# Most unhealthy, generally available snack **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016 "2016-06-10T13:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/1 "2016-06-10T13:01:08Z")
My vote goes for the one I heard about on the radio this morning. No longer the sole domain of “Fair food”, where one can only indulge a few times each year when the fair is in town, [Hostess has entered an exclusive agreement with Wal-Mart](http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/06/09/hostess-rolls-out-pre-packed-deep-fried-twinkies-at-walmart/)to make available, on a limited time basis, a frozen version of the fried Twinkie. That’s right, now you can stock up on this epitome of empty calories and indulge multiple times per day, every day of your life - if you stock up now. I can’t imagine that these “treats” will ever go bad, especially if stored in a freezer. They probably wouldn’t if stored in the trunk of your car, for that matter. A bit mind boggling is the realization that somewhere, at some time, someone looked at a Twinkie - that concoction of solid sugar and chemical additives that is already 99% fat and carbs - and said “That’s just not unhealthy enough. Must… solve…dilemma…FRY that puppy!”. Even more mind boggling is that some marketing guru at Hostess saw that and decided that American society needed unfettered access, because…got me. What other generally available health bombs are out there? Do any have a loyalty club that offers discounts on Cardiac Care Unit stays? ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/2 "2016-06-10T13:22:41Z")
Slim Jims: coffin nails made of pink slime, pure cholesterol, and salt. I love them so ☹ ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/3 "2016-06-10T14:11:33Z")
Either potato chips or doughnuts. Neither has any nutritional value. I will be trying a deep fried Twinkie from WalMart… ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/4 "2016-06-10T14:16:57Z")
When the MN State Fair got deep fried Twinkies a few years back, I drug my best friend (dietician) to the stand because I needed them. She was not amused. She’s less amused that I’m now trying to lose weight, but refuse to eat all that rabbit food she suggests. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/5 "2016-06-10T14:21:58Z")
Pork Rinds. Definitely pork rinds. Super high in all the couch potato food groups, starch, sugar, fat, salt, and since they make you thirsty, alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/6 "2016-06-10T15:16:19Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Pork Rinds. Definitely pork rinds. Super high in all the couch potato food groups, starch, sugar, fat, salt, and since they make you thirsty, alcohol. Maybe fat and salt, but pork rinds are zero carb. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/7 "2016-06-10T15:25:07Z")
Depends on value of “generally available,” but one classic Cinnabon has 880 calories, mostly from fat and sugar/starch. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/8 "2016-06-10T15:33:48Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Maybe fat and salt, but pork rinds are zero carb. Is that what eventually kills you–not getting enough carbs? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/9 "2016-06-10T19:42:32Z")
Fat isn’t bad for you. Nor is salt. The (hopefully) embarrassed doctors are slowly changing the nutrition guidelines to actually reflect the evidence rather than a few outspoken experts’ opinions. For common, readily available, really bad for you snacks I’m going with gummi bears/worms/whatever shape type candy. It has nothing but sugar to offer and sugar is really not good for you. And it sticks to your teeth and makes sure they get a good, full dose of sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/10 "2016-06-10T19:53:21Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > For common, readily available, really bad for you snacks I’m going with gummi bears/worms/whatever shape type candy. It has nothing but sugar to offer and sugar is really not good for you. And it sticks to your teeth and makes sure they get a good, full dose of sugar. No, actually gummies are less sticky than jelly beans, gumdrops, etc. Actually, I think the correct answer to “most unhealthy generally available snack” is something like Snickers or Peanut M&Ms—for someone who has a deadly peanut allergy. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/11 "2016-06-10T23:42:57Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > … > For common, readily available, really bad for you snacks I’m going with gummi bears/worms/whatever shape type candy. It has nothing but sugar to offer and sugar is really not good for you. And it sticks to your teeth and makes sure they get a good, full dose of sugar. +1. You can argue that at least there are some usable nutrients in stuff that contains a lot of fat (just too MUCH of the one nutrient) but our carb needs are so low in comparison with what you get from even a small portion of, say, jelly beans, that you have zero need of them. Doesn’t stop me from consuming them, of course… ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/12 "2016-06-10T23:48:38Z")
