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    • Kicking the Junk Food Habit

    Junk food is called junk food because it has little nutritional value and can be high in calories, fat, sodium, sugar, and refined flour. We like it because it tastes good but sometimes we feel guilty after indulging in unhealthy foods. The problem with junk food is that it can fill you up so you don’t feel like eating healthier foods. It can interfere with your nutritional health.

    Make a Change

    Say no to junk food!
    To make any change, you need to start gradually and make only one change at a time. Give yourself time to adjust to new habits and you’ll be more likely to keep up with them. With each successful step, you’ll be motivated to follow through with the next one. Be realistic, too. Make simple changes in your eating habits to help you limit the amount of junk food you eat. Don’t expect that you will never enjoy some junk food again. But enjoying a healthy diet with much less junk food is the ultimate goal to strive toward.



    Tips for kicking the junk food habit

    • Switch to low-salt varieties of your favourite chips or crackers. It’s a great start!
    • If sweets are your downfall, try baking your own treats and reducing the amount of sugar and fats by about half.
    • If you LOVE candy, save it for a special occasion rather than an every day indulgence.
    • Choose popcorn instead of potato chips for a quick snack. Try your popcorn without the added butter. Then try it without added butter and salt.
    • Unsalted pretzels are a better choice than chips. Pretzels are lower in fat compared to chips.
    • At fast food restaurants, choose a plain burger or grilled chicken breast rather than deep-fried foods.
    • Portion sizes at restaurants tend to be very large. Share with a friend or have the server wrap up half of your portion so you can take it home and enjoy as another meal.
    • Instead of pop, mix ½ cup fruit juice with ½ cup plain carbonated water or sodium-free seltzer.
    • Instead of an ice cream sundae, try a low-fat frozen yogurt dessert or a frozen fruit juice popsicle.
    • When you have pizza, cut back on the higher fat meat toppings (sausage, pepperoni, meatballs) and try peppers, onion, mushroom, or a combination of vegetables toppings.

    For more information about healthy eating, visit http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/HealthyEating.aspx