they decided to create a film showing what would happen if someone ate nothing but McDonald’s …

As you discover what you are eating, as well as where, when, and why, it’s time to start swapping things out. It’s totally up to you where you want to start, but the sooner you do, the better.

After reviewing your notes, you will be able to determine where you want to begin and the steps you wish to take. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Commit to Eating at Least One Healthy Meal a Day

Pick the one you find challenging, but not as overwhelming, as your first task. The sooner you notice a win, the better.

2. Make Your Own

The internet is filled with healthy, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes. You can make your own cookies, pudding, trail mixes, gluten-free muffins, and even dark chocolates—whatever your heart (and taste buds) desire. (While it’s healthier to make from scratch, we do recommend keeping sugar and refined grains to a minimum.)

The beauty of making your own treats is you know exactly what is in them. You can add or  replace the ingredients  as you please.

You can also make your own soups, salads, salad dressings, and sauces. There really is no limit to what you can make for yourself given the time and commitment you want to put into it.

3. Eat at Home

Instead of going out to a meal with friends, have a dinner party, or host a potluck with a healthy theme. Not only will it be easier on your pockets, but you will find it much more relaxing.

There will be no loud conversations or music to distract you. There will be no more hidden calories and chemicals in your food.

Even better,  consider organic cooking . Then pair your meals with a healthy drink.

4. Exchange Eating with Other Activities

Idle minds and hands can be your greatest enemies when you want to stop being a junk food junkie. Replace them with other worthwhile activities.

For instance, don’t sit, but walk around,  during breaks. Stop and smell the flowers when you’re feeling down instead of grabbing a tub of ice cream.

Your eating habits have been formed over many, many years, so keep in mind that changing them takes time. Don’t get discouraged and stay consistent. Consistency is key when reversing and establishing new habits. By continuing to recognize, record, and replace, you’ll be wondering why you ever thought eating junk was good for you. You may even find your wallet and bank accounts are growing healthy along with you.

While the term “healthy junk food” is confusing, in practice it’s simply opting for  eating healthier foods as a snack. Here are a few examples:

• Burger patties on lettuce instead of a Big Mac
• Dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate
• Sweet potato fries instead of the regular French fries

There are even products called vegan junk food. A good option is a bag of kale chips over a tube of Pringles.

These  healthy snack options can still have a good amount of sodium and even carbs. However, they’re less likely to have additives, preservatives, and  artificial sugars .

A Day in the Life of a Vegan What does it mean to be a vegan in modern times? Many misconceptions have manifested since it’s origins. But just what is it about the vegan lifestyle that keeps us coming back for more and how can we implement the benefits into our own lives (even if …

If you want to stop eating junk food cold turkey, you can join the no-junk-food challenge. The concept is simple: avoid anything junk for 21 to 30 days.

This can include the following:

• Pastries and cookies
• White bread
• Donuts and muffins
• Commercial peanut butter, spreads, dressings, and sauces
• Sodas and alcohols
• Fried foods

You don’t have to worry about overeating if you eat healthy while snacking. You can even avoid counting calories.

Instead, focus all your energy on trying to eliminate these types of junk food from your life. Before you know it, you’ll realize you don’t miss them.

You can even sweeten the deal. Grab a pottery jar or any container and put all the money in it you would have spent on junk food. This helps to act as an incentive as you can take that money after the challenge and put it to better use, or in the least, it helps bring awareness to just how much you were spending on junk food.

One of the reasons why people love to eat junk food is that it’s easy to get. How about you apply the same idea to healthier, whole food options such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds? Here are a few ways to make health foods more easily accessible.

• You can create your own  organic garden in your yard . If you don’t have space, try container gardening.
• Fill that basket on your countertop with low-glycemic fruits such as lemons, grapefruits, and pears instead of bread. Place some good snacks, like dried fruit, nuts (almonds, walnuts, macadamia), and  seaweed  in your desk drawer.
• Cook your own lunch. If you are a generally busy person, prep your meals during the weekends.
• Stock your pantry and the fridge with healthy essentials:
• Green leafy veggies
• Healthy meats such as grass-fed beef
• Seeds and nuts
• Dark chocolates
• Beans and legumes
• Avocados and other healthy fats

Invest in alkalizing greens as well. They come in handy when you want to make your drinks and food nutritious in an instant.

Junk food is bad, that’s a fact. It doesn’t mean you cannot ever have some of the good stuff, though.

You are less likely to binge on these bad foods if you indulge once in a while. If you’re feeling a slice of carrot cake is better than baked carrot sticks, just give into that sugar craving. 

