If you could eat any food/meal and it have no effect on your health, what would it be.

[princeofpork3]

For me it would be the Big Mac and Fries. I would eat this 3 times per week if I could. However, its so bad for you I never eat it more than 2-3 times a year.

My other choice woul dbe a rack of baby back ribs, mac and cheese, cole slaw and corn bread.

[Candy]

Oh it would be foie gras.

[SomersetN]

Chicago deep dish spinach pizza from Gino's.

[fara]

Really good steak frites with any of the traditional french buttery sauces, my favorite is the mustard based one with l'entrecote.
Along these lines, french fries with aioli or any other vegetable or fried item with aioli. Really good eggs benedict subbed with lox or REAL canadian bacon, not that hyper-preserved stuff that usually comes with it.

Caprese salad made with great fresh tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella.

Grilled cheese- made with pain de mie or any great fresh white bread, good american cheese and butter. fried in a cast iron pan. eaten with excellent hot chocolate- made from melted bittersweet hot chocolate shirred into whole milk.

French onion soup and duck in a can from Au Pied du Cochon in Montreal. Along these lines- great preparations of foie gras with sweet accompaniments and a nice Saucerne.

Eel over rice, my favorite is sea eel- of course tastier than the fresh water version.

At another meal, lots of beef and chicken yakitori with scallions.

Crab cakes with remoulade, fried oysters, fried shrimp, fried whole belly clams, lots and lots of fried fish.

Barbecue Lays or other simple potato chips, Cheetos, Fritos. PIzza.

[C70]

a kilo or so of peanut butter, right from the jar.

I can't control myself with the stuff so I don't buy it.

[ola]

cheesecake.

[goodhealthgourmet]

All the glorious gluten-filled bread products I can no longer enjoy - pizza, bagels, bialys, pumpernickel, seedless rye, naan, flour tortillas, whole wheat, multigrain, focaccia...you can keep the pasta, donuts, cakes & cookies, just give me the bread.

And cereal. I'd kill for a big bowl of bran flakes, Cracklin' Oat Bran, Uncle Sam's, Honey Bunches of Oats, toasted oat squares, Cinnamon Life, Corn Flakes, shredded wheat...sad, I know.

Oh, and all the fresh & dried fruit my little heart desires. Thanks to fructose malabsorption I have to stick with mostly low-sugar varieties and limited amounts.

[fldhkybnva]

I love Bran Flakes, not sad at all!

[adventuresinbaking]

WHEAT!

I miss all of the delicious stuff that wheat was in, before I had to go gluten free.

[JillyLeigh]

hand cut fries. and mayo based honey mustard(like Outback's). maybe some chicken fingers too.

[Puffin3]

Bouillabaisse from Chez Gilbert in Cassis. Still using the original fish types only found off Marseille. Our own fresh caught steamed 'red crabs'/prawns/rock cod served with lots of clarified brown butter and fresh cilantro crispy mini baguettes.

[Lillipop]

If I were still eating meats it would be cheeseburgers made with perfect ground sirloin and fries.Then reuben sandwiches.Fish almondine with brabant potatoes. Any smoked fish....smoked turkey...smoked brisket....smoked tri tip served with cheesy au gratin potatoes.Yum yum yum.

[sedimental]

Go big...or go home! Hahaha.

[pikawicca]

Anything and everything at Galatoire's,

[Elster]

Pumpkin-seed-covered soft pretzels, every day, with every meal.

[Kalivs]

Ribs from Bludso's & mashed potatoes

[Lillipop]

I just read through this thread.This has to be the most fun stuff I have ever read on CH.One girl wrote *vats of nutella*.That was funny.

[alliegator]

A grapefruit cut in half, sprinkled with brown sugar and stuck under the broiler. Love me some grapefruit but have to avoid it because it messes with the release of my migraine prevention medicine. It's a sad, sad thing :( Ok, not in the grand scheme of things, but it's sad to me, haha!

[Tudor_rose]

Chocolate pecan pie to my heart's content.

Fried oysters in a cornbread coating

Seafood gumbo chock full of seafood

Baklava (or any sugary syrupy Greek desert covered in phyllo)

[mcf]

Oooh, good choices!

[Bill Hunt]

Foie gras.

Hunt

[Stephanie Wong]

Thanks for restoring my faith in CHers - I was getting concerned (of course, I might have missed it in the above). Foie gras was my first thought.

What wine would you pick as an accompaniment?

[princeofpork3]

Vodka

[MrsCris]

In this dream world, hollandaise sauce would become hollandaise soup - served in a bowl with a spoon. Same with gravy. And would come with a side of French fries.

[mamachef]

This may trump all. OMG: a big bowl of Hollandaise and fries. I have just achieved the tabula rasa in my mind.

[suzigirl]

French fries? Nah. Gimme a spoon. Maybe it's passe' but a crab stuffed flounder would work too. No one has that on the menu anymore. :-(

[lynnlato]

" Maybe it's passe' but a crab stuffed flounder would work too. No one has that on the menu anymore."

Head over to Hilton Head or most NC or SC beach town restaurants - I see crab-stuffed flounder on the menus often.

[happybaker]

OMG MrsCrhis - you just made me snicker with joy.

Apparently I have been dreaming too small!

[mariacarmen]

i'm sold.

