what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

we've been having these food discussions lately, and I am just curious what everyone thinks the differences are between them.

anyone want to play?

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

haha.. you know i will be horrible at this!
but i will read along!

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

i feel like junk food is food with no nutritional value whatsoever... like mcdonalds french fries.

healthy to me means things with nutrients... like carrots with hummus.

do i make sense?

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

I would say anything that I have been eating for the last 7 months would probably be considered junk food!

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

I consider junk/bad food to be food with limited nutritional value and loaded with preservatives and lots of other cr@p.

I eat all kinds of food and consider myself to be a pretty healthy eater which to me means eating foods with a lot of nutritional value (protein, veggies, whole grains, fruits, etc.). I also think eating fresh/organic foods is healthy. I am lucky enough to have a MIL who lives close by and has a huge garden. I'm talking the works - veggies, fruits, everything! To me there is nothing better than picking some fresh veggies and fruits and using them in my meals . Doesn't get any better (or healthier) than that!

Message edited 10/15/2009 11:18:52 AM.

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

Like the others say, i am a firm believer in foods that are high in nutrition.
whole wheat pastas, brown rice, fruits, veggies.anything made from scratch

I consider junk food to be chips, cookies, and snacks

bad foods to me are things that are prepackaged or "just add water/meat" type things.. heat and serve items
-they are all packed with sodium , preservatives, msg, hydrogenated oils, and corn syrup.

i've been so anal about avoiding anything that has the items i mentioned above.
When we go food shopping, i will pick one "junk" food item and it's never anything really bad. it might be fudge pops or pudding from a box or natural choc chip cookies

i make everything from scratch including dds food. it takes longer but it is well worth the time and effort.

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

I eat a lot of junk food, sweets, fast food, you name it I love it. I'm underweight by nature so I think that's why I don't watch what I eat. BUT my inlaws eat very healthy (asian) so I have picked up a lot of recipes from them, plus they make us a lot of food. many veggies, small amounts of meat, lots of seafood and healthy soups. I still love my junk food tho!

A meal I love would be lasagna w/ meat balls and sausage , garlic bread. I consider that junk food.

A typical meal my Inlaws would make, fish, broccoli, rice, a meat dish mixed w/ veggies and a soup is healthy.


OP where is your answer

Message edited 10/15/2009 12:00:20 PM.

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

I think healthy is fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean meats, poultry.

We do not eat red meat in my house and very very rarely will you find cookies, chips, ice cream. I just grew up eating fruits as snacks. Dh has adjusted, altough last night he was whiny that there was "nothing good" to eat as a snack.

I also think anything prepackaged that you just add water/meat is junk. I did not even know veggies came in cans until a few years ago. And I will only buy corn in a can on occassion! I usually do not even head into the frozen food aisle, unless i need some quick side veggies.

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

I vote pizza is healthy as long as there are veggies on top

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

Posted by momytobein2010

I vote pizza is healthy as long as there are veggies on top

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

O - you know I totally agree!

You can make so many things more nutritious and just as good as a pre-packaged/fast food version!

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

Your list looks good. Home made all those listed foods are good. Fast food though one couldn't pay me enough to eat

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

ill go with healthy as being free of chemicals/additives etc. so i think of it more as being fresh/natural.

for example...ready made cake mixes - most contain trans fat and whatever else BUT u can make a cake from scratch and use whole wheat flour etc. or sub out applesauce for some oils (think carrot cake).

is it healthy to eat cake endlessly all day...well not so much. but u can have a healthier version of something not so healthy.

junk - things that are high in bad fats, high in sugars, artifical etc.

Message edited 10/15/2009 1:21:18 PM.

Re: what do you consider healthy vs junk or bad food?

I think healthy food is a combination of being homemade and portion controlled.

I think most things that are homemade are healthy as they tend to be made with fresher ingredients and less preservatives and artificial "stuff".

However, that doesn't mean you can eat all you want. Meals should be right sized.