I wanted to mention this meme and why I will always share this messaging. I tend to call-out anyone that refers to food as junk or garbage because it applies negativity to certain foods, which can be harmful to vulnerable populations like children or people experiencing food insecurity.

Why is this harmful? First, it’s harmful to people experiencing food insecurity or living in areas of food apartheid because they already have limited access to food. When a negative stigma is applied to the only food they have access to, they feel shame for choosing something that has been labeled “junk” and may feel concerned that is not safe to consume or might make them sick. Referring to processed foods like canned fruits and vegetables as “junk” or “unhealthy” might seem harmless when you have the privilege to choose only fresh produce everyday, but for others, they might skip eating fruits and vegetables completely because they only have access to canned produce and now believe that these items are unhealthy or inferior. The reality is that canned produce is just as nutritious as fresh, providing calories, essential vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Additionally, eating food is not simply about acquiring nutrients. Food choices have so many factors, like pleasure, comfort, or cultural practices. We don’t usually choose foods for their nutritional value, but rather because we enjoy the flavor. Some of us find comfort in foods often labeled as “junk”. Personally, I love Goldfish crackers and usually eat them a few times a week. Instead of focusing on the fact that this snack isn’t particularly rich in nutrients other than calories, I focus on the rest of my dietary practices and aim to incorporate enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. I recognize that I have the privilege to eat a snack while also maintaining a balanced diet. Not everyone has this privilege and might only be able to eat packaged snack foods throughout the day with minimal fruits and veggies, and that’s okay because they are just trying to survive and get enough to eat.

Second, this messaging is harmful to children specifically because it may create an unhealthy relationship with food. Children may hear a parent calling packaged foods “garbage” and develop food phobias because they truly believe the food belongs in the trash, or eating it makes them gross or “bad”. When certain foods are withheld from children, they might start sneaking food or binge when given the “bad” food. Later in life, this could progress to orthorexia and disorderly practices as the child becomes obsessed with “clean eating” or other food stigmas.

Food is food. It wouldn’t be on the shelf if it wasn’t safe to consume for the average person. Remember that not everyone has the same resources as you and consider that some people are just trying to get enough to eat in order to survive.