[luckyfatima]

All my favorite rice dishes, all my favorite Chinese and Vietnamese noodle dishes, fluffy naans with all my food, copious amounts of fresh yuca fries, beef ribs, Cantonese BBQ duck, endless amounts of dim sum, chocolate mousse, New York style cheesecake, NYC style pizza, gorditas, sopes, carrot cake, rich chocolate cake, vats of nutella, tons of almond rocca, pancakes, waffles...I feel so repressed writing this all out! Now I am craving so many things!

[lynnlato]

Pizza and chocolate cake with peanut butter icing.

[mcf]

You may be the woman of my husband's dreams. :-) I made him a really good reduced carb chocolate cake with PB frosting for his birthday one year, but the use of such a lot of xylitol in the frosting (I ground it to 10x) had us running for the john all night long. Never had that reaction before, but it was a LOT of SA... even blended 50/50 with liquid sucralose. If I ever find out I'm terminal, I'm having pizza with the crust... it's been years.

[lynnlato]

Hahahaha!!! So that stuff really is gastrointestinal-y evil, eh? I admire your efforts. I've never cooked/baked with xylitol. The real thing is a very rare treat... but man, do I savor it when I do indulge.

I can remember as a child, my mother scolding me for not eating the pizza crusts and telling me it was the best part. Then she'd take my crusts and eat them herself. As I got older I learned to love the crust, and then in my 20's I was diagnosed with Type 1. So cruel... lol.

BTW, on that Green Smoothies thread on the Special Diets message board I mentioned peanut butter powder. Have you ever used it? I'm wondering if that would be helpful in making a better chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. I'll bet it would.

[mcf]

I haven't used it, but may have to experiment. Thing is, I *like* full fat versions of things.

[lynnlato]

I do too.... *sigh*

Fellow Chowhounder, GoodHealthGourmet, turned me on to Byrd Mill which makes several different peanut flours (basically the same thing, minus the sugar & salt). They have different fat contents and darker roasts. You should check them out too.
http://byrdmill.com/gourmet_peanut_flour

[mcf]

Thanks, I noticed that post. Nothing wrong with all the fat, though, doesn't budge my glucose and it's improved my lipids.

if it weren't so greasy, I'd have a nut butter and brie sandwich! ;-)

[EWSflash]

Xylitol, sorbitol, I bought some sugar-free salt water taffy from a vendor at work once and it was great so I ate a bunch of it. Suddenly I was heading to the bathroom every five minutes, didn't know why at the time but i had to leave work so I could go home and go in relative peace and quiet. Nearly shat myself inside out, I did. In retrospect I used to eat too many Ricola sugar free herbal drops from Trader Joe's , to, with the same results. I'm not sure what a safe dose is, in my case I had overdone it every time, though.

[fldhkybnva]

Yup, nearly every day for me! I have an unhealthy obsession to sugar free gum and within 2 sticks it's to the bathroom for me, serious gas pains and I regret it everytime. I've been 2 days clean now...here's hoping that I stay on the wagon for my sake.

[mcf]

It really varies from person to person.

[sedimental]

Yes, it really is an individual system thing. I can eat all I want of any sugar alcohol and have no effect. I just have to remember not to serve to guests! Well...unless I don't like them ( insert evil laugh).

[mcf]

In my family, we don't have issues with a typical serving. But I made powdered xylitol once for a thickly frosted cake frosting, and while not totally miserable, we won't be doing that again.
Theory is that if you get the bad gut reaction, you're getting calorie free servings, but some of us digest SAs just fine, and need to count them as carbs.

[juliejulez]

Same thing happened to me in college with sugar free Creamsaver candies.

[petek]

Potato chips and other salty deliciousness +ice cream...

[ceekskat]

Dosa
vada
hamburgers
S.Indian rice dishes
french toast from a place in Carmel, CA that must be made out of funnel cake batter :) Actually, why bother...just the funnel cake will do.

[BuildingMyBento]

Sushi. A bowl of Oatmeal Squares and Cracklin' Oat Bran. Coconut Milk. On the OTHER hand, fearlessly consuming any street vendor food might be the winner...

[KitchenBarbarian]

If we're going to Dream the Impossible Dream, personally I'd rather dream big.

Which food would I like to eat without it negatively affecting my health?

ALL of it!

[chartreauxx]

i like your style.

[KitchenBarbarian]

That's just the way I roll...

*tries to look super-cool*

[happybaker]

+ 1

[CarrieSeas]

lobster, crab legs, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, sour dough bread, grits, New England clam chowder, and fresh creamed corn

^^^all of the above with lots and lots and lots of butter^^^

Angel hair pasta w/Rao's marinara sauce, mac'n'cheese w/tons of cheese, rich, creamy cheese

donuts, donuts, donuts - Krispy Kreme

Blue Bell Dutch choco ice cream

nacho cheese dip and guacamole dip

Chocolate cake w/glass after glass of whole milk

bag after bag of boiled peanuts w/extra salt

I just gained 30 lbs. typing that, maybe 40, might be 50, ugh!!

[soypower]

I have always wanted to try a Loco Moco but have never been able to justify the calories, fat, and carb content. With a side of potato or macaroni salad, of course. To dream a bigger dream, there is a restaurant that makes their Loco Moco with pork katsu instead of hamburger patties. I dream, I dream...

