16 Junk Foods That Start With J

We are filled with fast-paced lifestyles and busy schedules, and indulging in some guilty pleasures is becoming a tempting escape. While health experts may advise moderation, there’s no denying the allure of junk food.

Highlights:

• Exploring J-starting junk foods, but remember to keep it balanced for a guilt-free snack experience.
• From sweet to savory, there’s a wide range of flavors to try, satisfying every craving imaginable.
• Take your taste buds on an international adventure with treats from different cultures.
• Find healthier alternatives like jicama fries and jackfruit chips for a tasty, mindful munching session.
• Enjoy the nostalgia of classic favorites, bringing back memories of childhood treats

16 Junk Foods That Start With J

Today, we’re exploring flavorful, often controversial, but undeniably delicious treats that all have one thing in common: 16 junk foods that start with j.

Jellybeans

• Chewy and colorful sugar-coated candies.
• Available in a variety of fruity flavors.
• Bite-sized for convenient snacking.

Kicking off our list is the vibrant and chewy world of jellybeans. These tiny, sugary wonders come in a rainbow of colors and flavors, making them a delightful snack for candy lovers. Jelly beans’ basic ingredients are sugar, tapioca or corn syrup, and pectin or starch.

The emulsifying agent lecithin, anti-foaming agents, edible wax such as carnauba wax or beeswax, salt, and confectioner’s glaze are all present in small amounts.

These bite-sized candies are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with their vibrant hues and fruity tastes. Whether you enjoy them by the handful or sort them by color, jellybeans are a classic indulgence that never gets old.

Jalapeño Poppers

• Bite-sized, spicy appetizers.
• Jalapeño peppers stuffed with creamy cheese.
• Can be baked or deep-fried for a crispy texture.

Spice up your snack game with these mouthwatering jalapeño poppers. These bite-sized wonders are typically made by stuffing jalapeño peppers with a creamy cheese filling and then deep-frying or baking them to golden perfection. The result is a harmonious blend of heat and cheesy goodness that makes for a mouthwatering treat.

Junket

• Sweet, custard-like dessert.
• Made with ingredients like milk, sugar, and rennet.
• Offers a nostalgic and comforting taste.

A lesser-known treat, junket is a sweet, custard-like dessert often made with milk, sugar, and rennet. Jalapeño poppers, or jalapeño bites, are stuffed jalapeño peppers with cheese, spices, and ground meat before being breaded and deep-fried.

It’s a throwback to simpler times and can be enjoyed on its own or with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Made with ingredients like milk, sugar, and rennet, this old-fashioned treat offers a nostalgic taste of comfort. It can be enjoyed plain or garnished with a sprinkle of nutmeg for an extra dash of flavor.

Jaffa Cakes

• Light sponge cake with orange-flavored jelly.
• Coated in a thin layer of chocolate.
• Perfect blend of sweet and tangy flavors.

A beloved treat in the UK, Jaffa Cakes are a delightful combination of sponge cake, orange-flavored jelly, and a layer of chocolate. They’re the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

Dr. Emil Hodzovic, a Medichecks doctor and sports and nutrition coach, says in Telegraph: “I wouldn’t necessarily describe Jaffa Cakes as a nutritional snack. They are a source of carbohydrates, predominantly sugar, with a lower proportion of fat than you might get in other biscuits or cakes.”

Jerk Chicken

• Jamaican dish with bold and spicy flavors.
• Chicken marinated in a mix of aromatic spices.
• Grilled or roasted for a distinctive taste.

Taking a savory turn, jerk chicken is a Jamaican delicacy known for its flavorful blend of spices and a kick of heat. If jerk chicken is part of a balanced diet that includes complex and fibrous carbohydrates, it’s one of the healthier options. Chicken is one of the healthiest meat options, especially if you eat the lean breast.

Whether grilled or roasted, this dish is a must-try for those who enjoy bold flavors. Marinated in a blend of aromatic spices, including thyme, allspice, and Scotch bonnet peppers, the chicken is grilled or roasted to perfection, resulting in a mouthwatering dish tantalizing your taste buds.

Jambalaya

• One-pot dish with a blend of meats, vegetables, and spices.
• Represents Cajun and Creole culinary traditions.
• Hearty and flavorful.

A hearty and flavorful dish, jambalaya is a Louisiana classic. Packed with a mix of meats, vegetables, and spices, this one-pot wonder celebrates Cajun and Creole cuisine.

This one-pot wonder is a flavorful concoction of meats, vegetables, and spices, reflecting the rich culinary traditions of Cajun and Creole cuisine.

Protein is filled in jambalaya due to the sausage, chicken, and shrimp. Your healthful source of carbs is brown rice. This is a meal to save for later in your post-bariatric surgery recovery once you feel comfortable consuming various foods at once.  

Java Chip Ice Cream

• Coffee-flavored ice cream with chocolate chips.
• Creamy and rich in flavor.
• Ideal for coffee enthusiasts.

For coffee enthusiasts with a sweet tooth, Java Chip ice cream is a dream come true. This delectable frozen treat combines the rich flavor of coffee with chocolate chips for a delightful dessert experience.

Combining the rich, robust flavor of coffee with chocolate chips, this frozen treat offers the perfect marriage of creamy sweetness and a subtle caffeine kick.

