Do you consider chips & salsa a junk food?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think salsa (especially a pico style salsa, which is just a chunky salad basically) is junk food, but chips and salsa definitely is. It’s the chips. I wouldn’t snack on chips of any kind every day, I consider them to be a treat.

There are definitely worse junk foods out there, but yes, I would consider this junk food.

Re the bolded- makes me wonder how you define "junk food".

Is everything you consider "a treat" also "junk"?

To me, "junk food" would be anything made with a ton of chemicals/preservatives AND almost zero nutritional value- Doritos, popsicles that are primarily high fructose corn syrup and food die, Fuit Loops, etc.

"Treats" are things like my aunt's apple pie, incredibly decadent mashed potatoes, a great slice of pizza, etc.

Not all "junk food" is a treat. Not ever "treat" is junk food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay I have to say more about salsa. Nobody would put tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, and lime juice in a bowl and call it junk food. Why would throwing that in the food processor put it into the junk food category?

Lets be honest. The vast majority of people aren't making their own salsa. They're buying it from the store. Just take whole foods salsa as a standard example:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/organic-thickand%20chunky%20mild%20salsa,%2016%20oz-b07nsq98r9

Only 2 tablespoons alone has 6% DV for sodium! Most people will probably consume 2 tables spoons of salsa in 2-3 bites. In a session, everyone knows they'll probably have 10-20 bites. Salsa is often a highly processed salt bomb. Many also contain preservatives.

Sure, this is DCUM where absolutely zero people buy pre-made salsa though and only make it at home. Yeah, suuuuure.

This is why Americans are so fat and why cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America. Americans have an extremely hard time figuring out what is junk food. Oh, salsa must be healthy because all it is is tomatoes, onions, lime, and maybe olive oil and cilantro. Except they completely ignore the huge amounts of sodium that goes into many brands' salsas.

Whole Food fresh pico de gallo is not as high in sodium, and you can't fit 2 tablespoons of salsa on a chip.

Wrong. WF pico de gallo is loaded with sodium - 115 mg in only single serving, which is defined as a paltry quantity of 2 tablespoons:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/pico-de%20gallo,%2014%20oz-b0785ykjd8


You’re literally proving my point. Americans have an insane time trying to figure out what is junk food. Before you know it- you’ve already consumed 10-20% of your entire allotted daily amount for sodium by simply using WF pico on your morning eggs, or eating with a few chips.


This is why Americans die so much from cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, etc. Even healthy looking foods are loaded with sugar and sodium.

Okay, and where is the other 80% coming from? Me, I don't reach that 100% intake daily, or even close. So I can eat a few tablespoons of pre-made salsa or guac, along with the chips. I exercise a ton and eat a lot of veggies and fruit, along with some sweets and junk every single day. I am a healthy weight with normal blood levels at every check up at the age of 57. It's called moderation and it continues to be the healthiest way to live. I don't know how any of you get through life eating a few tablespoons of vegan sour cream refried beans all day long. Not the way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay I have to say more about salsa. Nobody would put tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, and lime juice in a bowl and call it junk food. Why would throwing that in the food processor put it into the junk food category?

Lets be honest. The vast majority of people aren't making their own salsa. They're buying it from the store. Just take whole foods salsa as a standard example:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/organic-thickand%20chunky%20mild%20salsa,%2016%20oz-b07nsq98r9

Only 2 tablespoons alone has 6% DV for sodium! Most people will probably consume 2 tables spoons of salsa in 2-3 bites. In a session, everyone knows they'll probably have 10-20 bites. Salsa is often a highly processed salt bomb. Many also contain preservatives.

Sure, this is DCUM where absolutely zero people buy pre-made salsa though and only make it at home. Yeah, suuuuure.

This is why Americans are so fat and why cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America. Americans have an extremely hard time figuring out what is junk food. Oh, salsa must be healthy because all it is is tomatoes, onions, lime, and maybe olive oil and cilantro. Except they completely ignore the huge amounts of sodium that goes into many brands' salsas.

Whole Food fresh pico de gallo is not as high in sodium, and you can't fit 2 tablespoons of salsa on a chip.

