Today’s lunch sparked an interesting topic I thought would be fun to post.
While I was searching the refrigerator for something easy to throw together, I found a leftover sweet potato and corn on the cob needing to be eaten. It surprises me that I forgot about them being in there for that long, since those are two food items I could easily consume every single day and still enjoy.
The veggie burger, on the other hand, is something I will occasionally add to my plate for extra substance, but isn’t something I necessarily look forward to eating. And I definitely couldn’t eat one on a daily basis without making funny faces.
So I got to thinking… what foods would I actually be okay with eating every single day?
• COULD: frozen yogurt
I’m pretty sure no explanation is needed here. I mean, really, who doesn’t love a big bowl of fro yo topped in whatever you feel like having that day?
From tart and fruity to chocolatey and indulgent, I could for sure go for a bowl of it at any moment in time.
• COULD: pickles
Seriously. I love pickles, ya’ll. I can always eat them on their own, and usually put them on my sandwiches, wraps, and even salads!
Scott and I learned early on in our relationship that we are both pickle freaks. It isn’t uncommon for us to have jumbo jar size on hand at all times and dig into it every night before bed. We’re weird. We embrace it.
• COULD: olives
I used to only eat black olives, but my mid-twenties turned me onto the green ones as well. The same goes for kalamta olives.
Growing up, I used to put them on all ten fingers, then eat them off one by one. I might still do that. (Kidding… kind of.)
But really, I could eat them on their own all day. I guess it’s similar to the pickle thing. Sometimes I forget that not every body loves them, and it takes effort for me not to automatically throw them into a salad or pasta dish!
• COULDN’T: pancakes
As much as I love cutting into a tall stack of pancakes, that is something I easily get sick of. Even protein and pumpkin pancakes. (Gasp!)
I usually save them for the weekends and only make them about once or twice a month.
• COULD: chips + salsa
I have come to realize that I have a slight obsession with this dynamic duo. Give me all the chips and salsa. Any time of the day. Any day.
To help control binging on them, I eat gluten free corn chips as much as possible and allow myself to eat them whenever I have a serious craving.
Moderation is key, but almost impossible for me to remember with this one.
• COULD: hummus
You could hand me a the most boring food alive (celery, I’m talking to you!) and I would eat a pound of it if I had a side of hummus to dip it in.
If I had to guess, I would say that I have hummus on the side of a snack at least 3-4 times a week, every single week.
On the side of crackers, vegetables, in wraps, or even used as a salad dressing, there isn’t any type of hummus I don’t like to eat or use. I love that it’s gluten free, but I know I’ve eaten too much of it when my stomach actually starts to hurt. I told you, I’m a weirdo. It’s fine. Sigh.
• COULDN’T: pasta
This one actually started off in the could category. But then I really started thinking about it.
Anyone close to me will tell you that Italian food is my absolute favorite type of food. When I want a hearty, filling, incredibly satisfying meal, I usually go for a pasta and load it up with all my favorites.
There comes a point, however, when I get sick of it. If I eat it for more than a few days in a row, my body starts craving salads and I give it a up for a while.
Veggie pasta and veggie pasta salads, however, has opened up a whole new world for me. I could probably eat a plate of that every day and be much better off.
• COULD: popcorn
My roommates in college always used to laugh at me for this one. Like clock work, every night somewhere between 9-11 p.m. our apartment would smell like popcorn, usually partially burned by yours truly.
Scott and I have been on a kick of popping our own in oil and seasoning it lightly, but sometimes we go all out and make it amazing with the extra (anything but healthy) seasonings.
YUM.
• COULD: slurpees + shaved ice
Just like the popcorn, an every day ritual in college for me used to be going to get a slurpee after a work out. That’s probably not the best thing in the world for you, but it definitely made me happy.
I will undoubtedly wear extra layers of clothing in the winter just so I can enjoy a nice slurpee or cup of shaved ice every now and then.
• COULDN’T: chicken
I love chicken. I don’t eat a lot of red meat, so I often turn to lighter, leaner meats like chicken and turkey for protein.
I can’t seem to like it for more than a few days in a row. I’ll occasionally get on a chicken kick and order or make it for a week straight, but then that is usually followed by a week’s (at least) break from it afterwards.
Most of the time I will opt for sea food like shrimp, crab, scallops, or lobster over chicken if I have the option!
• COULD: fruit
I can always go for a big bowl of fruit. Even if I am completely full, if you put one down in front of me I’ll go to town.
I guess that isn’t the worst thing in the world.
• COULD: cottage cheese
This one actually surprised me. I figured it would be on the couldn’t category, but then I couldn’t even think of one time I have gotten sick of it.
