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Let’s Talk Junk Food (You Know You Want To)

Posted by in Kitchen Talk

Tasty Kitchen Blog: Kitchen Talk (Junk Food)

Leave it to me to be late to the party again. I just found out that yesterday was National Junk Food Day. What? A day just for junk food? Raise your hand if you knew this. Raise your other hand if you don’t care that it’s a day late and want to celebrate with me.

I try to eat healthy most of the time, and I do that mostly so I don’t feel bad about indulging in a guilty pleasure now and then. Sometimes, I’ll make an effort to create a homemade version just so I can justify eating more of it. Raise your other other hand if you do the same.

Let’s get ourselves into—and hopefully out of—trouble together, shall we? Tell us:

What’s your junk food weakness? Any tips for keeping things in moderation?

Do you love kettle cooked chips? Have trouble resisting chocolate bars? Need that soda pop fix? Can’t stop munching on tortilla chips and salsa? Are Doritos your true love? Or maybe Oreos? (Extra points if you share a recipe for a homemade version!) Or maybe you know a trick or two for battling those insistent junk food cravings and stopping at just one or maybe nine chips. (I could use some of those tips right now, because for some reason, all I can think of is Doritos.)

Come share below! In the meantime, I’m going to go drink three glasses of water and contemplate the meaning of moderation.

Happy Wednesday, folks!

 

21 Comments

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janmaus on 7.24.2015

I personally think the original crunchy Cheetos are the most perfect snack product ever invented by man–how do I control that? I almost never buy them and fill my grocery cart with stuff my husband likes but I don’t particularly care for and can therefore resist. I am an aficionado, however of anything salty, crunchy, and cheesy. My snack of choice is usually a thin slice or small dollop of any kind of cheese on a nice crunchy apple slice. When I do encounter those irresistible Cheetos, I am usually in public and am subject to a humiliation factor that limits me to only a few of those wonderful crunchy bites.

DebbieK on 7.23.2015

My junk food weakness is ice cream! I can never turn down ice cream and when I want to stress-eat, only ice cream fits the bill.

Carolyn F. on 7.23.2015

I’m a chip fan. I thought I’d give those black pepper Kettle chips a try. Uh-oh. I’m hooked. I’m following a meal plan designed for me so chips don’t come in the house until “snack day”. I wish I could say moderation when it comes to junk food, but self-control sometimes goes out the window. Then it’s time to get back to the meal plan.

Mi on 7.23.2015

I love snacking on Kettle cooked chips, ice cream, Gelato and more – I too am working on moderation. So I decided not to bring a full bag of anything into the house. Nor do I bring ice cream or Gelato into the house. I keep the chips at work and have snack zip locks and portion them out only twice a week. No I don’t crave during the day, it’s just at night while watching TV.

AC on 7.23.2015

I’m all for celebrating a belated National Junk Food day! Break out the potato chips and candy bars, everyone! :)

I love, love, love cheesy snacks — cheese puffs, Doritos, cheese popcorn…..yum! I also have a weakness for BBQ-flavored chips, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Kit Kats and ice cream. Oh, and I’ve been known to gorge myself on plain potato chips dipped in ranch dip or tzatziki (Greek cucumber dip).

To keep from being as big as a whale, I have a fairly simple solution– I usually don’t keep junk food in the house. You can’t eat something that’s not there, right? Although I like to indulge once in a while, I’ve gotten used to eating healthier foods on a regular basis. I try to make eating healthier more convenient by having pre-cut fruits and veggies in my fridge. Pairing a yummy dip with the fruits and veggies makes the snack even more satisfying. It’s easier to beat those junk food cravings when you have healthier options within easy reach.

OK, I’m hungry now…..

lauren on 7.23.2015

Pretzels. ‘nuf said.

kim on 7.23.2015

Like many of you, my main snack craving is for salty chips. But my real fav – only if no one is looking – is thin crispy Lays potato chips dipped in softened chocolate ice cream. Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. The salty-sweet thing is amazing.

I limit my ability to act on that craving by only rarely buying chips. And on a good day I can limit how many I eat by putting a few in a bowl and closing up that bag, using smart portion control. Of course, there are those days when it’s just me on the sofa with an open bag and a bowl of melty chocolate ice cream. They’re just few and far between!

MaryM on 7.23.2015

Believe it or not, crushed ice! I’ve been through a significant health crisis recently, and for some reason, all my snack cravings have disappeared except this one. BTW, I’ve lost 37 pounds in about two months. I feel great!

Patty Paulsen on 7.23.2015

I usually go for the salty stuff like chips. But lately, the monkey on my back has been licorice. Especially the old fashioned All Sorts variety. Dang, can’t keep my mitts out. But I heard somewhere that if you have a craving your body must need something special. Wonder what my body needs? ;) ;) ;)

All kidding aside, I figured out a long time ago that if I try to substitute what I am craving I actually eat more in the process–mostly because I really don’t eliminate the craving. Now I just give in, eat a little, walk away. It works for me.

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Rina : I Thee Cook on 7.23.2015

Chips it’s always the dang chips!

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C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 7.23.2015

Hey Deb C – Oh my I did it Chocolate-I had a coke with vanilla ice cream and Hershey’s chocolate syrup (ah… a lot of it!). Weak just weak, perhaps it really is vital to ones happiness??? Cheryl
PS Have a great weekend.

marlab on 7.23.2015

Fritoes, cheetoes, but my absolute favorite is the kettle chip in any flavor or plain works, too. I wish they had never bagged them . . . . . .

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Sara Schmidt on 7.23.2015

I am getting a good chuckle here as the ad above is from the Cheesecake Factory. It says that National Cheesecake Day is July 29th & 30th. (‘Any slice, half price’) Now I want a slice of cappuccino cheesecake! Love junk food. Someone I knew long ago, told me that she always made Fridays “junk food for dinner day”. Made sense to me, so we adopted that idea. Try to eat healthy otherwise, but Fridays all bets are off. LOL

Deb C on 7.22.2015

I NEED chocolate 24/7. I don’t think it is a junk food though….it is vital to my health and happiness!

irene chavez on 7.22.2015

my sister in law lost a bunch of weight and now literally counts out or weighs how many chips are in a serving and only eats that portion. i’ve not known that type of will power.

Diana on 7.22.2015

Oh wow. I missed that “holiday.” Boo. I love junk food! Especially salty. Chips and salsa (Goya’s pico de gallo). Chips and dip. Ree’s onion strings or any onion ring really. I also enjoy Dr. Pepper and vanilla ice cream. Of course, they are rare treats as we try to eat healthy too!

a on 7.22.2015

Doritos are evil, scientifically engineered so you can’t stop eating them. I have switched to Beanitos and Late July so I don’t hate myself.

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Erika (TK) on 7.22.2015

Marcia, that’s wicked. Now I want that!

Marcia on 7.22.2015

Fritos barbecue flavor with a big squeeze of lime. You have to try them.

Jeanne (NanaBread) on 7.22.2015

Bugles (original flavor), eaten from your fingertips.
And a cold Dr Pepper.

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C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 7.22.2015

It is hard sometimes to not reach for a can of coke and add vanilla ice cream to it! What made me think of that specifically; I want a coke and vanilla ice cream. Ha! Everyone have a great Wednesday!