Wrong. WF pico de gallo is loaded with sodium - 115 mg in only single serving, which is defined as a paltry quantity of 2 tablespoons:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/pico-de%20gallo,%2014%20oz-b0785ykjd8


You’re literally proving my point. Americans have an insane time trying to figure out what is junk food. Before you know it- you’ve already consumed 10-20% of your entire allotted daily amount for sodium by simply using WF pico on your morning eggs, or eating with a few chips.


This is why Americans die so much from cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, etc. Even healthy looking foods are loaded with sugar and sodium.

Are you really this dense? There is a fresh cooler section at Whole Foods in the produce section where they sell freshly made pico and freshly made guacamole. The freshly made stuff is not cheap and has a consume by date no longer than 7 or so days. That is clearly what the PPs are referencing, not the jarred crap full of enough salt and preservatives to make it last on a shelf for 24 months.

[Anonymous]

Chips are from genetically modified corn plus all the frying in bad oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay I have to say more about salsa. Nobody would put tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, and lime juice in a bowl and call it junk food. Why would throwing that in the food processor put it into the junk food category?

Lets be honest. The vast majority of people aren't making their own salsa. They're buying it from the store. Just take whole foods salsa as a standard example:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/organic-thickand%20chunky%20mild%20salsa,%2016%20oz-b07nsq98r9

Only 2 tablespoons alone has 6% DV for sodium! Most people will probably consume 2 tables spoons of salsa in 2-3 bites. In a session, everyone knows they'll probably have 10-20 bites. Salsa is often a highly processed salt bomb. Many also contain preservatives.

Sure, this is DCUM where absolutely zero people buy pre-made salsa though and only make it at home. Yeah, suuuuure.

This is why Americans are so fat and why cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America. Americans have an extremely hard time figuring out what is junk food. Oh, salsa must be healthy because all it is is tomatoes, onions, lime, and maybe olive oil and cilantro. Except they completely ignore the huge amounts of sodium that goes into many brands' salsas.

I mean, the fact that so many people think that salsa is junk food does make me agree that Americans have a hard time figuring out what is and isn’t junk food. First of all, it isn’t highly processed. It’s chopped up and canned. Second of all, yes it has a good amount of sodium but that’s merely something to be conscious of, not avoided entirely, assuming you’re generally healthy. Foods with a similar amount of sodium include milk, sauerkraut, and cheese. Tuna has 23% of your DV for sodium, and a slice of bread has 10. Spaghetti sauce and pre-made salad dressings have a ton too. And one restaurant meal, well, goodness knows. And let’s not forget that you actually need sodium to survive and most people obviously don’t have that problem, cutting it out entirely isn’t the goal. Plus it you don’t have salsa, you miss out on all those vegetables!

The worst foods are fried sweet goods, potato chips, French fries, and processed meats. If you avoid those, eat vegetables and healthy fats (hello guacamole!), smoke or drink, and exercise and you are doing great.

I mean, you are kind of half right and you’re getting to the core of the issue. Look how much food is total garbage. Yes, pasta sauces, dressings, salsas, sauerkraut, cheese……all salt and fat bombs. People completely ignore how much sodium they’re consuming per day, and it is why this country has so many problems with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Breads are one of the worst offenders out there. Yes, n9wmyiure getting it. Many people will consume something like two slices of bread, which is a sodium bomb. Take for example someone making a ham egg and cheese sandwich with some WF pico de gallo as a topping. That little meal right there alone probably has almost 30-50% of your entire daily allowance for sodium. We haven’t even gotten to snacks, lunch, dinner and drinks yet for more sodium and sugar.


A can of tuna might have 23% dv for sodium, but look at the portion size. Compare that to two table spoons of WF pico, which has almost no calories and 5% dv of sodium. The issue is portion size two. It is much better to spend 23% dv sodium on an entire can of tuna that is going to be far more filling than 2 tbl of pico with 115 mg of sodium. A typical person is going to easily consume 4-6 tbl of pico like nothing.


Everything about food in the U.S. sucks. It is loaded with salt, fat, sugar, and empty cals. Even when people think they’re eating healthy they’re unwittingly consuming huge amount of sodium, because food makers have to cover up bland taste somehow.

I’m half wrong? What am I half wrong about? Where is my error? I just don’t see it.

Maybe I can make myself a little more clear this way:

If you’re going to say that salsa is a junk food, you also have to say that pasta sauce made at home with San Marzano tomatoes is too. Same with some canned and drained tuna drizzled with olive oil on a bed of greens. Etc etc.

