# Choose: never eat the same meal twice, or choose 8 meals you love? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2020, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192 "2020-06-07T05:41:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/61 "2020-06-09T03:30:56Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > The suppositions suggested by **DrDeth** and **Aspenglow** are consistent with what I had in mind when I posed the question. On drinks: regardless of your overall choice, the SDMB fairy will allow you Kona coffee, pekoe tea, fresh water, and orange juice as desired at all meals. If you are on the 8 repeated meal plan and want alcohol, you can choose which wine/liquor/beer/mixed drinks to repeat. If you are on the endless variety plan, you will be served interesting beverages with your meals (both alcoholic and non, no requirement that you drink alcohol if you don’t want to) but don’t fall too deeply in love with that watermelon-lime juice or Beaujolais, because you will never have that EXACT one again. (A watermelon cooler or a different Beaujolais, sure, but never the same one). > > Heh. I guess one side benefit of either choice is that you can quaff your G&T or merlot to your heart’s content every day without any damage to your liver. Both plans sound pretty good to me on that score 🙂 > > . What? Half my meals probably contain foods I dislike, and NO MILK!? I might have to go with the 8, and be miserable about it every day. ☹ > [@Voyager](#): > > If the first choice were meals including ingredients I don’t hate, I’d go with that. As stated it is tougher. We do at least 3 - 4 new recipes a week, so I like variety. I don’t mind not repeating, since there are tons of recipes built around ingredients I love. > And 8 meals is very limiting. > So the first, if I’m allowed to pick around the raspberries and yams. Yeah, if I can rule out capsaicin completely, I’m in much better shape. I’m still a picky eater and I’d still get some unpalatable meals. But I suppose I’d also get some fabulous meals. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/62 "2020-06-09T03:50:45Z")
I came into the thread thinking it would easily be the 8 meals. Only having one of my favorite meals for the rest of my life would be pretty awful. But if it was only 8, some of the meals I’m never having again. I think both are bad options, but I’d have to go for the variety. I’d get sick of 8, but with an infinite variety there’s always a chance of a fantastic meal. Much better conversation starter too. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/63 "2020-06-09T05:44:46Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > What? Half my meals probably contain foods I dislike, and NO MILK!? You can have milk 🙂 I was just trying to think of routine beverages, but I don’t drink milk, soda, or beer, so beer so those didn’t occur to me. They can go on the unlimited list, though. I don’t want anyone to get dehydrated. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/64 "2020-06-09T06:11:58Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > This thread is actually turning out to be more interesting than I thought - it is truly surprising to me how many people are going without hesitation for the “8 good meals” option. I would think that, unless you are quite a picky eater, either the infinite variety would be your first choice, or it would be a little hard to decide. I’m not a “picky” eater, just not a remotely adventurous one. I’m perfectly fine with spending the rest of my life eating things that I already know that I like and never, ever trying anything new. Wouldn’t spend a moment worrying about it. (Having said that, 8 is pretty restrictive, but vastly better than the other option.) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/65 "2020-06-09T06:21:24Z")
As an analogy, imagine that every day you _had_ to have conversations with random new people. Some of them might be plesant. Some of them might be dull. Some of them might be horribly racist or sexist. Some of them might rant about some conspiracy theory. Some of them might want to discuss their digestive health in great detail. Some of them might be screaming lunatics. Some of them might try to convert you to their religion. Some might want to point out all of your physical flaws. No matter what they talked about, they were your conversation for the day. Would you enjoy this, or face each new day with dread? Because that is how I would feel about the “new meals every day” existence–a constant dread eating away at me every day as I prepared to play Russian Dressing Roulette. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/66 "2020-06-09T07:32:35Z")
I’d be struggling to even think of eight things. But that’s my choice. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/67 "2020-06-09T11:00:57Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I realize that one horrible aspect of either choice is that it seems I don’t get to cook for myself at all. That would be a bummer. Maybe the magic fairy would let me cook some of my own meals under the infinite variety plan, as long as every dish was new. That I could handle. Horrible? No way! That plus the health/weight benefits are the best parts of this hypothetical! Yep, I’m another “eat to live” person. The 8 meals version honestly sounds like _too much_ food, with an entree, salad, dessert etc for each meal, but I could be perfectly content with this plan. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/68 "2020-06-09T13:54:52Z")
