Is The Term “Junk Food” Holding You Back?

By labelling food as “junk”, you’re telling yourself you’re “not allowed” to have it. In scientific terms, you’re subjecting yourself to “selective food deprivation”.

Time and time again, research has shown that selective food deprivation actually increases cravings for the forbidden food.

So you’re shooting yourself in the foot.

Besides, the body breaks down all food into carbs, protein, and dietary fats.

Then it turns all these macronutrients into energy (calories).

Therefore, all food is energy. No food is “trash”.

However, I’m by no means suggesting that you should eat a diet of candy and pizza all day every day as long as it fits within your caloric budget.

After all, some foods contain more nutrients (they’re more “nutrient-dense”) than others.

My point is that a “balanced diet” includes all foods in different quantities, with the more nutrient-dense choices ideally outnumbering the less nutrient-dense options.

That’s why I encourage you to label foods as “more nutrient-dense” and “less nutrient-dense”.

When you re-train your brain to think of food this way, you no longer have “allowed foods” that you resent and “banned food” that you long for until the next blip in judgment, when you find yourself diving into a cheesecake or five.

Instead, you’ll gain the confidence to choose to eat any food.

Sometimes it’ll be the chicken salad and sometimes it’ll be the slice of cheesecake.

Once you understand how the calories in a certain food or drink fit within your caloric budget; how its nutrients meet your needs; and how to create balance between more and less nutrient-dense foods in order to accomplish your goals, then you’ll no longer need to fear the cheesecake or glorify the salad.

Because both can play a role in your fitness experience.

Sure, it may be a bit of a mouthful (pun intended) to say “more” or “less nutrient-dense” compared to “good food” and “junk food”.

But it’s also a more empowering way of thinking.

And the more empowered you feel, the more successful you will be.

Also, you’re not a trash can.

So stop calling it “junk food”.

Thanks for reading. May you make the best gains.

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