When Junk Food Attack…The Confessions of a Junk Food Junkie!

A True Guilty Pleasure

Junk food often gets the stink eye, but let’s be honest, it’s the guilty pleasure that makes our hearts and taste buds sing! Whether I’m reveling in the crunchy symphony of potato chips, indulging in the sweet embrace of a candy bar, or savoring the meaty juiciness of a double cheeseburger, junk food is the culinary rebel that’s on constant lockdown - except the key is always in hand ready to unlock. Despite the health concerns often associated with junk food, its popularity endures, revealing a complex relationship between daily cravings and societal standards. In many ways, junk food represents a form of rebellion against the strict dietary norms we often impose on ourselves. It offers a momentary break from the pressures of healthy eating, allowing myself to indulge without guilt. This dichotomy makes junk food a fascinating topic of discussion, thus forth writing about

“The confessions of a junk food junkie.”

The Comfort of Junk Food

Junk food has always been considered comfort food. The smell of a sweet potato pie baking in the oven, the cheesy pepperoni pizza delivered at the front door, or the ice cream and cake served at every birthday party - its all reminiscent of good childhood memories, anticipating that slice of pie, eyeing that last slice of pizza, an extra scoop of ice cream, all rings truth to comfort and familiarity. Comfort foods are laced with nostalgia, and it oftentimes serve as a bridge to the past, connecting moments of joy and simplicity. It’s a reminder of family gatherings, celebrations, and the carefree days of youth. It's no wonder that when life gets stressful, turning to comforting flavors for a little dose of happiness is a reoccurring event.

Those Damn Late-Night Cravings!

Every night, as the clock strikes midnight, a familiar monster awakens within me. It's that insatiable sweet tooth, a craving that refuses to be ignored. I find myself tiptoeing to the kitchen, the soft glow of the refrigerator light acting as a beacon in the dark. It's as though cookies, cupcakes, ice cream and doughnuts all conspire together, whispering my name in the stillness of the night. “Come and eat us all, we taste good and you know it.” And the sudden urge to raid the pantry more than once is overwhelming. I can blame it on boredom, stress, or that sneaky circadian rhythm doing its thing. But the truth is, that junk food monster gets his way late at night eating everything in site, and I’m left feeling like a “Fat Ass” in the morning!

Pound by Pound

As much as I wish I could stay young forever, my body tells me something different. The older I get, the harder it is to lose that excess weight and my daily intake of high-fructose corn syrup makes it damn near impossible just to lose a pound. The addictive nature of junk food is real, and it’s something I grapple with daily. The combination of sugar, salt, and fat is engineered to be irresistible, and it often feels like I’m fighting an internal battle between my desire for health and my craving for that next sweet or salty bite. Unfortunately, unhealthy food choices have taken a toll on my weight. I’ve watched the numbers on the scale climb (only in my mind of course, I’m too afraid to hop on an actual scale), but I can feel when I have gained weight, especially when I can no longer fit into a pair of jeans I wore a month prior, and with it, my self-esteem takes a hit. It’s a vicious cycle - feeling bad about my weight leads to more emotional eating, which leads to more weight gain… F**k!

It’s No Secret that Unhealthy Foods Are Cheap!

One of the reasons junk foods is so appealing is its affordability, it’s often much cheaper than healthier alternatives, making it accessible to a wider audience. In contrast, fresh produce, lean meats, and whole grains can be more expensive, which can be a barrier for budget conscious individuals “ahem, like myself.” There are exceptions to the rule, like for example; Bananas (one of my favorite type of fruits) are dirt cheap at about 60 to 65 cents a pound. Frozen vegetables are normally cheaper than fresh veggies, and a pound of dried beans are cheaper than a 2-ounce bag of chips. So why are cookies, chocolate candy bars and jelly filled doughnuts so damn tempting? It’s because junk foods are made with ingredients that have artificial enhancements that maximizes the appeal and flavor which makes it taste so good! Also, I can’t help but to think that some of the ingredients “you know, those words that are hard to pronounce” have addictive qualities that makes you want to come back for more. While alternatives like sugar-free cookies, plant-based candy bars, and chips made entirely out of beets, are slightly more expensive and less satisfying. The truth is, junk food is often cheaper because it is mass-produced with ingredients that are subsidized and engineered for profit, while healthy options are often crafted with quality and health benefits, which of course will cost more!

Will I Ever Change My Bad Eating Habits?

Ideally, it would be in my best interest to change my eating habits, considering that unhealthy food choices can run parallel with declining health issues. According to ChatGPT (there are at least 13 of the most common health problems because of poor nutrition) ranging from High Blood Pressure to Hormonal Imbalances. With my short attention span, the only thing I zeroed in on about the 13 Common Health Problems with bad eating habits was Obesity & Overweight. I blame it mostly on vanity and self-image, what I should be focusing more on is the Mental Health effects and the strong possibility of Type 2 Diabetes (which is quite common in my family). I am taken aback as to how the in-take of daily junk foods can wreak havoc on mental health. I suppose I have always been aware of how a mental state of mind can punish the physical body, in fact stress and depression has been linked to many physical illnesses - one being heart disease. So, it wouldn’t necessarily be far fetched to believe that processed foods containing high levels of sodium and or sugar could lead to negative mood swings, anxiety and depression. Well, I need to face the facts - my eating habits could use a serious makeover. I mean, if my diet were a movie, it would be a horror film titled “Sugar that Kills: Doughnuts with Murderous Intent.” Spoiler alert: it’s not pretty. And while I would love to blame my poor choices on a lack of time or the allure of a drive-thru window, the truth is, unhealthy food choices can lead to both mental and physical health disasters, and that’s scarier than any slasher film. Knowing what I know, Will I ever change my bad eating habits? Hmmm, maybe or maybe not… (probably not)!