[princeofpork3]

whats a Loco Moco?

[suzigirl]

A bed of rice and either macaroni salad or pottato salad with a hamburger patty or sometimes another protein depending on where you go. All covered in brown gravy and a fried egg. Gut bomb for sure.

[PotatoHouse]

Blowfish Sushi.

[gingershelley]

Oooh the list is SO big of what I would eat all the time if it didn't hurt me! I like the addition of 'if it doesn't hurt the environment or species either, since this is fantasy land...

Start at breakfast:
Eggs benedict, crab benedict, shirred eggs, blueberrybuttermilk pancakes with thick slabs of bacon on the side, a big country sausage patty and soft scrambled eggs with alouté cheese melted in. Croissants, both plain with homemade jam - at least three kinds; wild strawberry, cherry, and apricot - on the side. A twice baked almond croissant as well.

Lunch;
baguette with bordiér butter; a chacuterie plate with pate, chicken liver mousse, sliced saucisson, etc. Sole meuniere with loads of brown butter and almonds. Rivers of dry unoaked french chablis. A huge crab Louie salad with homemade Louie dressing. A bottomless shrimp cocktail with both homemade lemon mayo and cocktail sauce. Thick clam chowder with lots of crackers on the side. Dessert is a huge slab of lemon merangue pie and a chocolate chip cookie.

Mid afternoon snack;
Perfect slice of Neapolitan pizza, or a couple of tacos, maybe a side of a deep fried puffy chili relleno. Or maybe a slice of cold quiche lorrainne made with lot's of cream and gruyere....

Dinner; Foie gras starter, some langoustines with dipping sauce; a nice slab of rare tuna with a soy and wasabi drizzle (the overfishing thing); Huge aged ribeye, or a slab of prime rib. On the side is creamed spinach, and Jean-francois' Potato Gratin Dauphinois, for sure. Sauteed mushroom in brandy...corn on the cob with tons of butter and salt. Lot's of both white, then great red wine.

Cheese cart unlimited, with sides and more bread.

Dessert; perfect sour cherry pie, chocolate cake with ganache frosting, coffee ice cream, an eclair, not-too-sweet cheesecake with strawberries. Little dark chocolates and caramels to finish. Champagne!

Late night snack;
A fried glazed donut, another dish of ice cream, and maybe some digestivo to wash it down.

It's ok to dream!

[mamachef]

I've changed my mind. I want YOUR last meal.

[chowmeow]

It would be bread and cheese. I'd start with freshly baked baguette slathered with camembert for breakfast, then for lunch a nice toasted grilled swiss cheese sandwich, where part of the cheese melts on the pan and browns to a crisp, and then a nice cheese plate with at least 4 different cheeses for dinner (with maybe some token fruit or salad for a fresh contrast.) The next day would include fondue w/nice chunks of challah bread (or sour dough, or country), pao de queijo for snack time, mozzarella tomato sandwiches for another meal, and Triscuits (not exactly bread) w/cheddar, and so on and so on! I wish this could be!!

[fara]

these have also become my no-no's. everything in moderation...but bread and cheese unfortunately

[pedalfaster]

This may be a weird one, but since I saw another medical condition listed, I'll spill mine.

What I miss/want most?
Nuts and seeds.

Currently on a low-fiber diet (medically induced and prescribed). I crave almonds. Toasted sesame seeds. Hazelnuts in chocolate.

[tiffeecanoe]

Oh goodness.. fried chicken livers. Oyster Po' Boys. Salads filled with blue cheese, bacon, avocados and corn, topped with a creamy and delicious blue cheese dressing...

[mcf]

Except for the corn, those are the kinds of salads I eat often, to control my diabetes and improve my health. Love Cobb salad!

[chartreauxx]

i have a pancreatic condition, so i can't eat anything red meat or anything deep fried, and even pan-fried stuff is limited... if THAT no longer mattered, STEAK AND FRIED STUFF!!! lol!

i'd also eat macaroni and cheese. fettuccine alfredo. pork belly, foie gras. tuna, salmon, etc (big, heavy-metal-carrying species of fish) to my heart's content. ... can we just throw in another element to my fantasy world and say "it doesn't damage the environment/species stability"?

homemade fruit pie. pumpkin pie. tempura fried corn. my dad's fondue. raclette. roqueforte. any cheese, or cheesy thing, or cheese-stuffed/covered/smothered/sprinkled thing (almost). dim sum. fudge (homemade). kurogoma pudding. cheeseburgers. peking duck. croissants of all kinds.

and... not so gourmet... but...soft drinks. teas. yogurts. sodas and juices. i love them. all flavors, still, sparkling, you name it and i want to try it! fruit punches, -ades, fruit drinks, smoothies, granitas, italian sodas... birch beer, sarsaparilla, root beer, ginger beer, strawberry pop, cream soda, egg cream, green river, dusty miller, floats, frappes, spritzers, sparklers... what can i say, it's a vice.

[dianne0712]

Cheese fondue, cheesecake, poutine, fabulous bread and croissants, leg of lamb, and really all cheeses and everyonce and a while an entire box of chocolates or 12 Mars bars.