The most important thing is that you commit yourself to healthy eating as often as you can.

The chances of quitting junk food are less if you don’t have the support of your other household members. 

For example, teach your kids healthy habits at an early age. It doesn’t have to be drastic.

For instance, you can substitute sugary foods like cereal with a bowl of oatmeal topped with berries and almonds. Or, usemaple syrup instead of fructose syrup for their pancakes.

It may not happen overnight, but you can learn how to stop eating junk food. Like everything you want in life, it requires commitment, perseverance, and patience.

It also demands  a proper mindset . As long as you stick to these tips, you can get past being a junk food junkie.

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on January 23, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy most recently on April 9, 2021.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Soul Food Junkies

(2012) 60 min. DVD: $24.99. PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-60883-851-6. Volume 28, Issue 4

July 11, 2013

Rating: 3 of 5

For many African Americans, a soul food gathering is a cherished time of “cooking and talking together." However, in recent years, health experts have warned that soul food is comparatively high in fat, salt, and calories, representing a risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and other ailments. Written and directed by Byron Hurt, this PBS-aired Independent Lens documentary examines the complex relationship between black people and food, which stretches back to Africa and later slave days. Hurt has a personal stake in the issue, as his father suffered from obesity, and died young from cancer. Soul Food Junkies defines what soul food is, describes how it is prepared, and looks at its role in the days of segregation, when families—barred from "whites only" restaurants—routinely prepared "shoe box lunches" for long car or train trips. Hurt visits tailgate festivities at black college sports events, and soul food competition cook-offs, which also attract white audiences and other devoted foodies. Comedian and longtime health activist Dick Gregory scorns soul cooking as "death food," while black Muslims claim it celebrates a "slave diet." Hurt notes that impoverished inner cities often constitute a "food desert," where residents are unable to buy healthy fresh fruits and vegetables, and instead resort to cheap eating at fast food restaurants. Perhaps part of the solution may lie with community gardens, and healthier ways to prepare the soul food that people love. Ultimately, Hurt notes that soul food comes from the soul—not the manner in which it is cooked—and that African Americans must search for food that is "good to us and good for us." A thought-provoking documentary that will appeal to foodies and history buffs, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. ( S. Rees )

Star Ratings

As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.

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For the Love of Food

Five Tips for Writing a Good Food Review (With a food review Example)

What is the best way to write a good food review? Food reviews are essential for restaurants, but they can be challenging to write. It’s not just about describing how good your meal tasted. You need to provide other valuable information so that readers will know what they are getting themselves into before trying out the place. Here are five tips for writing a good food review and a food review example!

Tip #01: Describe the Food in Detail

One of the most important things you can do when writing a food review is to describe everything in detail. This includes what it looks like, smells like, and tastes like. You want to paint a picture for your readers so that they can get an idea of what they’re potentially in for.

This is especially important with things like desserts because many people don’t necessarily know what to expect when trying something new. You may be familiar with it, but that doesn’t mean the rest of your readers are too! This can also help you stand out among other reviewers if they look into places similar to yours and want more information.

Tip #02: Tell the Reader If It’s Worth the Price

One of the most important things people want to know when they’re looking into a restaurant is whether or not it’s worth their money. So you need to be honest in your food reviews and tell readers if the meal was worth what they paid for it. This includes considering how much everything costs and whether or not you got your money’s worth.

If you didn’t think the food was worth it, then say so! People will appreciate your honesty and may even be more likely to check out a different restaurant based on your review. However, if you thought the food was excellent and value for money, let people know that too!

Tip #03: Food Doesn’t Have to be Perfect

When writing a food review example, it’s important not to expect the food to taste exactly like what was described or shown on TV. Food doesn’t always turn out as great as we want it to because many factors are involved in cooking something up. Sometimes recipes don’t work right. Other times chefs make mistakes! It happens all the time, and that is okay. Not everything will go smoothly when preparing food for your customers – look at Gordon Ramsey if you need proof of that!

However, even though things may have gone wrong with this particular meal, they should write off the restaurant entirely. If their service was good, but the pancake batter didn’t mix properly, then that’s okay. Food doesn’t have to be perfect, but it needs to taste still great!

Tip #04: Stay Objective as Possible

One of the hardest things about writing a food review example is being objective – especially if you liked the meal and want people to try out this restaurant for themselves! However, staying objective is important because readers will see right through your bias and may not appreciate that part of your review. You also need to remain impartial, so you don’t look like someone who wants free food from these restaurants even though they didn’t enjoy their experience there at all. Be honest with what happened during your visit and let everyone know why or why not they should go check it out too! Keeping an open mind is critical.