I eat it on it’s own, with fruit like peaches, with vegetables like tomatoes (<- or, vegetable fruit, whatever. I refuse to say fruit when referring to tomatoes), and it is always, always topped in black pepper.
• COULD: sweet potato fries
Want to know an easy way into my heart?
I will never, ever say no to sweet potato fries.
I could probably eat my weight in them, and to be honest, I’d be perfectly okay with it. That’s the problem.
• COULDN’T: oatmeal
As much as I love eating my hearty bowl of oatmeal in the mornings, I can’t do it over and over without getting utterly sick of it.
What keeps me coming back to it as much as I do is throwing in some variety with overnight oats and adding flavors like pumpkin into the mix.
• COULD: chocolate
Duh.
I’ll just pretend that it’s always touching fruit when I eat it. That sounds better.
• COULD: some sort of milk
Right alongside of the pickle and popcorn, it’s not out of the ordinary for me to wash it down with some kind of milk. Whether it’s regular skim, chocolate, or even almond milk, it’s one thing I always have in the house and I always buy organic.
And don’t even think about giving me a cookie without a glass of milk with following it. It’s the only way I can truly enjoy it!
Your Turn
What’s one food you could and one food you couldn’t eat every day?
Claire
We’re on the same wavelength here! I agree with you on every single one of these – especially the Burger 21 sweet potato fries. They are the BEST. And while I love oatmeal just as much as the next person, I get sick of it so quickly.
Heather
I loveeee Burger 21!
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers
Ha! I just shared something similar today! I could definitely eat ice cream, peanut butter, popcorn, apples and sushi every single day. YUM!!! Like you, I definitely couldn’t eat chicken every say. I get sick of it REALLY quickly.
Heather
I actually saw that! And commented on how obsessed I am with nut butters. 😉 For the love, how did I forget to mention nut butters here?!
Nichole
A lot of mine are similar! Black olives, popcorn, froyo/ice cream, cottage cheese, chocolate (or strawberry milk) milk, fruit, pepperonis (on their own)! Loved this:)
Heather
I’ve never been a huge strawberry milk person, but love strawberry ice cream!
Brittany Lesser
I could (and usually do) eat oats and chicken every day! And definitely nuts/nut butter. I’m not sure what I couldn’t eat everyday… probably sushi. I love sushi but not everyday haha
Heather
I’m with ya on the sushi! Love it but easily get sick of it. I wish I could eat oats and chicken every day! And but butter… YUM!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
For every day I could eat almond butter, chocolate, berries and spinach. I couldn’t do sushi every day for sure.
Heather
Spinach! Yes!
Alisha's Appetite
I could eat eggs, almond butter and fruit everyday (pretty much do!) As much as I love oats I couldn’t eat them everyday…that and all meat, really.
Heather
Eggs! I forgot eggs. As much as I would love to say I could eat them every day, I’m not sure I could!
ranchcookie
I am totally with you on the sweet potato fries! I love them! I feel like I constantly change what I eat but something I think I could eat everyday is shrimp! What can I say I am just a seafood person 🙂
Heather
Mmm I LOVE shrimp! It’s usually the first protein I go for when adding to salad or rice.
courtruns4cupcakes
I love this idea! I may have to steal it, but give you credit of course 🙂 I could also eat my weight in sweet potato fries. Why are they soo good?!
Heather
I could go for a huge basket right about now! Post away, friend! 🙂
anne
I love your blog!
My Coulds: green tea, frozen grapes, romaine lettuce, eggs, goat cheese, my favorite GF toast, and yes hummus! Have u tried the eggplant hummus, it’s a life changer.
Couldn’t: any kind of meat, anything too sweet, beans (except for hummus), I’m with you on oatmeal, protein bars or protein powders
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries
Fun post!
COULD foods: PB&J, oatmeal (but I have to vary it up – I get sick of it if I do it the traditional way all the time); nut butters; chocolate; avocado; berries; ice cream…I’m sure there’s more too!
COULDN’T foods: I’m with you on the pasta – I think because it’s too heavy after awhile; burgers or other types of red meat – I love it in moderation, but not everyday; sweet potatoes – as much as I love ’em, I get kind of sick of them if I eat them day in and day out; bananas – same thing as sweet potatoes.
Janelle
I cannot get into hummus…I’ve tried different store-bought flavors and even made my own, but there’s something about it – the texture gets to me. I think I could eat pasta every day. I haven’t gotten sick of it yet! I agree with you on the chicken. I can only eat so much before I hit this wall & then start to feel sick.
Heather
Oh man! I hope you eventually find a hummus you love, the homemade recipes at Mediterranean restaurants are the best!