What do you consider a cheat meal?

[JoshA1]

So I realize its super subjective but I was wondering what people consider a cheat meal?


Personally, I dont count calories but will watch what i eat (carbs only around lifting, no fried food, no added sugar, low sodium.) So for me, a cheat meal may be eating at a restaurant and having a stir fry with oyster sauce or sweet chili (even if i forgo carbs). However, i am starting to think this is unnecessary, especially given the mental distress after of needing to eat really well for the next week.

For you guys, would a cheat meal be something crazy like a full on burger fries milk shake? Or something just a bit out of the ordinary? Like a good homemade pasta?

(i'm trying to bulk slowly so i guess I really should be eating all the cheats as possible :/)

[xsquid99]

No such thing as cheat meals for me, I make whatever it is fit within my weekly calorie target.

[sqal]

I usually weigh all my food, so a meal where I don't know the macros and calories is pretty much a cheat meal for me.

Attended a birthday party for a family member last week, had cheesecake and wine so I had to do a chit load of cardio for the rest of the week to make up for it.

[TolerantLactose]

Eating an entire cheesecake without your SO finding out.

[boo99]

So I realize its super subjective but I was wondering what people consider a cheat meal?


Personally, I dont count calories but will watch what i eat (carbs only around lifting, no fried food, no added sugar, low sodium.) So for me, a cheat meal may be eating at a restaurant and having a stir fry with oyster sauce or sweet chili (even if i forgo carbs). However, i am starting to think this is unnecessary, especially given the mental distress after of needing to eat really well for the next week.

For you guys, would a cheat meal be something crazy like a full on burger fries milk shake? Or something just a bit out of the ordinary? Like a good homemade pasta?

(i'm trying to bulk slowly so i guess I really should be eating all the cheats as possible :/)

No to all if you use that cheat word

I don't consider anything cheating as that's a terrible word to associate with food

Read post #2
That's what the majority on here do

[AdamWW]

When you’re having a meal with someone other than your committed partner with the intention of breaking agreed upon relationship parameters.

[MrCarrot]

A cheat meal for me is when I go like 2,000 - 4,000 calories *over* my daily calorie allowance.

Anything else that is within my allowance, I factor in the macros and it's not a cheat.

[air2fakie]

If you're going to punish yourself mentally by considering a meal to be cheating, you need to do a better job to get your full value for that meal. Stir fry or homemade pasta is hardly cheating. And there's nothing crazy about a burger, fries and milkshake.

Food happens sometimes.

[Paulie1986]

By going over way too many calories past your allowance. Anything over 700.

And for me it's usually on a non-workout day where I'm a bit bored and throw on a movie.

[3maj]

I'm not in recovery from an ED so I don't have a problem using the phrase "cheat meal" and consider it to be anything which would put me above my daily calorie target.

[TheShadowMan]

It's kind of a hot button subject that I avoid commenting on, but I do have a perspective on it. I guess if someone asked me what I count as a cheat meal, it's literally just that - cheating on my main diet that I stick to everyday. And by that I mean it's something I don't normally eat, it's a break from it. Is it okay? Absolutely, as long as I keep it under control.

[Gringer]

Anything that has added ingredients.

[AdamWW]

Anything that has added ingredients.

Riiiiight

[Gringer]

Riiiiight

What's wrong like?? lol.

[AdamWW]

What's wrong like?? lol.

Because 'added ingredients' means nothing in terms of how health-promoting or health-harming a food is.

That fact that you would consider anything with more than one ingredient a 'cheat' is quite strange.

For example, greek yogurt has multiple ingredients... so that's a 'cheat'? Whole grain bread is then also a 'cheat', as would be basically any condiment... you get the idea.

Very dogmatic mindset you got going on... makes me wonder how you manage to have a social life without 'cheating' multiple days a week.

[XinXom]

A bottle of scotch and an entire tub of UDF brand cookies and cream ice cream. I can kill both in a couple hours no problem.

[Gringer]

Because 'added ingredients' means nothing in terms of how health-promoting or health-harming a food is.

That fact that you would consider anything with more than one ingredient a 'cheat' is quite strange.

For example, greek yogurt has multiple ingredients... so that's a 'cheat'? Whole grain bread is then also a 'cheat', as would be basically any condiment... you get the idea.

Very dogmatic mindset you got going on... makes me wonder how you manage to have a social life without 'cheating' multiple days a week.

It was just a joke... seriously haha. I eat foods like that myself. Just a little though. I just make sure most of my diet is proper whole foods like almonds,eggs broccoli etc.

As for what I would consider a cheat meal. A big scottish chippy (fish and chips). A 12 inch pizza with a large portion of chips. Easily comes to around 2500 - 3000kcals just from that. Feel like garbage the next day.

[WolfRose7]

Eating an entire cheesecake without your SO finding out.

This. And not because of the calories. Because you got it all

[Paulie1986]

It was just a joke... seriously haha. I eat foods like that myself. Just a little though. I just make sure most of my diet is proper whole foods like almonds,eggs broccoli etc.

As for what I would consider a cheat meal. A big scottish chippy (fish and chips). A 12 inch pizza with a large portion of chips. Easily comes to around 2500 - 3000kcals just from that. Feel like garbage the next day.

Scottish person eating broccoli. TROLL ALERT lol.

Do you actually have deep fried Mars Bars up there?