Tip #05: Take Photos!

Photos are a great way to supplement your food review and help people get an idea of what they’re in for. If you have the time, take some photos of the food before you start eating it so that you can show off how good everything looks. This is especially helpful if there’s something unique about the dish or if it’s just really photogenic! Also, not everyone has the same opportunity to try out a restaurant, so providing pictures will help sway their decision one way or another.

A Food Review Example

I love Indian food, so I was pretty excited when I found out about a new Indian restaurant in town. The restaurant is called “New India” and it’s located on the edge of town. The restaurant has a modern look to it with wood floors and white walls. I was greeted by the host and she seated me in a booth.

The menu had a good selection of dishes, but I decided to order the sampler platter so that I could try a little bit of everything. The waiter brought out my food and it smelled amazing! The platter came with chicken tikka, lamb biryani, naan bread, and a salad.

The chicken tikka was my favourite dish – it was so tender and juicy! I also really liked the naan bread, which was soft and warm.

The lamb biryani wasn’t my favourite because it didn’t have a lot of flavours, but overall I thought everything tasted great!

I’d definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who’s looking for good Indian food at reasonable prices in town. It would be a perfect place to take your family or friends out to eat if you’re celebrating an event like someone’s birthday or graduation. Food is served buffet style here so everyone can get exactly what they want. Overall, New India gets five stars from me – their customer service is phenomenal too!

Conclusion on Food Review Examples

And there you have it – five tips for writing a good food review! By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to provide valuable information for potential diners and help guide them in the right direction. Food reviewing is a great way to share your experience with others and can be an exciting read for everyone involved, so why not give it a shot yourself?

Start writing short reviews in Google Maps and helping others. Who knows, you might develop a talent for it!

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Essay on Healthy Food vs Junk Food

Students are often asked to write an essay on Healthy Food vs Junk Food in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Healthy Food vs Junk Food

Introduction.

Healthy food and junk food are two types of food often discussed. Healthy food is nutritious, while junk food lacks essential nutrients but is high in harmful substances.

Healthy Food

Healthy food includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. They provide the body with necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber to maintain good health.

Junk food includes fast food, sweets, and soda. They contain high amounts of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, which can lead to health problems like obesity and heart disease.

In conclusion, healthy food is the best choice for maintaining good health, while junk food can harm our health.

250 Words Essay on Healthy Food vs Junk Food

The allure of junk food.

Junk food, characterized by high levels of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, is often preferred for its convenience and addictive taste. However, the immediate gratification it offers comes with long-term health consequences. Overconsumption of junk food is linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. It also negatively impacts cognitive functions, affecting academic performance and productivity.

The Power of Healthy Food

On the other hand, healthy food, rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber, provides the body with the necessary components for optimal functioning. These foods boost the immune system, enhance cognitive abilities, and lower the risk of chronic diseases. They also contribute to maintaining a healthy weight and promote overall well-being.

Changing the Narrative

Despite the clear benefits of healthy food, the pervasive culture of fast food has normalized junk food consumption. However, changing this narrative is possible through education and awareness. Understanding the detrimental effects of junk food and the benefits of a balanced diet can help steer societal preferences towards healthier options.

In conclusion, while junk food may appeal to our taste buds and offer convenience, its long-term effects on health are detrimental. In contrast, healthy food, despite being less convenient, provides numerous health benefits, making it the superior choice. It is essential for individuals, especially college students, to make informed dietary choices for a healthier future.

500 Words Essay on Healthy Food vs Junk Food

The debate between healthy food and junk food has been a topic of interest for many years. As society becomes more health-conscious, the importance of dietary choices is increasingly recognized. This essay aims to explore the differences between healthy and junk food, their impact on our health, and the societal implications of these choices.

Understanding Healthy Food and Junk Food

Healthy food refers to foods that are rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and fats. These foods include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and dairy products. They provide the body with the necessary nutrients for growth, development, and maintenance of overall health.

On the other hand, junk food is typically high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salt, while being low in nutritional value. Common examples include fast food, candy, soda, and chips. These foods may be appealing due to their taste and convenience, but their regular consumption can lead to various health issues.

The Health Implications

The consumption of healthy food has numerous health benefits. It provides the necessary nutrients that the body needs to function optimally. A balanced diet can help maintain a healthy weight, boost the immune system, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Societal Implications

The choices between healthy food and junk food also have broader societal implications. The rising consumption of junk food is often linked to the global obesity epidemic. The ease of access and low cost of junk food, combined with aggressive marketing strategies, contribute to its popularity, particularly among younger generations.

