# Food you love, but can't eat **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 3, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107 "2024-05-03T16:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/82 "2024-05-05T09:50:14Z")
Nuts. Ever since I had to have my top teeth pulled all at once about 10 years ago, they’re impossible for me to chew. There are very few things I can’t chew, but even the tiniest bit of a peanut chunk is impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/83 "2024-05-05T09:53:44Z")
Cinnamon is my favority spice. For candy, I really like cinnamon red hots and atomic fireballs. Unfortunately, it seems that eating so many red candies has resulted in me being sensitive to red dye #40, and other artificial colors. I’m even sensitive to annatto. You know, the natural color that’s used in place of red dye #40? I sometimes forget to check the ingredient list. If I have only a little bit, I might get away with mild diarrhea. More? Misery and I need to stay close to the bathroom for a while. Same problem with Coke and other beverages which use E150b, E150c or E150d. E150a is okay, which is good, since that’s what some companies use to color scotch whisky. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Ginger ale; might as well pour a 12 oz. bottle of battery acid down my craw. Fast acting, too — almost immediate heartburn and antacids don’t help. Husband has the same problem. He gets quite annoyed when people, who should know better, suggest he should drink giner ale for an upset stomach. > [@CairoCarol](#): > > Do you like the taste of quinine? I can, and do, eat grapefruit, but I have no reason not to eat it. My mother still eats her grapefruit with suger, but I stopped sugaring my grapefruit years ago. I like the sour taste, and also like sour patch kids and other sour candies. Fortunately Haribo in Germany doesn’t use artificial colors. I’ll drink Schweppes tonic water, if the restaurant doesn’t have Schweppes bitter lemon. Bitter lemon has both quinine and lemon juice. I prefer the bitter lemon as I find tonic water too syrupy. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/84 "2024-05-05T12:42:25Z")
Mothers the world over seem to think ginger ale has healing powers. My mother was always hawking it when one of us got sick. I drank it, but that was back when I had a fully functioning gastrointestinal system. Now? Begone, demon ale. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/85 "2024-05-05T13:45:01Z")
> [@solost](#): > > This would probably be the only thing for me that fits the category. Used to be, the spicier the better for me-- bring on the Scovilles! But these days the gastronomic aftereffects are just too unpleasant. This is me. I lived in Yucatán, Mexico in my late twenties — home of the mighty habanero — but If I lived there at my age now (mid fifties), I’d have to abstain most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/86 "2024-05-05T17:16:51Z")
Can you drink other sodas? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/87 "2024-05-05T17:28:34Z")
Yep. Ginger ale is the only one that gives me instantaneous (and ferocious) heartburn. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/88 "2024-05-05T17:31:12Z")
I’m kind of surprised there’s that much ginger in them! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/89 "2024-05-05T17:35:03Z")
I wonder if there’s something that has to be added to ginger to make it drinkable that might not be in other carbonated drinks? Ginger seems like an awfully specific allergy. Can’t vouch for ginger snaps as I haven’t had them in decades. It would seem some research is in order. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/90 "2024-05-05T18:57:37Z")
You could try candied ginger. Nothing in it but ginger root and sugar. Note that it is spicy hot. I can only nibble tiny pieces. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/91 "2024-05-05T20:32:41Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > I’ll drink Schweppes tonic water, if the restaurant doesn’t have Schweppes bitter lemon. Bitter lemon has both quinine and lemon juice. I didn’t know that! When I was a kid – maybe 11 or 12 – my folks kept Schweppes Bitter Lemon to use as a mixer, and said, and I quote: We don’t have to worry about you kids drinking it since it’s so bitter. Well. Challenge accepted! I ended up with an addiction to the stuff and liked it better than any other soft drink (other than root beer). So, I guess I do like quinine! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/92 "2024-05-05T20:57:49Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Challenge accepted! 😄 That’s the kind of kid I was 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:** [May 5, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/93 "2024-05-05T21:13:55Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > 😄 That’s the kind of kid I was too. Me too! My dad used to eat pickled hot peppers straight from the jar. I can stop now, you know how the story ends. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/94 "2024-05-05T21:42:31Z")
Eh, red meat here as well, in my case because it’s the major risk factor for relapse of ulcerative colitis. So it goes. In a weird way it’s a good thing - I have a ferociously healthy diet these days. Every cloud… j ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/95 "2024-05-06T13:19:54Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I have the same problem with wheat based cereals, stomach cramps and gas. For those of you bemoaning milk, have you tried LactAid (lactase supplements)? My husband uses those when he’s going to consume dairy. As it happens, he’s also developed a taste for almond milk on his cereal. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/96 "2024-05-06T14:24:15Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Oddly, I can drink milk, but drink a lactose free version. They actually remove the lactose so the milk is less sweet. (if you’re lactose intolerant you should be able to eat hard cheeses and yogurt.) > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > have you tried LactAid ( I’m mildly lactose intolerant and have been drinking lactose free milk for years. I shouldn’t say drink. I haven’t slugged down a glass of milk in many years but use it for cereal. Yogurt is like a bomb in my stomach so I don’t eat that anymore. And Lactaid pills…UGH!! Both my daughter and I get violently ill from them. It’s like a bad stomach flu. I used them twice, 2 or 3 years apart and got the same result both times. I threw up all night long. It was horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/97 "2024-05-06T14:35:48Z")
I’m vegan, so it’s a pretty long list. Let’s start with real cheese. Real cheese is delicious and can make something as simple as a baked potato or a slice of bread into a meal or tasty snack, let alone on foods like lasagna. Vegan cheese…it’s still not there. You basically “get away with it” on some dishes like pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/98 "2024-05-06T14:54:38Z")
Is that a “can’t eat” or “won’t eat”, though? I mean, I get it - I don’t eat pork for religious reasons myself. I _could_ eat it, though; I just choose not to. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/99 "2024-05-06T15:11:45Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Is that a “can’t eat” or “won’t eat”, though? I posed myself the same question. I have been a vegetarian for almost 30 years and I don’t miss meat per se much, but I do miss some special meat dishes. I still don’t want or choose to eat them, but I could anytime, I haven’t taken a vow, signed a contract or have spiritual objections. I don’t have any known food allergies or intolerances, so I don’t have anything to contribute to this thread actually. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/100 "2024-05-06T15:18:54Z")
Yep that’s it for me too. Not only do I have no allergies, but I’m also not squeamish at all. When I ate meat, I ate all meat. When a waiter asks me if I have any dietary requirements, I still want to reflexively wave him/her away, thinking “I can eat anything”. After a year of being vegan I still need to remind myself. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107/101 "2024-05-06T15:29:29Z")
I violated my no ice cream rule last night and paid for it dearly. Gonna need a nap today. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-you-love-but-cant-eat/1001107.md?page=6)