That poster is so determined to be right about how bad pico is but has made no argument against it whatsoever. We have to have sodium in our diet. I'll take it with salsa over white bread all day long. Salsa is actually quite satisfying--for me, much more satisfying, and healthy, than a can of tuna fish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay I have to say more about salsa. Nobody would put tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, and lime juice in a bowl and call it junk food. Why would throwing that in the food processor put it into the junk food category?

Lets be honest. The vast majority of people aren't making their own salsa. They're buying it from the store. Just take whole foods salsa as a standard example:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/organic-thickand%20chunky%20mild%20salsa,%2016%20oz-b07nsq98r9

Only 2 tablespoons alone has 6% DV for sodium! Most people will probably consume 2 tables spoons of salsa in 2-3 bites. In a session, everyone knows they'll probably have 10-20 bites. Salsa is often a highly processed salt bomb. Many also contain preservatives.

Sure, this is DCUM where absolutely zero people buy pre-made salsa though and only make it at home. Yeah, suuuuure.

This is why Americans are so fat and why cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America. Americans have an extremely hard time figuring out what is junk food. Oh, salsa must be healthy because all it is is tomatoes, onions, lime, and maybe olive oil and cilantro. Except they completely ignore the huge amounts of sodium that goes into many brands' salsas.

Whole Food fresh pico de gallo is not as high in sodium, and you can't fit 2 tablespoons of salsa on a chip.

Wrong. WF pico de gallo is loaded with sodium - 115 mg in only single serving, which is defined as a paltry quantity of 2 tablespoons:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/pico-de%20gallo,%2014%20oz-b0785ykjd8


You’re literally proving my point. Americans have an insane time trying to figure out what is junk food. Before you know it- you’ve already consumed 10-20% of your entire allotted daily amount for sodium by simply using WF pico on your morning eggs, or eating with a few chips.


This is why Americans die so much from cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, etc. Even healthy looking foods are loaded with sugar and sodium.

Are you really this dense? There is a fresh cooler section at Whole Foods in the produce section where they sell freshly made pico and freshly made guacamole. The freshly made stuff is not cheap and has a consume by date no longer than 7 or so days. That is clearly what the PPs are referencing, not the jarred crap full of enough salt and preservatives to make it last on a shelf for 24 months.

The fresh guac and pico at Whole Foods contains:

Mild Guacamole
Ingredients: Avocado, Tomatoes, Onions, Cilantro, Garlic, Lime, Black Pepper and Sea Salt

Pico De Gallo
Ingredients: Tomatoes, Red Onion, Jalapeno Pepper, Cilantro, Lime Juice, Garlic (Garlic, Water, Citric Acid), Salt, Black Pepper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay I have to say more about salsa. Nobody would put tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, and lime juice in a bowl and call it junk food. Why would throwing that in the food processor put it into the junk food category?

Lets be honest. The vast majority of people aren't making their own salsa. They're buying it from the store. Just take whole foods salsa as a standard example:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/organic-thickand%20chunky%20mild%20salsa,%2016%20oz-b07nsq98r9

Only 2 tablespoons alone has 6% DV for sodium! Most people will probably consume 2 tables spoons of salsa in 2-3 bites. In a session, everyone knows they'll probably have 10-20 bites. Salsa is often a highly processed salt bomb. Many also contain preservatives.

Sure, this is DCUM where absolutely zero people buy pre-made salsa though and only make it at home. Yeah, suuuuure.

This is why Americans are so fat and why cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America. Americans have an extremely hard time figuring out what is junk food. Oh, salsa must be healthy because all it is is tomatoes, onions, lime, and maybe olive oil and cilantro. Except they completely ignore the huge amounts of sodium that goes into many brands' salsas.

I mean, the fact that so many people think that salsa is junk food does make me agree that Americans have a hard time figuring out what is and isn’t junk food. First of all, it isn’t highly processed. It’s chopped up and canned. Second of all, yes it has a good amount of sodium but that’s merely something to be conscious of, not avoided entirely, assuming you’re generally healthy. Foods with a similar amount of sodium include milk, sauerkraut, and cheese. Tuna has 23% of your DV for sodium, and a slice of bread has 10. Spaghetti sauce and pre-made salad dressings have a ton too. And one restaurant meal, well, goodness knows. And let’s not forget that you actually need sodium to survive and most people obviously don’t have that problem, cutting it out entirely isn’t the goal. Plus it you don’t have salsa, you miss out on all those vegetables!

