BY KYLE LOVERN

There was a hit novelty song in the 1970s titled “Junk Food Junkie,” written by Larry Groce, who resides in Charleston.

“And I pull out some Fritos corn chips,

Dr Pepper and an Ole Moon Pie,

Then I sit back in glorious expectation

Of a genuine junk food high.”

That is just one verse from the song by Groce. I think many of us can relate to that title and the lyrics.

A nurse once told me her husband was having an “affair” with “Little Debbie” – a reference to his love of the popular snack cookies and cakes.

I have to admit, I love my chocolate, cookies, ice cream and chips.

Now don’t get me wrong. I try to balance it by eating some fruits, vegetables, yogurt and other healthier foods. No one loves a big salad with grilled chicken more than I do. I love fresh half-runner green beans, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and more. But what I’ve found out through the years is that it costs more to buy healthier foods than it does to eat junk food snacks.

With the economy still in bad shape, a trip to the grocery store has gotten much more expensive. It seems like most items have doubled. If you spent $50 on a few items in the past, you are likely spending $90 to $100 for the same amount these days. Since our COVID pandemic, the prices of fruits, veggies and nutritious foods have also increased. You’ve heard the excuse – it’s because of supply chain issues and the cost of shipping. There are other explanations as to why it costs us almost double to buy the same amount of groceries as it did a few years ago.

One way to help with the cost is to grow fresh vegetables in your backyard or have an even bigger garden. I’ve been trying that. I’m not the best farmer, but I’ve had some luck. There is nothing like the feeling of going into your own backyard and picking a couple of red or yellow “maters” and pulling a couple of green onions to go with a sandwich.

But if you go through the produce aisle, you’ll see “fresh” fruits and vegetables cost more than going down certain aisles with sugary and salty treats. If you buy organically grown vegetables, which means they are farmed without the use of pesticides and any chemical fertilizers, prepare to pay even more.

Then there is eating out. We would all love to order salmon, baked fish or something healthier, which tastes good. But it is so much cheaper to go through the drive-thru for a burger and fries. But even the price of fast food has risen.

Another verse from the song “Junk Food Junkie” goes:

“Oh, but folks, lately I have been spotted

With a Big Mac on my breath,

Stumbling into a Colonel Sanders,

With a face as white as death.”

The last time you were at your favorite restaurant or fast food joint, you may have noticed that a salad would cost you a bit more than a hamburger and fries. I noticed through the coronavirus shutdown you couldn’t even get a salad at a fast food restaurant. I can even recall getting burgers at the drive-thru and the worker telling us up front they had no lettuce to go on the sandwiches. Unfortunately, this isn’t just a coincidence. It’s supply and demand and the higher costs for the business owners and the consumers.

Have you seen the commercial where the man goes up to the little girl’s lemonade stand? The cute little girl asks if he would like some lemonade. He says, “Sure,” and she says, “Five dollars, please.” The man is astonished and stares. The little entrepreneur says, “Supply chain issues. Have you seen the price of lemons?”

That about sums it up.

Low-income folks and people, especially the elderly on a fixed income, have a tougher time stretching that monthly check and deciding how to pay bills and buy groceries. It’s easier and cheaper to buy a can of green beans than it is to buy fresh produce.

Wheat bread costs more than white bread. I prefer whole wheat and have gotten used to it. Also, the expiration dates on wheat bread are usually not as long as it is for white bread.

Harvard recently did a study to prove this as fact. Processed foods, meats and grains were much lower in price but considerably less healthy. So not only are processed foods cheaper, but of course, they are not as healthy.

“In the daytime I’m Mr. Natural,

Just as healthy as I can be,

But at night I’m a junk food junkie,

Good Lord have pity on me.”

This leads me to another subject: the high cost of health care. Many people won’t go to the doctor or hospital because of the high cost. Many don’t have health insurance because they can’t afford it. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines have gotten much more expensive while pharmaceutical companies are making billions of dollars. But that is a topic for an entirely different story and column. In the meantime, budget and try to find a happy medium and get some healthy food mixed in with your snacks. Don’t just be a junk food junkie.

(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)