[Clams047]

That's easy - Klondike bars. Local grocer is having a sale this week - $2 for a six pack - must buy three. Hmmmmmm

[peanut329]

those big ol' chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. I once had one for breakfast at 7:30 am, straight from the gas station.

[YAYME]

Being diabetic nearly everything is off my list. But I do really miss chocolate mousse and creme brulee! I can make both of those things, so it's a worst. When I have stuff for it it gets so tempting.

[mcf]

I'm diabetic, and the only thing I have to restrict is carbs to have great control.

Creme brulee and mousses are super easy to make low carb, and very rich with fat from cream... Very adaptable diabetic desserts.... fat restriction is not necessary or helpful, it's the carbs... use alternative sweeteners.

[dianne0712]

yes, chocolate moussewith80% cocoa and eggs. Fabulous.

[mamachef]

Fried chicken, scalloped potatoes, corn pudding, squash casserole, tomato-cheese pie, rolls and butter, gravy. And a huge caramel cake for dessert. With really good homemade lemonade. and maybe some slow-cooked string beans with ham just for kicks.
Gawd, I sound like a piglet. :)
On the other hand, Prime rib with twice-baked potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy, creamed spinach, and a huge salad with blue cheese crumbles doesn't sound bad by half either. Heavy as heck, but gooooood.

[pinehurst]

^^^This.
And crusty french bread and butter at every meal.
And (whispers sheepishly) Ring Dings.

[jw615]

Mine are probably a little different from most folks.

I have adult onset food allergies to about 20 foods. Of the 'swell up and die' type. There are few things that I cannot make in a way that is safe for me, but some things there are no substitutes for.

That being said, if I could eat them without the whole death thing (or at least an injection and an ambulance), I would have deviled eggs, lemon bars, fresh peaches and a peach pie, fresh watermelon, fresh cherries, cheese ravioli with tomato sauce, and a hot apple cider. Those are the only things that I haven't been able to make for myself that I really miss. And I'm working on the pasta...

[ola]

pastrami on rye with coleslaw and russian dressing and a big slice of New York cheesecake.

[tardigrade]

Cheese.

Chile con queso for breakfast, with a cheese omelet on the side. Grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese soup for lunch. Souflees, quiches, mac and cheese for dinner, salad with roquefort dressing, cheese biscuits - with a cheese plate for dessert.

OK, maybe I'll temper the cheese with a little bacon...

[jmcarthur8]

Can I come eat at your house?

[Tovflu]

Fried chicken
Fried fish
Onion rings
Pillsbury flaky rolls (yeah, really)
BBQ ribs
Roasted duck
Corn bread

Roast duck probably wins though.

[jennc]

Pierogies smothered in bacon and onions with full fat sour cream to accompany.

Homemade Mac and cheese.

T-bone steaks til I'm blue in the face.

Nanaimo bars ad infinitum.

Cafe con leche.

[rHairing]

Hmmm...meal...apps of deep fried buffalo wings and gooey nachos. Fried chicken with that cheesy potato casserole thing from Cracker Barrel and creamed spinach and good fried okra. Beer to wash it down. Graeters double chocolate chip ice cream for dessert...

[biscottifan]

Ribeye steak or baby back ribs followed by cherry pie with vanilla bean ice cream.

[ginaatcateror]

Bacon! Or possibly fried chicken. Hellish on health, but utterly delicious.... Cool thread, loving reading though all these!

[zuklaak]

How about chicken fried bacon?

[cresyd]

Fried.

It's rather pathetic, but that's basically where my childhood tastes immediately gravitate to. Savory fried food, sweet fried food - whatever - just dunk it in the deep frier and I'd be good to go. So if it made me neither fat, nor the other medical woes I suffer after eating fried food - I would happily relish being able to eat something fried daily.

[fara]

I will take a slightly different tactic: really really spicy food, which tends to upset my digestive system. LIke a really great red Thai curry with salmon or lamb vindaloo.
Also upsetting that I would love to eat more of: samosas, fried fruit pies, sundaes, baked ziti, really good fettucini alfredo, eggs benedict, pancakes, jalapeno poppers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese made with american cheese, just about any kind of tex-mex or eastern european dish. any kind of fried dumpling or spring roll.
fortunately my stomach has no issues with pasta or bread. Wow, I guess I'm glad for a sensitive tummy, otherwise I would be 1000 lbs.

[prunefeet]

Ice cream
Bacon
Fried chicken
French fries

[Tripeler]

Prunefeet, aren't these the four major food groups?

[mrbigshotno.1]

Make it five, Tacos.

[prunefeet]

Oh, I forgot fettucine alfredo - can we make it six food groups?

[ashleynicole]

eggs benedict, green curry mussels with french fries, lemon tart, blueberries, an endless supply of very strong lattes with two sugars, edamame, chocolate tart and cheese and tomato omelette with sea salt and pepper.

[PHREDDY]

About 15 years ago we were on vacation at a beautiful resort that included a fantastic sit down breakfast....my daughter found eggs benedict after I ordered one....since you could order as much as you wanted of anything, she proceeded to eat two orders each of the next three mornings plus an assortment of breakfast pastries.....when she got home she found out that each order contained about 1000 calories and that she consumed 7000 calories on vacation of just that.....she swore them off...but when on vacation today, she limits herself to just two orders!