Those packaged chocolate “donuts” that come with like 6 small donuts. I _believe_ its because lard is used in the ingredients but a serving (one package) has nearly 100% of the daily recommended saturated fat intake. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/13 "2016-06-13T14:45:55Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > Fat isn’t bad for you. Nor is salt. The (hopefully) embarrassed doctors are slowly changing the nutrition guidelines to actually reflect the evidence rather than a few outspoken experts’ opinions. That’s a bit of a broad statement. Anything, in sufficient quantity, is bad for an individual. Conversely, in moderation most anything is not actively harmful. This snack is literally [99% carbs and fat](https://www.caloriecount.com/calories-hostess-twinkies-i113361). The 1% protein is only due to the fact that the product is still made with [beef fat](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/twinkie-ingredients-not-vegetarian-gasp_n_6000026.html). It has 16.5 grams of sugar - a bit over 4 tablespoons - per cake. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, about this product that is healthy. You can get the exact same nutritional value by eating a teaspoon of beef fat and 4 teaspoons of sugar. Actually, that may be better for you because you wouldn’t get the additives and preservatives. That said, the occasional Twinkie is not going to have much of a cumulative affect on a healthy individual. Balance is the key. But we’re talking about bad snacks, not good nutrition! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/14 "2016-06-13T15:04:52Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > Fat isn’t bad for you. Nor is salt. The (hopefully) embarrassed doctors are slowly changing the nutrition guidelines to actually reflect the evidence rather than a few outspoken experts’ opinions. > > For common, readily available, really bad for you snacks I’m going with gummi bears/worms/whatever shape type candy. It has nothing but sugar to offer and sugar is really not good for you. And it sticks to your teeth and makes sure they get a good, full dose of sugar. The other day I saw sugar flavoured cookies at the 7-11 near my office. It’s like they are not even trying any more. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/15 "2016-06-13T16:12:03Z")
Sweetened breakfast cereal. Even the adult type of breakfast cereal is horrible. Products like Special K and Wheaties and Bran Flakes, ounce per ounce, contain more sugar than Coca Cola and more salt than potato chips. Not even counting the lactose in the milk. Sweetened children’s cereal only contains about twice as much sugar as “healthy” adult cereals. The exception is mini-shredded-wheats, which contain no added salt or sugar, and are delicious. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/16 "2016-06-13T16:20:49Z")
Irish Coffee provides the RDA of all four of the major food groups: Sugar, alcohol, caffeine and fat. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/17 "2016-06-13T16:53:26Z")
Meth. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/18 "2016-06-13T17:41:04Z")
Deep fried twinkies are for wannabees, go for the original and unhealthiest, from that bastion of heart attacks, pie eating, salad dodging nation of Scotland > **[Deep-fried Mars bar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep-fried_Mars_bar)** > > A deep-fried Mars bar (also known as a battered Mars Bar) is a Mars-brand chocolate bar covered in batter then deep fried in oil. The dish originated at a chip shop in Scotland as a novelty item. Since various mass media began reporting on the practice in the mid-1990s – often as a critical commentary on how unhealthy the Scottish diet was – the popularity of the dish has spread. > The dish is prepared using standard commercial Mars bars. The chocolate bar is typically chilled before battering, to... ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/19 "2016-06-13T17:54:45Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > What other generally available health bombs are out there? Do any have a loyalty club that offers discounts on Cardiac Care Unit stays? Soft drinks. Available everywhere. No brand, make model, style, flavor, regular or unleaded, is immune as unneeded empty calories. As a kid I was raised in a home where soft drinks were a treat, maybe once a month at most, often as a special occasion event. Once I left home, still not so much. A bit of an indulgence a few years back. Now, I’m back to special occasions when I grew up. I can take them or leave them. Leave them mostly. Now, dark chocolate is _another story_ … ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016/20 "2016-06-13T18:06:25Z")
I’d question potato chips. Sure, they’re empty calories, but those calories are almost entirely from starch and monounsaturated fat. That’s not great, but something that’s mostly simple sugar or saturated and/or trans fat is bound to be worse for you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-unhealthy-generally-available-snack/757016.md?page=2)