# How long could one live on spongecake, boiled shrimp and Margaritas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971 "2012-08-28T21:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/1 "2012-08-28T21:53:03Z")
I haven’t a clue. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/2 "2012-08-28T21:56:41Z")
In the interest of science I’m willing to give it a try. I’ll need some expense money ---
**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:** [August 28, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/3 "2012-08-28T22:05:47Z")
For a liberal definition of what constitutes a margarita, almost indefinitely. But at the very least until hurricane season. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/4 "2012-08-28T22:15:33Z")
Quite some time, I believe. You’ve got your macronutrients covered (protein, fat, carbs), and if you’re making actual margaritas with lime juice, Vitamin C is covered. Cholesterol from the shrimp, as well as enough B12 & iron to keep you from getting anemic. The spongecake supplies essentially nothing but calories, but you do need calories. If you can get the baker to make it with whole wheat flour, your bowels will thank you, though. Not a lot of fiber in this diet. But it’s a lot more doable than many of the “how long could you survive on a diet of…” hypotheticals we see around here. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/5 "2012-08-28T22:17:08Z")
Well, according to [this site](http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/usda/sponge-cake), sponge cake, as expected for a cake, doesn’t have much in the way of nutrients (and a lot of cholesterol, though I suppose you could get it with egg whites, but then there are people who eat several whole eggs a day, at 70% of your RDA each, for years without getting heart disease). [Shrimp](http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/finfish-and-shellfish-products/4174/2) has even more cholesterol per calorie, at 55% of your RDA per 84 calorie serving, but more vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, but just 3%, although multiple servings could provide you with enough to prevent scurvy, but still less than optimal amounts (and far more cholesterol than is recommended, but again see my comment about eggs). As for margaritas? I hope that isn’t all you plan to drink because that would quickly add up to a lot of alcohol, and no other nutrients to speak of, plus alcohol can [inhibit the absorption of other nutrients](http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa22.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/6 "2012-08-28T22:21:03Z")
At least until you come to the realization that it’s your own damn fault. In the mean time, you’ll be wasting away. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/7 "2012-08-28T22:28:16Z")
I’d ask Jimmy Buffett. He’s probably done it and written a song about it. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/8 "2012-08-28T22:42:09Z")
There’s no fat in that diet; [Rabbit starvation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation), dying from a lack of dietary fat, happens eventually, even if enough calories to sustain life are consumed. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/9 "2012-08-28T22:54:36Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > There’s no fat in that diet; [Rabbit starvation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation), dying from a lack of dietary fat, happens eventually, even if enough calories to sustain life are consumed. Does it help if the shrimp are eaten with the heads still on? I think there’s some fat in among the organs and such. ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/10 "2012-08-28T23:01:17Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > There’s no fat in that diet; [Rabbit starvation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation), dying from a lack of dietary fat, happens eventually, even if enough calories to sustain life are consumed. Not really; the links I posted lists sponge cake as having 2.7 grams of fat per serving and shrimp 1 gram (3.7 grams and 270 calories for both together, and you’ll eat multiple servings a day). Less than 10% of calories from fat, but more than “none”, and also [some actual diet plans](http://www.everydiet.org/diet/low-fat-diets) out there. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/11 "2012-08-28T23:06:38Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > There’s no fat in that diet; [Rabbit starvation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation), dying from a lack of dietary fat, happens eventually, even if enough calories to sustain life are consumed. There is fat in sponge cake, surely (actually **Michael63129** ’s link lists it at 13% fat, and all that cholesterol he is worrying about is a type of fat too), and there must also be some fat in shrimp: in their cell walls for a start. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/12 "2012-08-28T23:10:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > For a liberal definition of what constitutes a margarita, almost indefinitely. But at the very least until hurricane season. That’s the key right there. A margarita can have almost anything added to it, including broccoli. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/13 "2012-08-28T23:19:43Z")
C’mon, guys—let’s get serious here. Purina Lab Monkey Chow and beer: can it be done indefinitely? I have little time or motivation for cooking anymore. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/14 "2012-08-28T23:25:05Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > There’s no fat in that diet; [Rabbit starvation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation), dying from a lack of dietary fat, happens eventually, even if enough calories to sustain life are consumed. [Sponge cake has milk, butter and eggs in it](http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/sponge-cake-recipe/index.html). Perhaps you’re thinking of angel food cake, which is fat free. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/15 "2012-08-28T23:26:22Z")
I’d make it through about the third 'rita, then pass out. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/16 "2012-08-29T00:18:27Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > [Sponge cake has milk, butter and eggs in it](http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/sponge-cake-recipe/index.html). Perhaps you’re thinking of angel food cake, which is fat free. You’re right, I was totally thinking of angel food cake. Whew! Close one. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/17 "2012-08-29T01:00:29Z")
So how come angels don’t wind up with “rabbit starvation” then? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/18 "2012-08-29T01:09:08Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > Does it help if the shrimp are eaten with the heads still on? I think there’s some fat in among the organs and such. That’d help. Nice glob of orange fat in there as well as the (tiny) brain. Shrimp bisque is awesome if you make the stock for it with the heads as well as the shells. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/19 "2012-08-29T01:15:53Z")
Live? Hell, this sounds like the perfect way to commit slow suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971/20 "2012-08-29T02:07:29Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > . . . Not a lot of fiber in this diet. . . . Eat the chitinous parts of the shrimps’ tails. Decent fiber. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-one-live-on-spongecake-boiled-shrimp-and-margaritas/632971.md?page=2)