Junk Foods

Junk food refers to foods of low nutritional value likely to be consumed in excessive amounts due to their convenience, sensory appeal and cost. Aside from carbohydrates, fats and proteins, these foods supply some amounts of vitamins and minerals. Hence, they are not entirely “junk”. In this case, junk food refers to poor quality in relation to the diet of a person, according to his need. Perhaps a more appropriate term to use is “foods with low or limited nutritional value” because they do not make significant contributions of nutrients in relation to calories. Plus, there are health and microbiological hazards posed by these foods, which come from chemical contamination (e.g. non-permissible and excessive amounts of salt, sugar and fat) and unsanitary manufacturing processes. The greatest concern for our children is the tendency towards habitual intake of junk foods at the expense of more nutritious foods, resulting in nutritional imbalance. Let us not forget to mention the possible long-term deleterious effects of bad dietary habits.