Jackfruit Chips

• Crunchy snack made from jackfruit.
• Offers a mild sweetness.
• A healthier alternative to traditional potato chips.

A healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, jackfruit chips offer a unique crunch and mild sweetness. If jackfruit chips are eaten in moderation and as a part of a balanced diet, they may help with weight loss. When compared to other snacks, they are low in fat and cholesterol.

Additionally, they have a low glycemic index and a high water content, which prevents a sharp rise in blood sugar levels after eating them.

These chips are packed with fiber and are a tasty way to satisfy your snack cravings. Packed with fiber and a unique taste, these chips are a guilt-free way to satisfy your savory cravings.

Jelly Doughnut

• Fried pastries filled with fruity jelly.
• Often coated in powdered sugar or glaze.
• Classic and indulgent sweet treat.

A classic in pastries, jelly-filled donuts are a sugary delight. Each bite is a fruity sweetness, whether coated in powdered sugar or glazed. A serving of 80 g of jelly doughnuts has 312 calories.

This serving has 42 g of carbohydrates, 4 g of protein, and 15 g of fat. Of the latter, 23 g is sugar, and 1.5 g is dietary fiber; complex carbohydrates make up the remaining portion.

Each serving of jelly doughnut has 19 mg of cholesterol and 6.1 g of saturated fat. Whether glazed, powdered, or coated in sugar, each bite offers a burst of fruity sweetness from the gooey jelly center.

Jalapeño Chips

• Potato chips with a spicy jalapeño flavor.
• Provides a kick of heat with each bite.
• Perfect for those who enjoy savory and spicy snacks.

There are 200 calories in one package of jalapeño chips. For those who like a bit of heat with their crunch, jalapeño chips are the answer. The spiciness of the jalapeño flavor adds an extra kick to the traditional potato chip experience. These crunchy snacks are perfect for those who enjoy a little kick with their munchies.

Jalapeño Cheese Fries

• Fries topped with melted cheese and jalapeños.
• A savory and spicy twist on traditional fries.
• Irresistibly cheesy and flavorful.

Upgrade your fries with a generous serving of melted cheese and spicy jalapeños. It’s a combination of favorite among those who crave a perfect blend of cheesy goodness and heat. This rich combination increases ordinary fries to a flavorful, cheesy, and spicy treat that’s ideal for sharing.

Jelly-filled Pastries

• Flaky pastries filled with gooey jelly.
• Available in various shapes and sizes.
• A delightful option for breakfast or dessert.

Beyond donuts, various pastries are filled with gooey jelly goodness. From turnovers to Danish pastries, these flaky delights are filled with gooey, fruity goodness, making them a delightful option for breakfast or dessert.

Jalapeño Cheese Burgers

• Cheeseburgers with the addition of spicy jalapeños.
• Offers a fusion of savory and spicy flavors.
• Ideal for those who enjoy a bit of heat in their burgers.

Elevate your burger game with the bold flavors of jalapeño and melted cheese. This spicy twist on a classic is sure to tickle your taste buds.

The heat from the jalapeños adds a kick to the savory goodness of a classic cheeseburger, creating a satisfying fusion of flavors. You can see the recipe of this by Food Fusion.

Jaggery Candy

• Candies made from concentrated sugarcane juice.
• Provides a natural and traditional sweetness.
• A wholesome alternative to refined sugar treats.

Therefore, adding jaggery to your diet is not advised, even though it might be marginally “healthier” to use a sweetener with more vitamins and minerals instead of refined sugar.

A natural sweetener, jaggery is often used to make sweet and wholesome candies. For those seeking a natural sweetener, jaggery candy offers a wholesome alternative. These candies, made from concentrated sugarcane juice, provide a unique and traditional way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Jicama Fries

• Crunchy fries made from jicama.
• Refreshing with a mild sweetness.
• A lighter and healthier snack option.

Looking for a lighter snack? For a lighter take on fries, try jicama fries. Jicama has a beautiful flavor, is crunchy, and is high in fiber.

With a few basic ingredients, turn this Mexican root vegetable into air-fried “fries.” With just 100 calories and 9 grams of fiber per serving, each serving provides almost one-third of the recommended daily fiber intake!

These crunchy, refreshing alternatives are healthier for those looking to snack guilt-free. Try jicama fries – a healthier alternative to traditional potato fries. With their refreshing crunch and mild sweetness, these fries are a guilt-free way to enjoy a savory snack.

Jelly Ice Pops

• Frozen treats with fruity jelly flavors.
• Refreshing and perfect for hot days.
• Convenient and enjoyable for all ages.

Beat the heat with jelly ice pops. These frozen treats are a refreshing way to indulge in fruity flavors while staying cool. Whether homemade or store-bought, they offer a fun and convenient way to enjoy a sweet treat on a hot day.

“Popsicles might seem like a healthy alternative to other summer treats that are much higher in calories. But many popsicles are loaded with sugar and additives that can negatively impact your health, especially if you’re eating them on a regular basis,” says Kim Yawitz, RD.

Conclusion

So, this list of junk food that starts with J, these flavorful treats cater to various tastes, from sweet to savory, and everything in between. While enjoying these indulgences, remember to savor each bite responsibly!