To not know what counts as 'Junk Food'

[topcat2014]

"Junk" food has been in the news today. I would happily class the following as JF:

Full sugar coke
all crisps.
KFC.

After that I get a bit lost. In one news item today Chocolate oranges were called junk food. Does that mean all chocolates are junk?

What about Chicken Kievs - we have them with new potatoes, and peas - does that count.

Or - is it basically everything apart from the rations you got in the war?

'Junk food' is what patronising, condescending middle-class people disapprove of uneducated working-class people eating.

Really BonnieF??????? That's complete nonsense.

BonnieF I don't think that has anything to do with it from the posts above, seems like everyone is listing based on contents of the food not who is eating it.

Anyhoo, shock revelation that a chocolate orange is not one of your five a day. I knew a guy who insisted pizza counted due to tomato content. btw he was middle class

So only working class eat that type of food then? Rubbish.

Junk food is eaten by every class. Eating junk food is a problem when that is all you eat. I mainly eat healthy but if I want to eat junk food it won't do me any harm.

Thanks for all the responses. As I am a 70s child, my daughters grandmother would recognise a findus crispy pancake as food - so the rules may need updating over time.

Love the idea of 'anything beige'

I think it's an ambiguous term related to the (poor) quality and (lack of) nutritional content of food. Linking back to the previously mentioned thread, savers sausages and smash would have less nutritional value than higher quality sausages with more protien from meat and less fillers, and mash from potatoes, milk and butter.

I agree on context too. I'll have an energy drink before an intense morning exercise session as I need quick release energy and am prone to digestive issues that restrict my choices. Swigging down the same drink at the start of a sedentary day would be better described as junk. When hiking, my lunch for the day is fruitcake, cheese and crisps. Fantastic fuel for a day of burning calories and sweating. Not so great for a day in an office.

Diet is best seen in the big picture, and not stressing over little details.

Why wouldn't the tomato on a pizza count, along with the onion, the peppers, the pineapple etc etc. It's tomato sauce just like on pasta. It doesn't suddenly metamorphis into something different because it's on a pizza. Whether a pizza is 'junk food' depends on how it is made and what the toppings are.

Tomato sauce probably wouldn't count as one of your 5 a day because the amount on a pizza is not enough.

Pizza is full of sugar, hence being junk

Tomatoes themselves are high sugar, along with onions.

Take that back a tablespoon of tomato purée is apparently a portion so it's perfectly possible that it could count as one of your 5 a day.

I would reason it as foods you eat only for pleasure and not substance. if that makes sense

I love a good mumsnet food thread.

Glad to see the 'what counts as your five a day' wrangling has already started.

Any minute now someone will be along to tell us that weetabix is 'shit in a box' or that mashed potatoes are worse than peanut M&Ms.

FYI 1 heaped tablespoon of tomato purée is one of your 5 a day, so pizza base might be but can't be sure. Tomato purée is more concerntrated than passata or chopped tomatoes.

NHS 5 a day link

Just seen, atleast's post. What they said lol