[ashleynicole]

Phreddy, unfortunately eggs benedict is loaded with calories, if I had the choice and it wouldn't effect my health my breakfast for the week would alternate between eggs benedict and almond croissants. yum!

[mcel215]

I can't have caffeine any longer and I fell in love with chai lattes, so yes endless chai lattes for me, Not to menton all of the calories too. :)

www.saffron215.blogspot.com

[suzigirl]

You don't have to answer but may I ask why you can no longer have caffine. I was disallowed caffine this year for heart problems....prinzmetal angina. No artificial sweeteners either. Boy do I miss diet caffinated soda.

[mcel215]

Hi Suzi,

In March I was diagnosed with Tachy Brady syndrome. I had given up soda over a year ago, without missing it much. But, it took a week for my headache to go away from eliminating my ONE cup of coffee a day. I'm doing decaf now, as the docs suggested.
There are some good decaf's out there now, so no complaints. :)

www.saffron215.blogspot.com

[suzigirl]

Caffine is an evil monkey to get off your back...

[PHREDDY]

SG...I too had the same problem, and gave up caffine about 7 or 8 years ago.....since then, I kind of lost my taste for coffee...if I have it (decaf) in the morning or not i just don't miss it.

[ashleynicole]

Chai lattes are definitely amazing, it's such a shame you can't have them any longer, unless you get decaf!

[mcel215]

Thank you ashley, but I give up most things for high fat anyway, but do treat myself once in awhile.

If I find a good Chai latte that is decaf, I'll definately treat myself. :)

www.saffron215.blogspot.com

[gator28]

Fried chicken, absolutely. I love it. A close second would be a big bowl of ice cream every night before bed.

[Rick]

If i had to pick one thing, I'd have a real hard time choosing between potato chips or ice cream.

For a meal I'd have to pick an Indian buffet, I just love an Indian buffet!

[zzDan]

I'm voting Indian buffet too but it has to have a lamb dish and shrimp dish on it in addition to tandoori chicken. Plus a tomato rich salad I can put that white yogurt sauce on

[PHREDDY]

Pasta with any sauce you can imagine....cream bases, meat, processed meat. Then move on to prime rib, porterhouse, filet mignon, roasted pork sammies.

Pork ribs, pork skin and pork fat. Desert..... Lock me in a good bakery and let me out in the morning.

[Jpan99]

I'm coming with, to the bakery, with a gallon of milk!

[PHREDDY]

Make mine chocolate milk! And please wipe that whipped cream off your chin!

[happybaker]

I'll bring the black coffee, for later!

[PHREDDY]

I would start in the refrigerated case and eat enough to make room so that I could lay in there horizontially and eat eclairs, chocolate cake with fudge frosting, and then all of the customers could see me!

[jmcarthur8]

Homemade traditional macaroni and cheese with a side of cheese.

Cheesecake for dessert with a side of homemade strawberry jam.

[LovesPickles]

in-season corn-on-the-cob with lots of butter and salt

good ice cream-like Jeni's

homemade summer fruit pies with perfect pastry

deep dish pizza

bacon cheeseburgers

Haystack Onion Rings (a dish at Six Penn Kitchen in Pittsburgh)-it is literally a giant pile of very thinly sliced and perfectly fried onions. As much as I love regular onion rings these are so much better/crispier, and they come with house-made ketchup that is delicious.

[Tripeler]

Pork rinds, specifically the Mexican variety with a layer of fat still attached.
A very superb snack for really bitter IPA.

[Veggo]

chicharrones grueso. works.

[John E.]

I'll chime in and agree with a few others and say potatoes, French fries first and then potato chips. Another category would be bread, including fried doughnuts such as glazed, chocolate covered, and glazed apple fritters. I'm currently on a low-carb diet so the thought of these foods is almost torture.

[mcf]

The cravings go away if you stick with it long term. Mine did and even the two things I miss most haven't been cravings or anything like torture for years now, just fond memories.

[princeofpork3]

Interesting how many folks talk about low carb eating habits. WOnder of this is purely for weight control or other reasons.

[mcf]

For health. I was very thin when I began controlling my diabetes, lipids and improving my overall health with low carb. I don't need any meds and have reversed a lot of health damage and risks. And feel better, without hunger.

[princeofpork3]

Thats great news. I didnt realize carbs had such an impact on Diabetes. Thoughts it was more sugar based but as I am writing this I realize carbs are transformed to sugar if not burned.

[John E.]

My recent low-carb adventure is both because my weight is affecting my health. I'm a large man anyway, but when the bp and blood sugar both are a little high, the carbs are the first things to go in order to get things under control. My problem is that weight loss comes relatively easy for me, it's the maintaining the weight loss that is more difficult. The last time I dropped a substantial amount of weight all I did was to eliminate most carbs and snacking and the pounds just melted away. Let's hope I can do it again.

I'm considering marketing a weight-loss pill. It would be made of inert material and it would be taken 8 times per day on an empty stomach.

[mcf]

The key is to find your critical carb level where you can eat some, but in amounts and types that don't trigger cravings that derail you. Which is why I don't eat pizza crust or bagels.

[mcf]

All carbs convert to sugar... not just unburnt carbs, which are converted to triglycerides for storage as fat, with excess not converted floating around doing damage to every cell.

[Querencia]

An entire box of See's chocolates.

