Top Ten Junk Foods We All Love That We Shouldn’t Be Eating

National Junk Food Day is celebrated on July 21st. Every year, the day allows us to eat the foods we usually don't eat every day. Think of it as a "national cheat day".

By definition, junk foods are high in fats, sugars, salt, and calories and provide very little nutritional value.

During the late 1800s, packaged foods allowed junk food to enter the American diet. For several more decades, home-cooked meals remained the norm. Then, after World War II, the artery-clogging industry took off. As the population ate out and traveled more, the industry was primed to produce more products.

From frozen food aisles to fast-food chains, consumers have a wide range of options. The shelves of supermarkets were stocked with potato chips, baked goods, and so much more.

By the 1970s, junk foods had earned a bad name. Microbiologist Michael Jacobson is credited with coining the phrase. Also, he aimed to curb our appetite for high sugar, high salt, and high preservative foods Americans consumed at an alarming rate.

Even though deep-fried, fatty foods increase our waistlines, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, occasional indulgence should not affect a healthy, diverse diet. So producers also make healthy versions of our favorite junk foods to entice us to indulge.

In my household, we did away with a lot of junk food to eat healthily.

I do have few junk foods in the house like chips and things; they are so good.

I have made a list of the top ten junk foods we all love but are bad for us.

On this day, indulge in a little junk food!