Junk Food Day

Junk foods are usually, by definition, high in fats, sugars, salt, and calories. But more often than not, they are delicious! Junk food day is the perfect day to treat yourself. On Junk Food Day, you get to eat anything you want. Eat any amounts that you want, too. Tomorrow, however, it’s back to a healthy diet.

It doesn’t have to be candies either. Like bacon? Eat so much bacon! Like chili cheese dogs? Eat all the dogs you want. Onion rings, yes please. Pizza? Have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Junk Food Day is all about indulging in your favorites.

Please Note: Junk food may be hazardous to your health. After all, mom knows what’s best for you. Do so at your own risk. That risk includes having too much and Mom saying: “I told you so!”

Learn about Junk Food Day

Junk Food Day is a day that allows you to chow down on the foods that you usually would not. Junk foods, by their definition, tend to contain a lot of calories, salt, sugar, and fats, and they offer very nutritional value. You may think that it doesn’t do anyone any favors to have a day that is dedicated to junk food.

However, if you follow a healthy and balanced diet, there is nothing wrong with having one day of the year whereby you can eat anything that you want to. In fact, this is encouraged, because it means that you are more likely to eat healthily the rest of the time, right? Of course, it is up to you whether or not you decide to fully embrace Junk Food Day, but we know that we will be!

History of Junk Food Day

Upon searching for the history behind this food filled day, we found no information on the origin of this day. It was most likely created by a diet conscious individual or group who desired to eat junk food, without guilt, at least one day a year, sounds like a great idea to me. For it to become a “national” day it requires an act of congress. I don’t mind celebrating it anyway.

But, what about junk food? When did this start to come into our lives? Well, this coincides with the advent of packaged foods throughout the late 1900s. Of course, for decades, home-cooked meals were still the standard. However, after WW2, junk food really started to take off.

The population was traveling more and eating out more, and this resulted in fast food chains and the frozen food aisle really taking off. There were so many different foods for people to choose from. However, it was not until the 1970s that junk food started to get a bad name. This was when microbiologist, Michael Jacobson, actually coined the phrase. His aim was to try and curb our appetite for high preservative, high salt, and high sugar foods, which we were eating at a worrying rate.

Since then, there has been more knowledge and information about junk food, and a lot of food manufacturers have tried to make healthy versions of the junk food that we love the most! Nevertheless, if you have junk food now and again yet you generally maintain a healthy diet, it should not do you any harm! After all, we all deserve a treat now and again, right?

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY

  1. No calorie counting

    Do you count carbs or calories? On Junk Food Day, you’re off the hook. Skip the salad and go straight for the meat-lovers pizza. Sure, your fat-free frozen yogurt is tasty, but today get the double fudge ice cream without feeling any guilt.

  2. Everyone’s cheating

    There’s always that one coworker in the break room eating a healthy salad while you’re snacking on nachos. You don’t have to worry about them today because they’re (secretly) indulging in Junk Food Day, too.

  3. It allows you to satisfy that craving

    Cravings are an overwhelming sensation of desire for a certain food. Junk food cravings sometimes occur when the brain’s opioids and dopamine react to the benefit of high-calorie foods. This is why studies have shown that when we’re stressed, we’re more likely drawn towards things like cakes and sweets. While eating junk food is not the way you should always deal with stress, National Junk Food Day gives you the perfect excuse (just for a day.)

NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY DATES

Year Date Day
2021 July 21 Wednesday
2022 July 21 Thursday
2023 July 21 Friday
2024 July 21 Sunday
2025 July 21 Monday

Junk Food Day

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