[AnneMarieDear]

Nice!

[mrbigshotno.1]

And ice cold whole milk to wash them down!

[sedimental]

Wow...would you share them? But I only like the harder ones. I was the kid that always in trouble for poking the bottoms of the chocolates to see which ones were caramel :)

[khh1138]

Good one!! We always got one box at Christmas when I was a kid (and that was a huge indulgence - money was tight) and I will always think these are the most lovely chocolates in the world. There may be "finer" chocolates out there, but none that make me happier.

[mcf]

I've been eating extremely low carb for over a decade, and while I don't miss them in my daily life, I always say that if I find out I'm terminal, I'm going to eat a hot, fresh slice of NY pizza followed by an everything bagel with butter and cream cheese.

But not until. Those are the only two things I ever miss at all; it's been years.

I have never eaten a Big Mac, even when I made them at McDs in college. Nor any of their hamburgers.

[princeofpork3]

Have that slice of Pizza. Its so worth it.

[mcf]

Not worth it, healthwise. Diabetic, staying in normal numbers this way.

[PHREDDY]

A bite or just a taste...I manage that once and a while

[mcf]

I have one bite about once a year if it's around. Or eat the toppings off. But until I find out I have something terminal, that's it.

[PHREDDY]

Remember this is fantasy board...so it is nice to dream!

[mcf]

:-)

[Kalivs]

I understand completely. Sometimes, I wish my H1AC would take a hike for a couple of days. But, stable blood sugars make such a difference in the long run.

[mcf]

ALL the difference. Stable and low normal for me. No meds, I don't have cravings or feel deprived ever, but I do remember how much I enjoyed pizza...

[biondanonima]

I've been low carb for over a decade as well, although since I am not diabetic I don't have to be nearly as strict about it as mcf. However, even though I do sometimes indulge in carbs, I do so knowing that they are in NO WAY good for me - and if I could magically make certain foods healthful (or at least health-neutral), carbs would be it. And pizza and bagels are right up there on my list!

[mcf]

I didn't know I was diabetic when I began low carbing, until I got a glucose meter and checked at one and two hours after meals... hence my dropping starches and sugars almost entirely. When I cheat, I make it worthwhile, brief and not a day long thing. I got so many health improvements, some literally overnight, that I've never been tempted to go back to the things that really bring on symptoms, like wheat, white potatoes, rice. Especially pizza and bagels. For decades, I'd wondered why I always got kind of sleepy/groggy after pizza and bagels... Very rarely, I'll buy an everything bagel, slice off the side with all the good stuff, scoop out all the doughy part, fill it with veggie cream cheese, capers and pile on smoked salmon, but it's been so long I can't recall the last time, because it always gives me a post meal reading I hate to see. Even that way. :-(

[dianne0712]

I'm very interested in your post since I've just been diagnosed. I can't see myself giving up carbs completely though. I have been trying to keep the potion of carb very tiny when I can't resist and cut out the things I never much cared for anyway, like rice and pasta. Much more expensive to eat this way and I still have to make carbs for the hubby.

[mcf]

I haven't given up carbs, I'm just eating the ones that are good for me, and don't raise my glucose. Email me to discuss further, mods don't like medical discussion on the food boards. Hubby will be better off eating your way, in the long run. Mine is, and he has no health issues. Just low carbs for the preventive benefits and weight maintenance with no middle age gut.

[AngelaID]

How did I ever make it to 50 without ever tasting a Big Mac? I used to love their fries. Not the same anymore. Mine would be hard salami, copious amounts of cheeses and warm french bread with real butter!

[suzigirl]

Oh boy, where to start.....
Nowadays, I want chicken wings super hot,Thai spicy green curry, tex-mex chili. Anything hot....got a bad tummy
Lobster,crab of any kind drown in gobs of butter.
Fried clam strips, pickles, green tomatoes,okra, tater skins,
Prime rib w/ horseradish cream and loaded baker and creamed spinach
Chimis, flautas, nachos etc
Pork brains in eggs
Summer sausage,salumes,cured meats, even spam
Corned beef
I could go on and on.

Oh yes, vodka beer and bubbly

[Veggo]

Bloomin onions

[scubadoo97]

The last one I had at the state fair swore me off them for good. It's been a long time

Just made spare ribs on the smoker. Id eat them more often if they were like health food

[mariacarmen]

thin, salty, crispy french fries sprinkled with fried herbs, aioli and champagne

but, of course, potatoes of any kind, fixed in any way.

any and all cheeses

eggs benedict

bacon, pork belly, pork ribs - pork anything

lamb anything

fried chicken

fried eggs

fried fish

pate, foie gras, liverwurst

rare rib eye steaks

bernaise, hollandaise, composed butters, aioli

lobster with drawn butter

sushi til i burst

[princeofpork3]

Why would you consider sushi not healthy? It is one of the healthiest foods you can eat.

[mariacarmen]

white rice isn't super healthy, if i'm eating nigiri (as opposed to sashimi), and i said "til I burst" - anything you eat til you burst can be unhealthy.

[Harters]

I never deny myself food (which is why I'm fat).

That said, I enjoy a varied diet and wouldnt want to eat anything, however good, several times a week. It just wouldnt be as much fun.

