# I'm going to eat exactly the same thing every day **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306 "2011-06-13T13:11:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/1 "2011-06-13T13:11:01Z")
What should it be? The total calorie count should be 1700. It should be nutritionally balanced. It should have very little sugar, starch and other carbs. I really like spicy oily flavorful foods. Italian, Mexican, Thai, Indian, that kind of thing. (This is meant simply as a flavor guideline, not a set of requirements.) I despise the taste and texture of all fruits and most vegetables. (But see parenthetical comment above, and also, I’m sure I can get over this to a degree.) I can cook. Some of it should be of the portable “snack” variety. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/2 "2011-06-13T13:32:22Z")
Someone will mention Soylent Green, but it won’t be me. ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/3 "2011-06-13T13:54:41Z")
[Bachelor Chow](http://www.monkeyspit.net/sites/purina/) ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/4 "2011-06-13T13:55:39Z")
Just eat peanut butter or something. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/5 "2011-06-13T14:01:55Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/6 "2011-06-13T14:22:26Z")
So you want something to be nutritionally balanced but not include: sugars carbs fruits vegetables That’s one heck of a restriction to the whole “nutritionally balanced” aspect. I dunno. A glass of water, some multi-vitamins, and 1690 calories worth of Crisco. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/7 "2011-06-13T14:28:37Z")
How “exactly the same” is exactly the same? Could you get by on pizza every day if sometimes it’s a ham-and-pineapple and sometimes it’s a mushrooms-and-black-olives and sometimes it’s pepperoni-and-onion? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/8 "2011-06-13T14:30:21Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > So you want something to be nutritionally balanced but not include: > sugars > carbs > fruits > vegetables > > That’s one heck of a restriction to the whole “nutritionally balanced” aspect. I dunno. A glass of water, some multi-vitamins, and 1690 calories worth of Crisco. Nice. See the parenthetical comments. Read for comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/9 "2011-06-13T14:31:55Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > Too many restrictions. > > Just eat peanut butter or something. Ah someone else who likes to read _into_ things rather than simply _reading_ things. Read the OP again and you will find two count’em two restrictions: Nutritionally balanced, 1700 calories. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/10 "2011-06-13T14:32:18Z")
For a long period of time, Bucky Fuller ate nothing but steak, along with some prunes and jello, washed down with tea 3 or 4 times a day. Dymaxion eating, I guess. His theory was that since meat was higher up on the food chain than plant-based food, he got more nutrients and vitamins per square inch of food that way (well that explains the steak – the prunes and jello probably have similar explanations though). ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/11 "2011-06-13T14:33:00Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > How “exactly the same” is exactly the same? Could you get by on pizza every day if sometimes it’s a ham-and-pineapple and sometimes it’s a mushrooms-and-black-olives and sometimes it’s pepperoni-and-onion? I’d love that but I’m afraid there’d be too much carbiness in the crust. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/12 "2011-06-13T14:36:55Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > For a long period of time, Bucky Fuller ate nothing but steak, along with some prunes and jello, washed down with tea 3 or 4 times a day. Dymaxion eating, I guess. His theory was that since meat was higher up on the food chain than plant-based food, he got more nutrients and vitamins per square inch of food that way (well that explains the steak – the prunes and jello probably have similar explanations though). Prunes for fiber. A steak only diet lacks fiber. ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/13 "2011-06-13T14:44:47Z")
Nutritionally balanced for what? What’s your age? Gender? Are you training for a certain sport? Or do you just workout casually? Or are you sedentary? Do you live in a sunny climate? Do you drink enough water, or do you find that difficult? Do you drink alcohol often, regularly, or never? ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/14 "2011-06-13T14:52:53Z")
First, you’re going to have some issues without supplementation. My recommendation (and I have no qualifications in this field other than a working knowledge of basic nutrition and fitness) is: 4-5 small meals, approx. cal as follows: breakfast: 450 - protein shake + small portion of high fiber complex carbs (dry cereal works if you find one you like and doesn’t contain much if any HFCS or white flour) - I’ve often used a vanilla protein shake as the milk for some grape nuts, and it’s pretty good. brunch: 300: lowfat yogurt + small portion of healthy nuts (almonds are really good) lunch 450: cup of cottage cheese + homemade jerky (easy to make, good for you, trim the fat…) supper 250: protein shake dinner 250: light broiled fish or skinless chicken breast, small side of dairy. Or - my favorite - vegetarian chili. tons of protein from the legumes, and the soy-based vegetarian meat crumbles add protein and texture. It’s really tough without fruits or vegetables. Protein shakes are great, but homemade smoothies are better, and you can hide a lot of veggies in there without tasting…spinach and carrots are both really good for you and when blended into a shake don’t contribute much flavor if any…but the color can be unsettling at first. Drink tons of water, and make sure you’re taking supplements as needed to fill in the gaps, nutritionally speaking. IANADoctor, Nutritionist or anything remotely related to health. I use a similar diet, but no meat, I substitute lots of fresh greens and fruit. A protein shake - egg, whey or soy protein ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/15 "2011-06-13T15:07:55Z")
Can’t go wrong with rice and beans. Add some hot sauce and it’s spicy. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/16 "2011-06-13T15:08:56Z")
[Milk and potatoes](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2828/could-i-survive-on-nothing-but-potatoes-and-milk) and the occasional bowl of oatmeal. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/17 "2011-06-13T15:20:01Z")
Eat **this!** Had to be done. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/18 "2011-06-13T15:33:46Z")
> [@beartato](#): > > Nutritionally balanced for what? What’s your age? Gender? Are you training for a certain sport? Or do you just workout casually? Or are you sedentary? Do you live in a sunny climate? Do you drink enough water, or do you find that difficult? Do you drink alcohol often, regularly, or never? Good questions. I’m 33, male, generally sedentary but looking to take up fencing (again) soon, I drink lots of iced tea, drink alcohol very rarely (twice a month or so). 6’0" 228 lbs ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/19 "2011-06-13T15:39:55Z")
3-4 eggs (many ways to dress them up) for breakfast, nuts or unsweetened yogurt or cottage cheese for midday snack, meat or fish prepared/flavored however you like, with a little potato or rice (and a veg, if there are any you can stand) for dinner. Use natural fats to cook with, they are nutritious and satisfying. Low-carb and low-fat is miserable. Nutritionally balanced, low in total carb, you’ll have to plan out amounts to make sure it’s within your calorie goals. ETA: 1700 sounds too low for a tall man with plenty of lean mass who is planning on doing lots of cardio. You might well lose all the fat you need to on my suggested regimen without watching calories at all. > [@friedo](#): > > Can’t go wrong with rice and beans. Add some hot sauce and it’s spicy. Rice and beans = lots of carbs. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306/20 "2011-06-13T16:05:41Z")
Is there a reason to limit calories _and_ sugars _and_ other carbs? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-eat-exactly-the-same-thing-every-day/585306.md?page=2)