topic Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY? in Among Friends

FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Shanus — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:12:58 GMT

I watch my diet like a hawk, but every once in awhile, I crave something not so healthy.

Yesterday I brought in Kentucky Chicken for dinner. Ours closed years ago and had to drive 1/2 hour to get it. Yep, a bucket with the mashed potatoes, gravy, cole slaw and biscuits!!! I put honey on my biscuits and dip my chicken into it, too...maybe just a southern thing, but growing up when fried chicken was on the table so was honey.

I did pay for the fried part w/ heart burn. My tummy isn't isn't used to fried stuff.

If you had a food cheat day, what would you want to eat?

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:25:23 GMT

I don't look at it as a 'cheat' day - that's a negative/deprivation/scarcity connotation. To me, it's an enjoyment/endulgant treat because it's part of living life fully.

To answer the question - depends on what I'm craving. Hope you thoroughly enjoyed your meal.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

cjm61 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:25:39 GMT

Haha, well @Shanus , there are many things I like to cheat with but Kentucky Fried Chicken would NOT be one of them. Glad you enjoyed it though and treated yourself.

I do believe in a cheat meal every now and then. It's all about moderation.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Shanus — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:33:24 GMT

I'm not a dessert/sweets person, so I usually go for "meal items". I haven't had fried chicken in forever and cheat days are a one and done for months.

I need to watch sugar for inherited diabetes, so stay way below the recommended A1C numbers to avoid it.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

wagirl — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:55:29 GMT

Nope--no cheat days for me--I am an equal opportunity eater-- 7 days a week!! Nothing is off limits but very much in reasonable portions!! Now if it were a BIG batch of scalloped potatoes /ham--well then---that is a different story!!!😋

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

We rescue cats — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:59:04 GMT

My cheat is almost always going to include chocolate. . . LOL!! But last summer the thing that blasted my glucose levels was corn on the cob, peaches and watermelon!!!

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Desertdi — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:01:33 GMT

Chocolate is my downfall

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Sooner — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:03:08 GMT

Fast food has not passed my lips since 2020. Don't miss it or think about it either. And I have only had probably one restaurant meal a year.

Occasionally we have yogurt with fruit and honey or some frozen thing like a Yasso bar, 100 calories or less. I just don't crave grease any more. Oddly enough. Or salt--and food groups used to be salt, fat and sugar back in the working and eating out days. Not much choice then.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Puzzle Piece — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:24:22 GMT

Pizza

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

rockygems123 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:37:29 GMT

@Shanus

Pizza

Fried Chicken

Pasta anything

Chinese Food

Peanut Brittle

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

LavernLuvsShoes — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:21:35 GMT

Haagen-Dazs!!!

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:21:47 GMT

Cherry Garcia ice cream

Rum raisin ice cream

My carrot cake with cream cheese frosting

Popeye's fried chicken with a biscuit

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

CelticCrafter — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:28:25 GMT

I know a lot of people will say eeewww, Olive Garden. However I will never step foot in another Darden owned concept ever again.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:15:34 GMT

@Shanus We don't have KFC very often but my husband craved it last week, so we had it for dinner. It was good, their cole slaw is the best.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:37:52 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
I know a lot of people will say eeewww, Olive Garden. However I will never step foot in another Darden owned concept ever again.

Mind sharing why? Sometimes I give restaurant gift cards to people so this makes me wonder.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Eileen in Virginia — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:30:22 GMT

@We rescue cats wrote:
My cheat is almost always going to include chocolate. . . LOL!! But last summer the thing that blasted my glucose levels was corn on the cob, peaches and watermelon!!!

@We rescue cats LOL! That was one of the reasons I stopped the South Beach diet years ago. I was doing well on it, but the prospect of not being able to indulge in fresh corn, peaches and other summer produce was the straw that broke this camel's back.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

CelticCrafter — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:03:31 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
@CelticCrafter wrote:
I know a lot of people will say eeewww, Olive Garden. However I will never step foot in another Darden owned concept ever again.
Mind sharing why? Sometimes I give restaurant gift cards to people so this makes me wonder.

@ThinkingOutLoud it has nothing at all to do with the food is all I will say.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

Venezia — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:20:47 GMT

DH and I love Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse, but pizza would be my go-to favorite, so I don't consider it a "cheat".

I'd choose savory over sweet any day.

We have a favorite local restaurant that does great chicken dishes (of all kinds). The last time I stepped foot in a KFC was years ago. I was on my lunch break and wanted something quick. Let's just say, I never went there again. (They used to be great, when they first started. Now it seems to depend very much on whom is the franchise owner and/or manager.)

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

reiki604 — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:28:11 GMT

Splurge meal??? A visit to the original Peter Luger's.

Re: FOOD CHEAT DAY?

JeanLouiseFinch — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:59:16 GMT

DH and I are pretty good at staying faithful with our way of eating and intermittent fasting schedule. Sometimes we cheat but if we do we fast the next day and get right back on track. Last week we were in PA and there was no way I wasn't going to try a cheesesteak sandwich. It was so loaded, thick, and heavy that we could have shared one. I ate some of the bread, took off the top and ate it open face. Two other weakness are the rolls and honey butter at Texas Roadhouse and an Amish buffet we go to in Indiana. Believe me, the Amish never met a carb they didn't like!