What Counts as Junk Food?
We all know we should limit junk food, but let’s be honest – we don’t always stick to it. One way people get around it? Blurring the lines of what qualifies as “junk food.”
A new poll asked people to weigh in on whether various popular foods are considered junk or not. Here’s how things shook out.
Top 10 Foods Most Considered Junk Food:
- Sweets – 91% say they’re junk, while 8% don’t think so.
- Soda / Pop – 89% label it as junk food, 7% disagree.
- Chips – 88% call them junk food, with 10% saying otherwise.
- Energy Drinks – 87% count them as junk food, 8% don’t.
- Chocolate – 80% say it’s junk food, while 17% are on the fence.
- Cakes – 78% junk, 19% say not.
- French Fries – 78% claim junk, but 19% say no.
- Icing – 76% call it junk food, 18% disagree.
- Pizza – 76% label it junk food, while 20% don’t think so.
- Tortilla Chips – 75% junk food, 20% not.
If you’re anything like us, you’re probably craving a snack right about now. This might just turn into one of those “Treat Yourself” days!
But what about foods that aren’t considered junk? The one food that almost everyone agreed was safe: strawberries. A whopping 98% said they’re NOT junk food, with only 1% saying otherwise. Here’s the rest of the top 10 non-junk foods:
Top 10 Foods Least Considered Junk Food:
- Strawberries – 98% say not junk, 1% say they are.
- Carrots – 98% not junk, 1% junk.
- Oatmeal – 96% not junk, 2% say it is.
- Baked Potatoes – 96% say not junk, 3% say it is.
- Yogurt – 92% not junk, 5% call it junk.
- Muesli – 86% safe, 8% call it junk.
- Granola – 79% say it’s not junk, 13% disagree.
- Rice Cakes – 79% not junk, 14% say they are.
- Fruit Juice – 78% not junk, 16% say it is.
- Frozen Yogurt – 70% say it’s not junk, 18% disagree.
Some foods were almost too close to call, like jelly, which is split nearly 50/50.