Meanwhile, healthy food is often perceived as more expensive and less accessible, especially in low-income communities. This creates a socio-economic divide in dietary choices and health outcomes. Promoting the consumption of healthy food and making it more accessible and affordable can help address these disparities.

In conclusion, the choice between healthy food and junk food has significant impacts on individual health and society as a whole. While junk food may offer convenience and taste, its long-term health implications cannot be ignored. On the other hand, healthy food, despite its perceived cost and accessibility barriers, provides essential nutrients for our bodies and contributes to long-term health. As we become more health-conscious, it’s crucial to make informed dietary choices for our well-being and for a healthier society.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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IELTS UNLOCKED

Samples, tips, and tricks to beat the ielts test, ielts essays (basic to band 9): discuss – junk food.

Scientists agree that many people eat too much junk food and it is damaging their health. Some people think that this problem can be solved by educating people, while others believe that education will not work. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

(1) Make sure you discuss BOTH sides. Aim for TWO ideas for each side, but you must have at least ONE for each.

(2) You can give your opinion in the CONCLUSION. In the introduction, you can just say you’re going to look at both sides before making a decision.

(3) Try to add some synonyms for the words you will frequently use (e.g. “junk food”), but only use them if you are sure it is a good replacement. For example, “fast food” is not necessarily a replacement for “junk food”.

NOTE – The following contains two sample essays: a simple one and an advanced one. The simple one has some linking vocabulary and useful terms included in bold. The advanced one is written at a Band 9 level.

Sample answer one (simple).

It is certainly true that people nowadays eat a lot of junk food and eating too much of this can be harmful to our health. While some believe that education can solve this problem, a significant number of people believe that education will not be effective.

People who support educating people about the dangers of junk food think that if fast food eaters knew exactly what they were eating, they would stop or at least reduce how much they eat. Junk food is available everywhere and is often cheap and marketed in an attractive way, so it seems like a good choice for consumers. However , people often do not know about the high levels of sugar, fat, and other things that are added to junk food to make it last longer and taste better. If they were educated about this, like smokers are about smoking, then they would be likely to eat less junk food or stop completely.

On the other hand , those who believe education will not work argue that people already know that junk food is not good for them, but they still keep eating it. No one believes that a candy bar is healthier than a piece of fruit. Moreover , warning labels on other harmful products, like cigarettes, are usually ignored because the product is so addictive.

Overall, it seems that education is part of the answer but not the whole one . Most people know that junk food is not good for us, but they continue to eat it. Therefore, apart from educating people, other solutions are needed, like higher taxes on junk food. (267 words)

SAMPLE ANSWER TWO (Advanced)

There is currently a consensus among scientists that excessive consumption of junk food has disastrous consequences for our health. To overcome this, many believe that education is key, but others argue that attempting to educate people is futile. The following discussion will look at both sides of the issue before attempting to reach a conclusion on the effectiveness of education in relation to curbing the effects of junk food.

Advocates of education state that if people truly knew what substances they were putting into their bodies and the deleterious effects those substances have, they would immediately cut down on junk food, or even eliminate it from their diet. Because junk food is often presented in bright packaging and appealing names, it is necessary to address this imbalance by making people aware of what the ‘food’ they are eating consists of.

However, those who believe education is doomed to fail state that most consumers are already fully aware of the dangers of junk food, but continue to eat it because they are addicted or because they simply do not care about the risks. For example, cigarette smokers regularly ignore the warning labels on cigarette packs even though smoking is probably more dangerous than eating junk food.

To conclude, it seems that education alone is not enough to counter the harm caused by over-indulging in junk food because an individual’s awareness of the risks is not enough to stop them from purchasing junk food. While education can be helpful, it is necessary to also implement stronger measures, such as raising taxes on junk food or banning the sale to vulnerable groups, like children. (271 words)

YOU MAY FIND SOME OF THE FOLLOWING RELATED LINKS USEFUL

IELTS Real Test Essays: Discuss – History at School

IELTS Essays (Basic to Band 9): Discuss – Children’s Development

BAND 9.0 Essays – Discuss: Sharing of Knowledge

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Film Review: Soul Food Junkies

Objective: Analyze a film about foodways and culture to examine your own perceptions and how a biocultural framework can help aid understandings of food. Assignment: Watch the film Soul Food Junkies. This film is available through Kanopy; you have access through logging in with your UTOR ID (details on Quercus). Your film analysis should address the following questions: - What are the aims of the documentary? Does it achieve these aims? - Outline the effectiveness of the interviews and evidence used in the film. - What are the strengths and weaknesses of the film? - What was surprising to you? Write your review and reflection incorporating at least two outside sources (NOT course readings). These may include peer-reviewed articles, but this not required. Your film analysis is NOT a summary of the plot. You may use first-person pronouns

(more detail attached on file)

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Soul Food Junkies Review and Reflection

Objective: Analyze the film “Soul Food Junkies” about foodways and culture to examine your own perceptions and how a biocultural framework can help aid understandings of food.