The worst foods are fried sweet goods, potato chips, French fries, and processed meats. If you avoid those, eat vegetables and healthy fats (hello guacamole!), smoke or drink, and exercise and you are doing great.

I mean, you are kind of half right and you’re getting to the core of the issue. Look how much food is total garbage. Yes, pasta sauces, dressings, salsas, sauerkraut, cheese……all salt and fat bombs. People completely ignore how much sodium they’re consuming per day, and it is why this country has so many problems with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Breads are one of the worst offenders out there. Yes, n9wmyiure getting it. Many people will consume something like two slices of bread, which is a sodium bomb. Take for example someone making a ham egg and cheese sandwich with some WF pico de gallo as a topping. That little meal right there alone probably has almost 30-50% of your entire daily allowance for sodium. We haven’t even gotten to snacks, lunch, dinner and drinks yet for more sodium and sugar.


A can of tuna might have 23% dv for sodium, but look at the portion size. Compare that to two table spoons of WF pico, which has almost no calories and 5% dv of sodium. The issue is portion size two. It is much better to spend 23% dv sodium on an entire can of tuna that is going to be far more filling than 2 tbl of pico with 115 mg of sodium. A typical person is going to easily consume 4-6 tbl of pico like nothing.


Everything about food in the U.S. sucks. It is loaded with salt, fat, sugar, and empty cals. Even when people think they’re eating healthy they’re unwittingly consuming huge amount of sodium, because food makers have to cover up bland taste somehow.

I’m half wrong? What am I half wrong about? Where is my error? I just don’t see it.

Maybe I can make myself a little more clear this way:

If you’re going to say that salsa is a junk food, you also have to say that pasta sauce made at home with San Marzano tomatoes is too. Same with some canned and drained tuna drizzled with olive oil on a bed of greens. Etc etc.

That poster is so determined to be right about how bad pico is but has made no argument against it whatsoever. We have to have sodium in our diet. I'll take it with salsa over white bread all day long. Salsa is actually quite satisfying--for me, much more satisfying, and healthy, than a can of tuna fish.

The nitwit thinks we're talking about $2 jars of Pace Picante with enough sodium and preservatives to last on a shelf until 2030. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chips are from genetically modified corn plus all the frying in bad oil.

What about Whole Foods 365 or Stacy's baked pita chips? Whole wheat, naked, or sea salt varieties.

[Anonymous]

As a non-American, I've started to understand that a lot of your food is junk. honestly, even your "fresh" and "organic" foods have so much hidden salt and chemicals in them - it's gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay I have to say more about salsa. Nobody would put tomatoes, onions, cilantro, peppers, salt, and lime juice in a bowl and call it junk food. Why would throwing that in the food processor put it into the junk food category?

Lets be honest. The vast majority of people aren't making their own salsa. They're buying it from the store. Just take whole foods salsa as a standard example:

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/product/organic-thickand%20chunky%20mild%20salsa,%2016%20oz-b07nsq98r9

Only 2 tablespoons alone has 6% DV for sodium! Most people will probably consume 2 tables spoons of salsa in 2-3 bites. In a session, everyone knows they'll probably have 10-20 bites. Salsa is often a highly processed salt bomb. Many also contain preservatives.

Sure, this is DCUM where absolutely zero people buy pre-made salsa though and only make it at home. Yeah, suuuuure.

This is why Americans are so fat and why cardiovascular disease is the #1 killer in America. Americans have an extremely hard time figuring out what is junk food. Oh, salsa must be healthy because all it is is tomatoes, onions, lime, and maybe olive oil and cilantro. Except they completely ignore the huge amounts of sodium that goes into many brands' salsas.

I mean, the fact that so many people think that salsa is junk food does make me agree that Americans have a hard time figuring out what is and isn’t junk food. First of all, it isn’t highly processed. It’s chopped up and canned. Second of all, yes it has a good amount of sodium but that’s merely something to be conscious of, not avoided entirely, assuming you’re generally healthy. Foods with a similar amount of sodium include milk, sauerkraut, and cheese. Tuna has 23% of your DV for sodium, and a slice of bread has 10. Spaghetti sauce and pre-made salad dressings have a ton too. And one restaurant meal, well, goodness knows. And let’s not forget that you actually need sodium to survive and most people obviously don’t have that problem, cutting it out entirely isn’t the goal. Plus it you don’t have salsa, you miss out on all those vegetables!

