# What would you eat, if you could eat \*anything\*? And by anything, I mean inedible/inorganic **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2009, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844 "2009-12-11T07:30:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/21 "2009-12-12T05:08:53Z")
Those little styrofoam eights. The world would never go hungry again. ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/22 "2009-12-12T05:55:12Z")
Shakira’s underwear. ( esp if she’s still wearing them) ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/23 "2009-12-12T06:23:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Kiddie glues - I’m thinking the semi-solid glue in a tube that is (was) sold under the brand “Pritt Stick” here, and also the liquid stuff called “Gloy” that I remember from primary school. Two really evocative smells for me, and oh so tempting… Wasn’t it Dave Barry who said that preschoolers don’t use it any more but you should pick up a pound anyway b/c it’s delisious? Heck a lot of kids have eaten paste ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/24 "2009-12-12T07:59:16Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Play-Doh. I always really wanted to when I was a kid. I still sort of do. It’s salty. I want cheap plastic jewelery. Watermelon green bangles and oversized cherry red rings. Lemon yellow hair ties with bubbles in them. That stuff always looked more like candy than accessories. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2009, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/25 "2009-12-12T08:10:10Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > Chalk, because I already like foods with a chalky texture. And there’s something about how white and crunchy it looks that is really appealing to me. My urge to eat chalk (that I have never acted upon) is so strong it has made me wonder if it counts as pica. > > I would also drink paint. I ate chalk once on accident. I was writing on a chalkboard and eating pretzel sticks. I got caught up in a problem and forgot which hand had which. It’s not tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Walpurgis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/26 "2009-12-12T11:08:53Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > I want cheap plastic jewelery. Watermelon green bangles and oversized cherry red rings. Lemon yellow hair ties with bubbles in them. That stuff always looked more like candy than accessories. Me too! Especially if it’s red and faceted. Huge red plastic gems with many facets. Nom nom nom. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/27 "2009-12-12T11:55:22Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > Paper. I like wafer cookies and actually kind of like the communion wafers that taste a bit like cardboard. I think I’d eat paper and construction paper and cardboard. [Oblaten](http://www.oblaten.com/)are perfect for you then =) Or if you are really hardcore - [oblaten papers for baking liebkuchen](http://www.faaimports.com/Kuchle-Back-Oblaten-Wafer-Papers-70mm_p_445.html) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/28 "2009-12-12T12:10:23Z")
The problem with most of these is that none of them actually taste good. But, if they did, I’ve always found facial creams appealing. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Play-Doh. I always really wanted to when I was a kid. I still sort of do. Have at it. It’s intentionally non-toxic. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/29 "2009-12-12T16:30:49Z")
Quilts and down comforters. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/30 "2009-12-12T17:25:00Z")
The dreams of orphans. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/31 "2009-12-13T02:45:44Z")
Dopers. Um…did I say that out loud? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/32 "2009-12-13T02:48:42Z")
Bones. Wait, you gonna finish that? Finish what, the chicken bones? OM NOM NOM ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/33 "2009-12-13T03:24:30Z")
Energy. “Nah, I don’t need to stop for lunch; I’ve been plugged in/standing in the wind/photosynthesizing all morning.” Even better if it worked in reverse, too: “I need to lose some weight. Let me charge that cell phone.” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/34 "2009-12-13T03:32:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The problem with most of these is that none of them actually taste good. But, if they did, I’ve always found facial creams appealing. That’s part of the fun, imagining (1) you could eat it, and (2) it tastes like you imagine it tastes. Styrofoam peanuts are a good one; I imagine they would taste like rice cakes. I know people who actually do eat chicken bones. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/35 "2009-12-13T03:41:34Z")
> [@Taenia\_spp](#): > > Seriously though (er…as serious as this question can be), probably various chemical solvent and reagents. Some smell pretty darned good, but I’d be dead in a heartbeat if I actually tried to ingest them. Oh! Wood stain! There are wood stains that smell alternately delicious and like death. I was working in a awkward corner once that required me to press my nose up to a freshly-stained railing to reach my wiring. _Damn_, but I wanted to lick it, then vomit! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/36 "2009-12-13T03:58:07Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > Things that sound appealing but I don’t eat: Flavored lip balms and glosses. Body butter (a type of cream). Rubber-type erasers, which have always looked tempting to me. Playdoh and Elmer’s glue. I have eaten all those things and they aren’t too bad with the exception of Play-Doh. It is disgusting but a little won’t hurt you. Give it a try but have a sink nearby. I don’t have Pica but I have found lots of weird things from soap to diesel fuel in my mouth over the years for one reason or another. Dishwashing detergent is especially bad. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/37 "2009-12-13T06:39:22Z")
If I could still live by eating nothing at all for the rest of my life, I would do that. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/38 "2009-12-13T06:52:43Z")
Cocoa butter. ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/39 "2009-12-13T06:59:52Z")
If chalk sounds tasty to you, try Necco wafers. I’ve always thought they taste like chalk looks. I used to chew on aluminum foil, and would sometimes keep a spoon in my mouth like a lollipop. I would have been in heaven if those things were actually edible. Oh, and pennies, I’d love to eat pennies. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844/40 "2009-12-13T07:43:34Z")
Sometimes, in the thralls of passion, I often find myself thinking: “Gee, I wish there was something _more_ I could do with this girl to satisfy my insatiable lust.” I wouldn’t want to eat them like a cannibal because that would be gross, But maybe absorb them, temporarily, through osmosis might be interesting. I promise, I’m not a phyco. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-eat-if-you-could-eat-anything-and-by-anything-i-mean-inedible-inorganic/520844.md?page=3)