I no longer drink alcohol so I guess that if it wasnt going to affect my health, I could go back to it. Any chance of cigarettes being classed as food in this new perfect world?

[princeofpork3]

Not unless you want to rename this board to Butt-Hound

[mariacarmen]

even in this imperfect world, Harters, I deem smokes a food group (even if not overly indulged in.)

[bagelman01]

Not cigarettes unless they are the candy variety, BUT you can make a case for Chewing Tobacco

[AnneMarieDear]

Cheeses w baguette, also butter and preserves for the bread, other cheese plate accompaniments, and I actually would like a simple green salad w/ vinaigrette because I like it with a cheese meal.

Dessert could be strawberry shortcake (or any good white cake) with lots of whipped cream and strawberries, also pastries. Something lemon in there, too. I just ate half of a raspberry Kringle last night. Sad, but true.

May I add croissant because I would love to be able to enjoy them with a free pass.

The main thing is cheese, butter, bread. And my beloved croissant, and desserts. Oink.

[AnneMarieDear]

And charcoal grilled burgers once a week!

[redfish62]

Japanese blowfish

[Crockett67]

Fries, nachos, spaghetti, pizza, Ice cream, and cheese burgers.

Apparently I would regress into a 5 year-old.

[LeoLioness]

I would eat french fries dipped in mayonaise every single day and drink my coffee with heavy cream.

[dianne0712]

I thought it was just me and the Austrians that did this! Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone.

[khh1138]

Ah, I'm one-quarter Austrian. Good to know I have an excuse! I can just say I'm being true to my heritage from now on.

I love this variation on the "last meal" question. For me: T bones (which I eat anyway), all kinds of potatoes (which I eat anyway), bowls full of pasta instead of little side dishes, thick smears of brie on baguettes (which I eat anyway)...
I guess the truth is, I do eat all the stuff I love, just not as much as I wish I could.

[happybaker]

Moderation in all things is healthy, happy, smart.

It's just sometimes, gosh, it feels too moderate!

My fav road trip snack I developed with my aging mom just over a year ago? Triple cream brie, kept melty on the dashboard, scooped up and eaten with Trader Joe's triple ginger cookies. Awesome! I can't eat it every day but man, that time, that place - perfection.

[khh1138]

Now that I've GOT to try. I like the way you road-trip!

[happybaker]

Thanks!

I hope you do try it : )

The other triple cream brie option is to have it nice and soft and serve it with fig jam. (Make your own or get it at whole foods or TJ's.) Scoop it up with water crackers and as one of my friends said 'It tastes like ice cream!"

[Jpan99]

Bread, all kinds. Everything made with white flour. Bread, doughnuts, croissants, sticky buns, apple fritters, bagels. Chewy, crusty bread spread with lots of butter. Love bread, love butter.

Fried food. Fried potatoes, zucchini, fish, onion rings...fry it baby.

Eggplant parm, fried crispy, tons of cheese, ooey gooey cheese. Paired with a green salad with a citrus dressing and, um, Italian bread with lots of butter!

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Chocolate chip cookies. Pie, all kinds. Homemade of course. Candy, lots of candy.

Oh, and bread.

[Njchicaa]

Mozzarella sticks. Can't go wrong with deep-fried cheese.

[princeofpork3]

I love how the ratio of savory to sweet is like 5:1

[EWSflash]

Same here- that's my kind of ratio.

[littlemissmuffin]

Not me - when I read the topic, I instantly thought sugar. I would eat nothing but key lime pie and peanut butter brownies!

[mcf]

I'd follow your tastebuds anywhere. As long as the pie is tart and the brownies are dark chocolate. :-)

[BabsW]

Any carb ever created. :D

[newfie29]

Cheese fondue - any and all kinds, with amazing crusty bread for dipping (hard pretzels will do the trick in a pinch) and copious amounts of cabernet with which to wash it down.

[lilmomma]

Thats for me too! Love my carbs and all fried foods!

[mcel215]

1. Fried foods, especially fried haddock with french fries.

2. Lasanga, tiers of melty ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and sauce.

3. Pizza, haven't met one I didn't love.

4. Potatoes, any kind, with lots of butter or cheese, especially potato gratin

5. Tiramisu, with hazelnuts, mascarpone, coffee, brandy

www.saffron215.blogspot.com

[KSlink]

Probably every single thing I learned how to make in pastry school...where I gained 25 lbs, BTW!!

[pinotho]

fried chicken, a breast and a wing, sometimes with cream gravy, sometimes with french fries, sometimes with french fries and dill pickles.......

[lsmutko]

Add a thigh into the rotation, and some mashed potatoes and gravy, gravy on the fries and a side of mac-n-cheese and I'm right there.

Maybe fried pickles, too.

[pinotho]

oh yea, great additions....how could I have overlooked fried pickles?

[lsmutko]

It's possible you considered them a vegetable and might therefore be construed as healthy.

[ipsedixit]

I don't think I would any food (good or bad) if there were no health repercussions involved.

Part of the reason I like a Fuji apple is because of its healthful benefits (and, of course, the taste).

Part of the reason ice cream is so tempting -- and so godly good as a guilty pleasure -- is because it is sort of high in fat, calories, etc.

The very quiddity of ice cream, besides its smooth creamy velvety texture, is the sort "forbidden fruit" element to it. Take that away, and I'm not so sure I would enjoy ice cream just as much.

