Junk's place in the Trunks

 Aaaaaaaaaah I'm really sorry for the rhyming in the title but I seriously couldn't help it! FYI, by junk I don't mean unnecessary stuff, I mean junk food. I might have made my point in the title unclear just because I wanted it to sound good. And by trunk, I mean the luggage/bag kind of trunk. I know, I know, but it sounds good, and the actual content matters much more than its heading! Sure, headings make you want to open it, but now I am just getting quite distracted, and if not stopped, I'll have to change the title. Where were we? Yes. Junk food.

So why do we love junk food? Because it's good. But why is it good? Because its flavor makes you want to keep on having some more. But why does everyone buy it? Because it's cheap and doesn't get stale. Why is it cheap? Because harmful materials like Palm Oil are used in it and palm oil is cheap. Why doesn't it get stale? Because it is loaded with preservatives. 

That can go on for a fair bit of time. And let me tell you one thing, I love junk food. The flavors, the way they make me want to make the "ttok" sound (the one that sounds like a knock, the 'k' is silent) with my tongue, pretty much everything. Chips, pizza, burger, soft drinks (i don't like them. i just don't. but the public does, so it makes its way to the list) and soooo much more! The names of these things make our mouth water. We usually eat junk (food) when we're hungry and looking for something interesting. More than anything, our tastebuds are craving those specific special tastes. So we go to the nearest shop, select a lovely flavor of chips, check the price, give the money to the shopkeeper, say "thank you kaka" and come back home. 

A bowl of seemingly innocent and delicious chips.

And I'm still a teen, so I love chips, and my feet are itching to get out and go to that shop nearby and buy Indian Magic Masala or Cream and Onion flavored chips. Literally. The main purpose of this post is trying to get myself (and maybe the person who's reading this) to avoid or control their junk cravings. But in general, people have started consuming this junk a little too much than necessary. The parallel option for junk foods is homemade chakli, shankarpali, chiwda, farsan, ladoo, and stuff like that! Chakli and shankarpali are fried so the slightly self-conscious people will say no due to the presence of oil, but the other dishes are nice!

Then about bread. It's not junk, not really, I even asked Copilot and she/he was like,

Bread doesn't typically fall into the category of junk food. Junk food is usually defined as food that is high in calories but low in nutritional value, often containing high amounts of sugar, fat, and salt.

So, no. It's not junk. But then,

Whole grain bread provides essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, some types of bread, particularly those made with refined flour and added sugars, can be less nutritious and more similar to junk food. So, while not all bread is considered junk food, it's important to choose healthier options like whole grain or whole wheat bread to get the most nutritional benefits. 🍞🥖

Yep. My point is, bread is the foundation of many outstanding recipes like sandwiches (the veggies inside making them healthier) but try choosing the healthier alternative for bread and most importantly, don't consume too much of it. I think I've written this is another post or something (Perfection and Influence), but there is a saying in Marathi, अति तेथे माती, which practically tells you to not do too much of anything. Eat bread once or twice a week and you're heading quite close to that healthy food goal you have in mind. Wheat bread is usually available in the market, but it's not homemade, and is packed, therefore earning itself a place in the processed category. 

One more thing. The drinks. If you want that energy that you really need, you can just make a refreshing Lemonade or even Orangeade at home. It's quite easy. Ever been to Sinhagad in Pune? There are a few stalls near Pune Darwaja and some sell Lemonade and it's like this energy upgrade or power boost that makes all of your tiredness vanish and makes you want to jump, yell hooray, and run down at top speed. Maybe I'm just talking about what it makes me feel....but it's great. They do put some sugar in it, but not too much.

Meanwhile, when it comes to soft drinks, try reading the ingredients on the back. The first and topmost ingredient with the greatest role and percentage in the drink is....you guessed it right, sugar. We don't feel the sugary...sugariness and sweetness of the drink, probably because most of the society sticks to the "if we haven't seen it, it hasn't happened" attitude, while others simply accept the fact that they know what they're consuming and are very much aware about it. 

It's actually good to accept the fact that you know things instead of just acting oblivious to that fact in front of people or just saying "stop lying" or "it's fake" or "it's just a lie" in front of people. I did get a sudden brainwave after typing that, so I've written a completely different post about our thoughts and what we actually say. Want to read it? Click here - What we say......loudly vs inside our minds

Anyways, there are some wonderful alternatives available if you really want an energy drink that gives you energy, not because of the sugar present in it, but because of its other contents. Sugar is actually something that always gives you energy, but when eaten in excess, it can lead to some terrible diseases and a list of stuff I really don't want to write.

Aaaand I think I'm done here! One thing, if you haven't been to Sinhagad, go there. Today, if possible. Or tomorrow. Not for the food they serve, but it is really an amazing little trek and has a very interesting story.