[1MANU]

Cheesecake Factory:

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
Chicken Alfredo
Godiva Cheesecake

Cheat meal. Roughly 4,000 calories. Had it Saturday and was damn good.

[AdamWW]

Cheesecake Factory:

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
Chicken Alfredo
Godiva Cheesecake

Cheat meal. Roughly 4,000 calories. Had it Saturday and was damn good.

When I was 17, me and a buddy of mine made a trip to CF every saturday in order to try EVERY cheesecake over the course of a few months..

My go-to was:

Avocado Egg Rolls
Louisiana Chicken Pasta
Cheesecake of choice (sometimes a la mode)


I ate a loooooot of cheesecake that year

[Xpiro]

I don’t really get the concept, I don’t restrict what I eat (no trans fat though period) as long as I stay within or close by my macros. I keep fat grams the lowest so something higher in fat I guess? But when I “cheat” it just means I’m exceeding my daily calories.

[hardyboysare]

Scottish person eating broccoli. TROLL ALERT lol.

Do you actually have deep fried Mars Bars up there?

They do down here in the south weirdly although never tried them. Did once try cadbury creme egg deep fried was OK tad greasy for my liking.

But I agree can't imagine broccoli being anywhere near Scottish menu :-) I should know my family don't and they are Scottish as you can get hence my love for haggis, square sausage and homemade potato scones.

By the way got to love some Welsh cake as well ate a whole packet last time I was travelled through Wales to Powys.

[AdamWW]

I don’t really get the concept, I don’t restrict what I eat (no trans fat though period) as long as I stay within or close by my macros. I keep fat grams the lowest so something higher in fat I guess? But when I “cheat” it just means I’m exceeding my daily calories.

You say you don’t restrict, and yet you limit fat... hmmm

[Gringer]

Scottish person eating broccoli. TROLL ALERT lol.

Do you actually have deep fried Mars Bars up there?

You can get a deep fried anything up here I have yet to try a deep fried Mars bar haha.

[WolfRose7]

They do down here in the south weirdly although never tried them. Did once try cadbury creme egg deep fried was OK tad greasy for my liking.

But I agree can't imagine broccoli being anywhere near Scottish menu :-) I should know my family don't and they are Scottish as you can get hence my love for haggis, square sausage and homemade potato scones.

By the way got to love some Welsh cake as well ate a whole packet last time I was travelled through Wales to Powys.

From a Welsh person living in Scotland I want all that food now.
And Welsh cakes are great, especially homemade ones with cranberries instead of raisins

[hardyboysare]

From a Welsh person living in Scotland I want all that food now.
And Welsh cakes are great, especially homemade ones with cranberries instead of raisins

Never had them with cranberries but sounds like a match made in heaven. Was up enjoy the views of Elan Valley when I first tried handmade Welsh cakes from a lovely little bakery in one of the villages near by bloody lovely. The shop bought ones are not quite the same and certainly not got any cranberries in them. Might have to try my hand at making some with cranberries.

Tell me about it all night I have had a craving for haggis, tried getting some for St Andrews day last weekend but had none other then vegetarian version and really that didn't match the nice fatty flavoring of traditional haggis. Not much supply down the South. Maybe tonight I think if any are in stock :-)

I also remember as a lad my late gran use to make me Scottish ginger wine always would bring it down and claimed it help sore throats, coughs etc. Sure it never did but by god it tasted lovely never did get the recipe I know it involved ginger essence, blackcurrant essence, a s**t tonne of sugar might have to attempt it after a google search to jog my memory. Something like this:-

https://www.tartantastesintx.com/201...nger-wine.html

With 3.5lbs of sugar that is probably regarded as a cheat drink!!

[WolfRose7]

Never had them with cranberries but sounds like a match made in heaven. Was up enjoy the views of Elan Valley when I first tried handmade Welsh cakes from a lovely little bakery in one of the villages near by bloody lovely. The shop bought ones are not quite the same and certainly not got any cranberries in them. Might have to try my hand at making some with cranberries.

Tell me about it all night I have had a craving for haggis, tried getting some for St Andrews day last weekend but had none other then vegetarian version and really that didn't match the nice fatty flavoring of traditional haggis. Not much supply down the South. Maybe tonight I think if any are in stock :-)

I also remember as a lad my late gran use to make me Scottish ginger wine always would bring it down and claimed it help sore throats, coughs etc. Sure it never did but by god it tasted lovely never did get the recipe I know it involved ginger essence, blackcurrant essence, a s**t tonne of sugar might have to attempt it after a google search to jog my memory. Something like this:-

https://www.tartantastesintx.com/201...nger-wine.html

With 3.5lbs of sugar that is probably regarded as a cheat drink!!

You wouldn't have, traditionally it's quite cheap ingredients, not many cranberries in the mining towns back in the day haha
It's my twist since the SO hates raisins, but also happens to work great anyway

That wine sounds perfect for my current cold

[1MANU]

When I was 17, me and a buddy of mine made a trip to CF every saturday in order to try EVERY cheesecake over the course of a few months..

My go-to was:

Avocado Egg Rolls
Louisiana Chicken Pasta
Cheesecake of choice (sometimes a la mode)


I ate a loooooot of cheesecake that year

Cheesecake definitely my vice!

[AdamWW]

Cheesecake definitely my vice!

My favorites were there Carrot Cake Cheesecake and the S'mores one they had a while ago. SO damn good.