Sick Of The Guilt Trip?
Here we go again—another day, another well-meaning friend sharing that "life-changing" documentary about food you shouldn't eat. Yes, we know these foods aren't winning any nutritional awards, but sometimes you just want to enjoy your guilty pleasures without the side serving of judgment. Let's look at those "bad" foods that we don't need to give up entirely. How many are you struggling to give up?
1. Breakfast Cereal
"But it's basically dessert for breakfast!" Exactly, that's the whole point. Nothing brings back childhood joy like a bowl of artificially colored, sugar-coated bits of happiness. Those overnight oats can wait sometimes because there are days when we need that 8 AM sugar rush.
2. Tacos
Sure, regular tacos can be indulgent, but they’ve been the star of late-night cravings and casual dinners for a reason. Take a crunchy shell or a soft tortilla; tacos find a way to make boring ingredients a lot more satisfying. You can even load them up with proteins and veggies.
3. Chicken Nuggets
"Do you even know what's in those?" Yes, that's why we stick to the good brands. These crispy little bites of happiness have been there through thick and thin, from happy meals to midnight cravings. Here’s a fun fact: chicken nuggets were created by food scientist Robert C. Baker at Cornell University. We're forever grateful to him.
4. Nutella
This heavenly chocolate hazelnut spread has faced endless criticism for its sugar content, but what's the harm in enjoying it once a week? Sure, we could eat plain toast with almond butter, but some days, you need that spoonful (or three) of Nutella to start your day right.
5. Instant Ramen
The sodium content might be through the roof in some cups, but this miracle in a packet has gotten countless college students through finals week. Sometimes, even as functioning adults, we crave that synthetic chicken flavor that somehow tastes nothing like chicken but is equally fulfilling.
6. French Fries
"Want some deep-fried heart disease?" Yes, but we'd be fine if it's not on our everyday meal, right? These golden sticks of joy have been labeled everything from "empty calories" to "pure evil," but try telling us that when we're dunking them in a milkshake. Some experiences are worth the judgy stares.
Pixzolo Photography on Unsplash
7. Ice Cream
No, frozen banana "nice cream" is not the same thing. When life kicks us in the teeth, we want our favorite flavor of the real creamy, full-fat, sugar-loaded ice cream. Yes, we're aware of the calorie count, and no, we don't care about it, especially not at midnight after an ugly fight or a breakup.
8. Hot Dogs
We've all heard the horror stories about what goes into hot dogs. Thankfully, there are good options, too. These meat tubes have been fueling baseball games and summer BBQs forever, and we're not about to forget that they exist. Besides, anything that tastes this good with just mustard and a bun deserves some respect.
9. Processed Cheese
Cheese snobs look away. Occasionally, we want those perfectly square, suspiciously orange slices that melt like a dream on burgers. Is it "real" cheese? Well, that's debatable. Does it make the best-grilled cheese sandwich ever? Absolutely, yes! You can't fight us on this one.
10. Bagels
Refined flour bagels might be on the “No” list, but what if we eat whole grain bagels with avocado spreads? There’s always a way to make bagels part of our snack time. The regular ones are carb-heavy, but savoring it once in a while shouldn’t be as harmful as they say.
11. Nachos
They’re an appetizer and also a meal. Cheese, chips, jalapeños, and maybe even some guac—nachos are the perfect mess of everything we didn’t know we needed until we ate it. Whether we’re enjoying them during game night or as a late-night snack, nachos never disappoint.
12. Cupcakes
Tiny cakes that pack all the sweetness without the commitment of a full-sized dessert—what’s not to love? There are many other health-conscious alternatives out there, but when time is of the essence and you need a mini treat with frosting, you can have one without guilt.
13. Mac and Cheese
After that nightmare of a Monday, nothing hits quite like a bowl of creamy, cheesy pasta (without the cauliflower version). We're talking about the real mac and cheese here, the traditional one that leaves that suspicious orange dust on your fingers and your soul feeling whole again.
14. Potato Chips
Potato chips are those empty calories that have the power to fill our empty souls, dear neighbor. That satisfying crunch, that perfect salt ratio—sometimes a bag (yes, the whole bag) of chips is the only thing standing between us and losing it at the next team meeting or family gathering.
15. White Rice
Brown rice enthusiasts can take several seats. We've tried your nutty, takes-forever-to-cook alternative, and we just can't wait. So, we're sticking with our fluffy, perfect white rice. Not everything needs to be a fiber-loaded challenge to enjoy. Thank you very much.
16. Butter
"Have you tried this amazing vegan spread?" Yes, we have, and then we ran to the store to buy some butter. Butter makes everything better, and that's just facts. Paula Deen might have been right—sometimes, you just can't beat that creamy, golden goodness.
17. White Bread
Sure, everyone’s jumping on the ancient grain sourdough bandwagon. But let’s be real—real sourdough takes time, and that’s not exactly how supermarket shelves work. So, we’ll be right here enjoying our soft, squishy white bread, perfect for the best grilled cheese ever.
18. Doughnuts
Doughnuts are for days when we need a little explosion of pleasure in our morning. Whether it's the classic glazed or those fancy artisanal ones, doughnuts have survived every food trend and fad diet thrown their way. No, those protein ball "doughnut holes" aren't fooling anyone—we want the real deal, complete with sprinkles and regret.
19. Fruit Roll-Ups
That's not even real fruit, but here we are. These stretchy, sweet strips of childhood nostalgia might be more food science than actual food, but what's wrong if you need to feel like a kid again? And yes, we still make that weird face mask thing with them.
Fruit Roll Ups - FridgeCam by Sorted Food
20. Pizza
"Why do you order pizza every weekend?" Well, pizza is the ultimate comfort food that somehow landed on everyone's hit list. So, let's be real: After a brutal week, no one's craving a kale and quinoa bowl. We want that perfect combination of carbs, cheese, and happiness—judgment-free.