[ricepad]

Steamed pork fat in shrimp paste.

[happybaker]

Oh you are asking us to dream impossible dreams!

That said, if it could only be ONE thing? I agree with Maximilien - french fries.

If I am allowed multiples? The fries in first, then pastries, then ice cream, then things on TOP of fries.

[Terrie H.]

Cheese, please please please....

[Boychucker]

Pizza. I love every kind of pizza. Thin crust Neapolitan, Chicago deep dish, greek style, even Totino's party pizza. I wish this wasn't true, but I would eat it every day if I could.

[MonMauler]

The funny thing about this response is that I too love pizza and could eat it every day. The only real difference between us is that I almost do eat pizza every day. The past week is generally representative of most weeks for me, and I've eaten pizza on five of the last seven days. Of course, most days I only indulge in a single, usually just cheese, slice so there really isn't any deleterious effect on my health. I've actually been doing this for years while maintaining my weight, physique and overall health, all of which are significantly better than average for my age and height according to my doctor and those crazy charts - bmi, muscle mass, % body fat and other metrics I don't truly understand or pay much heed.

I think I could easily indulge in pizza every day without measurable negative physical effects. The only real reason I dont is for the sake of variety. Since pizza is high on my list of favorite foods, I find this query difficult to answer. I guess I get my fill of pizza, beer, whiskey and wine, so they probably wouldn't be an appropriate answer to this question.

I guess I would eat more sandwiches and fried foods if I thought I could do so while maintaining my weight and physique, but even with these I indulge a few times a week and feel I generally get enough of such foodstuffs.

[Boychucker]

You are lucky. I wish I was so lucky.

[woelkaru]

Do you work around pizza? I worked at a pizza place, and basically did the same thing every day...fun for awhile, but I had to bring fruit or else...

[chefathome]

Bacon. Crackling.
All the gluten I want. I have celiac and really miss it - especially chewy ciabatta bread, cinnamon buns, dougnuts, Beef Wellington...

[Main Line Tracey]

Bacon, camembert, bread, chocolate croissants, gosh there are so many things!

[maabso]

Nutella, croissants, ramen noodles, lobster with butter and a chocolate milk shake... ideally all in one sitting.

[aching]

Basically every potato product ever invented - French fries, potato chips, potato skins, hash browns, tater tots, mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin - you get the idea.

[aching]

Oh, and if I can have them with some kind of dairy - butter, cream, cheese, sour cream, aioli, ranch dressing, etc. - so much the better.

[mariacarmen]

ooh, when this mythical time finally arrives, i'm coming over to your place.

and i'll add booze. bubbly, wine, cocktails, you name it.

[hyacinthgirl]

me three! Potato ORGY!

[dianne0712]

plus 1!

[happybaker]

Plus 1 as well!

And I'll bring wine or champagne. Potatoes and wine - extra fine!

[aching]

Sounds like we need to plan a potato party, ASAP.

[tcamp]

I'd like to get in on this too. Lobster/butter and cold white wine are a close second, however.

[mariacarmen]

yep, first course, second course, far as i'm concerned....

[sedimental]

Me too. Every bastardized potato concoction invented. I would also add onion rings, jalapeno poppers, nacho's and basically ANY "bar food" ever invented.

[aching]

Nachos are bad for you?!? What?!?

[fldhkybnva]

Yes! Count me in, potato in any form!

[tim irvine]

I would have a nice healthy rotation of cheeseburgers, chicken fried steak, barbecue, lasagna, beef stroganoff, chili dogs, eclairs, fried eggs and sausage, coconut cream pie, and every form of potato, with occasional bowl of steel cut oats for palate relief, all washed down with bourbon or martinis and followed with coffee. That's pretty much my plan. Thanks so much for letting me know I will suffer no ill effects.

[princeofpork3]

When I started this thread I didnt even think of booze. I would drink bourbon like water. Once the kids went to bed of course.

[hyde]

beer

[mwhitmore]

Yup.

[Steve Green]

Tim has the right idea -- I also would choose steel-cut oats for the palate relief, but would substitute goulash for the stroganoff, bacon for the sausage, vary the desserts and skip the booze. Otherwise, that's about perfect. However, if I could only select one thing, it might have to be Eggs Benedict. But wait, there's the cheese......

[Mutch2Do]

Slabs of prime rib, lobster / butter, red wine....lots and lots of it.

[PHREDDY]

+1.....and throw in some creamed spinach and a Porterhouse or two...

[boyzoma]

++1 But I'd have to have pasta too. Any kind of pasta.

[EWSflash]

Mutch2do,phreddy, and boyzoma, is there room for me at your table?

[boyzoma]

There's always room for more. Come on over :)

[Maximilien]

French fries.

[zzDan]

Expertly done with minimum grease, New England style fried scallops and fried whole belly clams with a tartar sauce that is 80% pickles, 20% mayonnaise

High quality French fries. Hot, crisp and slightly brown. Along with a grass-fed green chili cheese burger. Along with a lamb burger. Along with Schweppes ginger ale to which I can add vodka as I please. Cucumber or lettuce salad on the side with lots of the best ripe tomatoes. With bacon bits and a malt vinegar dressing. I just might eat the salad first to make sure this is a healthy meal.