Ok, lets face it, our readers look to us to have a pretty discerning palate. If you asked the Food staff to gather around our giant Test Kitchen table (which we do at least once a day, usually two, to analyze each and every recipe in our magazine) to comment on a box cake mix, processed cheese food, powdered gravy mix, or frozen meal kits, you'd probably get a few cutting glances and unhappy smiles. You, the readers, have high expectations from the entire Food staff each month and hey, I don’t blame you.
We’re a “motley crew” of foodies--culinary school grads, professional caterers, real moms with hungry families, professional food writers, and even a food scientist, so we should know what we are talking about, right? We love to deliver honest, wholesome recipes to you each month and we walk the walk 99% of the time.
But lets face it, we all have our weaknesses and dirty little food secrets that only surface after a much overdue deadline, long week on the road, or when we’re just plain worn out.
Processed, cellophane wrapped, high fructose corn syrup deliciousness, and gloriously preservative-ridden gas station fare sometimes just hits the spot. Socially acceptable, high protein, soy-laced Whole Foods-purchased fair simply doesn’t cut it.
I have long maintained that EVERYONE has at least one “trashy" food affair. Something they wouldn’t necessarily admit in public, especially to a bunch of opinionated food professionals, but it’s there nonetheless. These culinary trysts may date back to early childhood, the long Griswold-style family vacations, or, dare we admit, college-ear debauchery.
For the first time ever, the Southern Living Food staff goes on record with our top junk-food picks to make fancy food magazines gasp in horror. Swing by the Shop-a-Snax, 7-11, or Tom Thumb before the game and know you will be enjoying "Southern Living approved" snackage.
View our foods staff's junk food secrets
What is your junk food weakness?
