Test Kitchens Guiltiest Junk Food Snacking Secrets

Dirty Little Junk-Food Secrets

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.

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 a Shop-a-Snax, 7-11, or Tom Thumb and know you will be enjoying "Southern Living approved" snackage.

Read on to discover our dirty little junk-food secrets.

Rex Perry

Donna Florio, Senior Food Writer

“Cheetos--the really crispy ones, great mouth feel and you get that yellow cheese powder all over your fingers, especially fun when you're driving. Or Miss Vicki's or Zapp's potato chips. (I'm into crunch, can you tell?)”

Rex Perry

Shannon Satterwhite, Food Editor

"I have a weakness for Little Debbie Star Crunch, which would frequently appear in my Charlie's Angels lunchbox in elementary school. I also love Cheez Waffies by Wise (artificially flavored powdered Cheddar cheese product sandwiched between waffle crackers...yum!)"

Rex Perry

Ashley Arthur, Food Copy Editor

“I like the Velveeta Rotel Dip with cooked ground beef added to it with Frito scoop style chips. It’s warm, salty and perfect with a Miller Lite for football watching. For something sweet, Little Debbie "Nutty Bars". They are the perfect combo of sweet, salty and crunchy.”

Rex Perry

Pam Lolley, Test Kitchen Professional

“Cheetos rock!! Not the puffs----the extra crunchy kind!”

Rex Perry

Vanessa McNeil, Test Kitchen Professional

“My FAV Is Diet Dr. Pepper and Funnyons (Those fake fried onions rings) you don't have to know how to spell it ..just eat it. The other is fried cheery pie...you know the ones that have the weird glaze and that come a wax paper pkg. YUM!”

Rex Perry

Scott Jones, Executive Food Editor (aka our fearless leader)

“Cheddar or Nacho Cheese Combos (washed down with a Mountain Dew for first-class red neckery), Cheetos Puffs, Peanut M&Ms, and Famous Amos Chocolate Pecan Cookies.”

Rex Perry

Rebecca Gordon, Assistant Test Kitchen Director

“There's something frighteningly comforting about purchasing a bag of Combos ("cheese" filled pretzels- I think they call it "Cheddar") from the gas station with a 20 oz. Co-cola to wash it down- oh yeh, the big bag- and 1 bag is a serving. The salty-sweet and crunchy treat not to be guiltily indulged in but once every few years.”

Rex Perry

Shirley Harrington, Associate Food Editor

“Catch me with Cheez-its-original, small squares. Served 'in-style' on a plain white paper towel. Also, at one unpredictable time of year, I shell out about $5 to buy Ritz crackers and Kraft Olive-Pimiento Cheese Spread. Spread "cheese" between two crackers, stack up on a plain white paper towel (of course!), and head to the sofa.”

Rex Perry

Natalie Brown, Associate Food Editor

“My favorites are Nekot, Lay's Potato Chips, and any powdered sugar covered donuts.”

Rex Perry

Ashley Leath, Food Copy Editor

“Once in a blue moon, I get a big craving for the Kraft blue box mac and cheese. About a cup is all I need to have my fill before the processed flavor takes over, but after six months or so, the craving returns...”

Eating My Words: Share your junk food secrets on our blog

Our Junk-Food Secrets

Dirty Little Junk-Food Secrets

Donna Florio, Senior Food Writer

Shannon Satterwhite, Food Editor

Ashley Arthur, Food Copy Editor

Pam Lolley, Test Kitchen Professional

Vanessa McNeil, Test Kitchen Professional

Scott Jones, Executive Food Editor (aka our fearless leader)

Rebecca Gordon, Assistant Test Kitchen Director

Shirley Harrington, Associate Food Editor

Natalie Brown, Associate Food Editor

Ashley Leath, Food Copy Editor