Empty Calories
Definition: Food that has little or no nutritional value but adds to one’s caloric intake.
Origins & Example: This expression was born in the diet-conscious era of the late twentieth century and applied to, for example, liquor, soft drinks, snack foods, and desserts, as in, “She loads up on empty calories like potato chips.” It is on its way to clichédom.
Related Terms & Expressions:
- Junk Food: Unhealthy food with little nutritional value.
- Guilty Pleasure: Something one enjoys despite feeling that it is not generally held in high regard.
- Snack Attack: Craving for in-between-meal snacks.
- Sugary Water: Derogatory term for soft drinks and sodas.
Synonyms:
- Non-nutrient bites
- Calorie-laden non-essentials
- Diet destroyers
- Waist-wideners
Antonyms:
- Nutrient-dense foods
- Superfoods
- Healthful snacks
- Vital vegetables
Humor-Filled Quotes: “No one would reduce me to empty calories like a potato chip. I’m a full-course gourmet meal with dessert!” —If Junk Food Had a Voice 🌭
“The only empty calories I need are negative ones. Who’s with me?” —Confessions of a Diet Rebel 🍕
Proverbs and Sayings:
- “You are what you eat, so don’t be cheap, easy, or fake!” 🥇
- “An apple a day keeps the doctor away; a donut a day keeps the love handles at play.” 🍩
Relevant Literature & Media Recommendations:
Books:
- Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan
- In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Movies:
- Super Size Me (2004) —A documentary that examines the impact of fast food.
- Fed Up (2014) —A documentary about the food industry’s influences on public health.
Songs:
- “Junk Food Junkie” by Larry Groce
- “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard 🍬
Poetry:
- “Ode to a Cheesy Puff” by Imaginary Bistro Poet
Inspirational Goodbye from N. Delia Nibbles:
“Remember, life is too short for empty endeavors. Choose your bites—and your moments—wisely, for they will build the tapestry of your existence. 🍏✨”