The worst foods are fried sweet goods, potato chips, French fries, and processed meats. If you avoid those, eat vegetables and healthy fats (hello guacamole!), smoke or drink, and exercise and you are doing great.

I mean, you are kind of half right and you’re getting to the core of the issue. Look how much food is total garbage. Yes, pasta sauces, dressings, salsas, sauerkraut, cheese……all salt and fat bombs. People completely ignore how much sodium they’re consuming per day, and it is why this country has so many problems with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Breads are one of the worst offenders out there. Yes, n9wmyiure getting it. Many people will consume something like two slices of bread, which is a sodium bomb. Take for example someone making a ham egg and cheese sandwich with some WF pico de gallo as a topping. That little meal right there alone probably has almost 30-50% of your entire daily allowance for sodium. We haven’t even gotten to snacks, lunch, dinner and drinks yet for more sodium and sugar.


A can of tuna might have 23% dv for sodium, but look at the portion size. Compare that to two table spoons of WF pico, which has almost no calories and 5% dv of sodium. The issue is portion size two. It is much better to spend 23% dv sodium on an entire can of tuna that is going to be far more filling than 2 tbl of pico with 115 mg of sodium. A typical person is going to easily consume 4-6 tbl of pico like nothing.


Everything about food in the U.S. sucks. It is loaded with salt, fat, sugar, and empty cals. Even when people think they’re eating healthy they’re unwittingly consuming huge amount of sodium, because food makers have to cover up bland taste somehow.

I’m half wrong? What am I half wrong about? Where is my error? I just don’t see it.

Maybe I can make myself a little more clear this way:

If you’re going to say that salsa is a junk food, you also have to say that pasta sauce made at home with San Marzano tomatoes is too. Same with some canned and drained tuna drizzled with olive oil on a bed of greens. Etc etc.

That poster is so determined to be right about how bad pico is but has made no argument against it whatsoever. We have to have sodium in our diet. I'll take it with salsa over white bread all day long. Salsa is actually quite satisfying--for me, much more satisfying, and healthy, than a can of tuna fish.

Tuna is fish, why do people call it tuna fish - so weird.

[Anonymous]

On no planet is FRESH pico or FRESH guac a junk food. It's just super nutritious ingredients chopped up together.

What you use for scoop and dipping is the question.

[Anonymous]

I consider it a better junk food.

[Anonymous]

I eat some Garden of Eatin corn chips occasionally, and with salsa. I'm not seeing too much junk in these, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ANY food described at such a generic level can be healthy food or junk food depending on how it is made.

A hamburger from McDonald's is junk food. A burger made with high quality ingredients and eye toward macros is healthy.
Stouffer's frozen mac and cheese is junk food. A mac and cheese made with high quality ingredients and eaten in moderation is healthy.
Tostitos chips and Chi-chi's salsa is junk food. Pico de gallo with fresh made chips including high quality ingredients is healthy.

To be clear, I eat a good mix of both health food and "junk food." No judgment.

Burgers and Mac and cheese made at home are also basically junk food, if you ask the average cardiologist. They are not healthy foods and should not be consumed with any regularity at home or out of the home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ANY food described at such a generic level can be healthy food or junk food depending on how it is made.

A hamburger from McDonald's is junk food. A burger made with high quality ingredients and eye toward macros is healthy.
Stouffer's frozen mac and cheese is junk food. A mac and cheese made with high quality ingredients and eaten in moderation is healthy.
Tostitos chips and Chi-chi's salsa is junk food. Pico de gallo with fresh made chips including high quality ingredients is healthy.

To be clear, I eat a good mix of both health food and "junk food." No judgment.

Burgers and Mac and cheese made at home are also basically junk food, if you ask the average cardiologist. They are not healthy foods and should not be consumed with any regularity at home or out of the home.

PP here. The bolded is the key point. I never said I eat them regularly. I said I don't consider them junk food.

The problem here is a lack of a common definition of "junk food."

And no cardiologist would tell an otherwise healthy person to not consume quality burgers or mac and cheese ever.