I think the 8 meal plan would mess with my psyche. Too much pressure to choose the 8 meals, and if I get bored or start to dislike one of the meals from over saturation, it’s inevitable that I will blame myself for the situation. Given that the variety edition presumes “makes culinary sense” I won’t have meals that are inherently disgusting, though I will clearly have to pick out bits and pieces to eat occasionally. I’m not a picky eater so this is the way to go. It reminds me, though, of the time I was ordering Thai, and went the ‘random choice’ method of just picking something off the menu without knowing the dish already. The person on the phone asked me if I wanted it with or without the blood. At some point with the variety plan, it’s going to be “with”. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/69 "2020-06-09T14:24:50Z")
I don’t know if I can come up with _8_ meals I love, but this would be ideal. Food doesn’t interest me in general, but the few things I like, I \*really \*like. Where do I sign up?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/70 "2020-06-09T18:02:15Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Given that the variety edition presumes “makes culinary sense” I won’t have meals that are inherently disgusting, though\*\* I will clearly have to pick out bits and pieces to eat occasionally\*\*. I’m not a picky eater so this is the way to go. [Bolding mine.] Yeah, there is no rule that you have to eat everything you are served. Obviously if you are on the infinite variety plan and you get a dish you hate, you skip it and either go hungry or fill up on other items you were served. If I were forced into the 8 standard meals, I would craftily try to design it so I could have good meals from a subset of each menu, thus increasing the variety in my consumption (for example, I might only eat the beans and rice from a Mexican meal one time, and the next I might only eat the side salad and chicken). I don’t know how the magic fairy would feel about this. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/71 "2020-06-09T19:56:00Z")
I’d take the 8. I could see running out of beef dishes I like in a year, and in five years I might end up having to eat stuff like lutefisk and kimchi. Plus, with my eating restrictions, I don’t eat a lot more than 8 different meals anyway. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/72 "2020-06-09T21:55:59Z")
Do I get salt and pepper? Can I break open and sprinkle my prescribed supplements (like curcumin and garlic) on my food? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/73 "2020-06-09T23:19:41Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > If I were forced into the 8 standard meals, I would craftily try to design it so I could have good meals from a subset of each menu, thus increasing the variety in my consumption (for example, I might only eat the beans and rice from a Mexican meal one time, and the next I might only eat the side salad and chicken). I don’t know how the magic fairy would feel about this. If the fairy allows it, that’s a good way to go. Make one meal a triple-thick rare ribeye, with a quad helping of mashed potatoes and veggies of your choice, preceded by a huge “For 2+” salad and followed by some protean dessert like cookies. That would make at least 5 distinct meals. Add in what you do with the roasted chicken(s) Day Two and we have a theme. I’d start inventing variations on the Turducken, but with pork and beef. Maybe some pasha’s feast of a cow, stuffed with a goat, stuffed with a Cornish game hen. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/74 "2020-06-10T02:22:10Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Do I get salt and pepper? Can I break open and sprinkle my prescribed supplements (like curcumin and garlic) on my food? Yes to all. Or that’s what the fairy said when I tried to channel it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/75 "2020-06-10T02:48:03Z")
Okay, I’m in for the 8 meal plan, then. I’d prefer not to have the weeks of organ meat ‘n’ okra that the infinite menu portends. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192/76 "2020-06-10T02:49:43Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I’m not a “picky” eater, just not a remotely adventurous one… Whereas I am both a picky eater AND an adventurous one. Thus my difficulty… > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > As an analogy, imagine that every day you _had_ to have conversations with random new people. Some of them might be plesant. Some of them might be dull. Some of them might be horribly racist or sexist. Some of them might rant about some conspiracy theory. Some of them might want to discuss their digestive health in great detail. Some of them might be screaming lunatics. Some of them might try to convert you to their religion. Some might want to point out all of your physical flaws. No matter what they talked about, they were your conversation for the day. Would you enjoy this, or face each new day with dread? Because that is how I would feel about the “new meals every day” existence–a constant dread eating away at me every day as I prepared to play Russian Dressing Roulette. Except all the meals make culinary sense, and you don’t have to eat everything (or anything, you can go hungry for a day). So one of your new people to talk to might be interested in stuff that bores you, but I don’t think you need to put up with the racist conversationalist. I’d be okay meeting a new person every day, too. But never getting to see any of them again would be horrible, far more so than never eating the meal again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-never-eat-the-same-meal-twice-or-choose-8-meals-you-love/855192.md?page=3)