junk food

Meaning

'Junk food' refers to food that is high in calories, sugar, or fat, but has very little nutritional value. It includes things like potato chips, candy, soda, and fast food, which are quick and tasty but unhealthy.

Examples

• I'm trying to eat healthier, so I've cut out all junk food from my diet.

  I'm trying to eat healthier, so I've cut out all junk food from my diet.

• The kids always want to buy junk food like chips and cookies when we go to the supermarket.

  The kids always want to buy junk food like chips and cookies when we go to the supermarket.

• After a long week of working hard, we sometimes treat ourselves to some junk food on Friday night.

  After a long week of working hard, we sometimes treat ourselves to some junk food on Friday night.

• There is too much junk food sold in school vending machines.

  There is too much junk food sold in school vending machines.

• I love the taste of junk food, but it always makes me feel sluggish afterwards.

  I love the taste of junk food, but it always makes me feel sluggish afterwards.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I ate a lot of junk foods yesterday.

  ✓ I ate a lot of junk food yesterday.

  'Junk food' is an uncountable noun, so it should not be pluralized with an 's'.

• ✗ Hamburgers are trash foods.

  ✓ Hamburgers are junk food.

  'Trash food' is a literal translation in some languages. In English, we always say 'junk food' or 'fast food'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you only eat ___, you won't get enough vitamins and minerals.

  💡 Unhealthy food like chips and sweets.

  Show answer

  junk food

• I need to stop buying ___ because I eat it all when I'm watching TV.

  💡 Quick, highly processed snacks.

  Show answer

  junk food