July is the midpoint of the year, and the height of summer.

It is also: National Baked Bean, Grilling, Hot Dog, Ice Cream, Chocolate and French Fry Month. Perhaps not so coincidentally, July 21 is also National Junk Food Day. National Junk Food Day could be the perfect day to have a backyard barbecue and indulge in all these seemingly so-called junk foods.

Junk foods, by their very name, indicate they have no redeeming nutritional value. Which, in most cases, but not all, is generally true. You don’t want to make a habit of eating these foods every day at every meal. As they say, all things in moderation. And each of the aforementioned foods can be included in a healthy diet without blowing the nutritional budget.

Take, for example, ice cream. While it is high in fat and sugar, it also contains calcium, which it gets from the milk it contains. Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth. There are lower-fat versions on the market, which while not the same as “real” ice cream, are pretty close in taste to the real deal. If you cannot eat dairy products due to lactose intolerance, there are dairy-free products.

Baked beans, again high in sugar, are also high in protein, fiber and B vitamins. And they pair well with another food on the “junk food hit list”: hot dogs.

Hot dogs are high in sodium and contain nitrates, a preservative, which some people wish to avoid. Regular hot dogs, made from beef and pork, are also high in fat. There are alternatives on the market made from turkey and meat substitutes. These may appeal to individuals who are vegan (and therefore do not eat animal products) or who prefer a hot dog with less fat. But, hey, National Junk Food Month only comes around once a year, so one or two hot dogs won’t hurt, right?

Then there is chocolate. Dark chocolate, research has shown, has many health benefits. It contains flavonoids that may combat heart disease and some cancers. Again, moderation is the key since chocolate also contains sugar and fat. The recommended amount per day is about 3.5 ounces.

Finally, the french fry. While made from potatoes, which are high in vitamin C and other important nutrients such as potassium, when you take a potato, fry it in hot oil and dump a lot of salt on it, it quickly loses most of its nutritional value. Another choice would be a sweet potato fry, which — while still fried in oil and sprinkled with salt — contains vitamin A and fiber. Both of these “fries” can be made at home, in the oven and not fried in oil and where the salt content can be controlled.

Not to be totally relegated to the month of no nutritional return, July does celebrate a few national months containing healthy foods: blueberries, peaches and horseradish.

So, while you are indulging in National Junk Food Day, toss in a peach or a handful of blueberries for good measure. You’ll feel better about your indulgent choices and your body will thank you. But, after all, as we said, National Junk Food Day only comes around once a year, so have a french fry or two. It won’t hurt.