Assignment: Watch the film Soul Food Junkies. Your film analysis should address the following questions:- 1. What are the aims of the documentary? Does it achieve these aims? 2. Outline the effectiveness of the interviews and evidence used in the film. 3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the film? 4. What was surprising to you?

Your film analysis is NOT a summary of the plot. You may use first-person pronouns.

***The course is called Anthropology of Food and Nutrition. It will be great if we can add relate our reflection part to the film ***

Assignment Specifications: Cover Page: Include course name, instructor name, name of the assignment, student name, student number, and date. Length: MAXIMUM two pages, not including the title page. Format: 12 pt. Time New Roman font, double spaced. Margins should be 1 on all sides. Number your pages. References: No outside sources are necessary. You do not need to provide a reference list.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

Sports Betting

Spain vs. England Euro 2024 final odds: Spain favored to win for the fourth time

The Euro 2024 final is set and Spain is the favorite heading into Sunday’s meeting with England. The Spaniards emerged as the tournament favorite after beating Germany in a quarterfinal and remain the favorite after getting by France in a semifinal.

England was the favorite once the knockout stage started. The Three Lions had a less difficult path to the final, but did come from behind to beat the Netherlands in Wednesday’s semifinal.

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With a win, Spain would become the nation with the most European championships. Spain and Germany both have won the title three times. Spain’s previous wins came in 1964 (at home), 2008 and 2012.

England has never won at the Euros, but is making a second straight appearance in the final. England lost in penalties to Italy at Wembley Stadium in London three years ago.

All odds from BetMGM . Odds to win or draw are over 90 minutes.

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Spain vs. England

Regular time odds:

This match is a meeting of two teams that got to the final in opposite ways.

Spain cruised through the group stage with three wins, the only team in the tournament to do so. The quarterfinal win against Germany required extra time, but wins against Georgia and France were more convincing. On pure aesthetics, Spain has been one of the most entertaining teams to watch and it’s easy to argue Spain has looked like the best team throughout.

Meanwhile, England labored throughout the tournament to get here. The Three Lions beat Serbia 1-0 in their opener, but were unimpressive in draws against Slovenia and Denmark to close out group play. Then, England trailed for over an hour against Slovakia and needed a 95th minute goal from Jude Bellingham to force extra time in that match. In the quarterfinals, Switzerland took the lead in the 75th minute, but England answered again and eventually won in penalties. The Netherlands scored first in the semifinal, but Ollie Watkins produced a 90th-minute winner.

England trailed in all three knockout games and won only two of its six matches inside 90 minutes. Manager Gareth Southgate has been under pressure for the English being defensive and mostly uninteresting to watch, but the results have been good enough.

In some ways, England is similar to Spain’s semifinal opponent, France. France is an incredibly talented side that has had fantastic results in recent years, but struggled to score and was, to put it bluntly, not interesting to watch considering the ability on the squad. England has made semifinals at three of the past four major tournaments and has a talented squad on paper, but has also been downright dull to watch for much of this tournament. England probably played its best game of the tournament against the Dutch, but Spain is a step up in level of competition.

It’s a one-match final between two of the powers in the sport so Spain isn’t a massive favorite, but the odds clearly favor Spain. This is not viewed as a toss-up. Spain is a bigger favorite against England than it was against France (and a bigger favorite than England was against the Netherlands). This is the first time this tournament that England has not been favored.

More Euro 2024 coverage

Spain take risks and reap the rewards – it’s what makes them so different at Euro 2024

Ollie Watkins ‘lost for words’ after sending England to Euro 2024 final: ‘It’s the best feeling ever’

Dani Olmo, Spain’s shy Euro 2024 Golden Boot leader and €60m summer transfer target

Late substitute Watkins hits winner to set up Euro 2024 final with Spain

(Photo of Nico Williams: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)

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Dan Santaromita is a senior editor for sports betting at The Athletic. Dan previously wrote for NBC Sports Chicago and ProSoccerUSA. He is a University of Missouri graduate who resides in Chicago. Follow Dan on Twitter @ TheDanSanto