What are Junk foods

Junk food is a term describing food that is perceived to be unhealthy or having poor nutritional value, according to Food Standards Agency. Junk food typically contains high levels of fat, salt or sugar and numerous food additives such as monosodium glutamate and tartrazine; at the same time, it is lacking in proteins, vitamins and fiber, among others. It is popular with suppliers because it is relatively cheap to manufacture, has a long shelf life and may not require refrigeration. It is popular with consumers because it is easy to purchase, requires little or no preparation, is convenient to consume and has lots of flavor. Consumption of junk food is associated with obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and dental cavities. There is also concern about the targeting of marketing at children.
fast food outlets such as hamburgers, and french fries supplied by companies such as McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut are often perceived as junk food whereas the same meals supplied by more up-market outlets such as Pizza Express or Nando's are not despite often having the same or worse nutritional content. Other foods such as Foie Gras, roast potatoes and bread are not considered junk food despite having limited nutritional content. Similarly, Breakfast cereals are often regarded as healthy but may have high levels of sugar, salt and fat.
Many critics believe that junk food is not harmful when consumed as part of a balanced diet and some believe that the term should not be used at all.
Many people see some foods as 'good' and some foods as 'bad' and feel they are helping their health when they are eating 'good' foods and not when eating 'bad'. Healthy eating is all about achieving a balanced diet and to achieve this you should eat a variety of foods in moderation. Healthy eating can be achieved by following the Balance of Good Health (BOGH). This is a visual representation of how to achieve a balanced diet and is the UK National Food Guide:
http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/