Comments on: For $1 million, would you agree to eat nothing but dog food for one year?

By: Krystina

Krystina — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:44:32 +0000

I would do it. I love dog food, canned or dry. Give me a dog treat and i’d be happy! Dog food isn’t as bad as some human food i’ve tasted.

Oh and milkbones…aren’t my favorite…

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:59:52 +0000

A friend of mine is dating a veterinarian. The vet told him that a person could survive quite well off of only dog food, even for a year. She told him that she would take the challenge if offered to her.

On reading this post, my wife said that we do often eat something akin to dog food–we each vitamin enriched cereals. Maybe we could reformulate this hypothetical. If someone could manufacture a cereal that would provide all the basic nutrients for humans, would you eat it (and nothing else) for a year? In short, how important is it to you that you have the ability to taste different types and textures of food throughout the year?

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:14:06 +0000

You mean like the cereal they ate in The Matrix? Hmmm… Could I still use a little maple syrup like I do in my oatmeal??
The freshness of foods we crave is instinctual. We’re animals in search of food that will help keep us strong in case of saber tooth tiger attack.
I can totally dig the question, but honestly, I still think I’m sticking with a good ole’ BLT now and again.

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:21:00 +0000

OK. I deserved some of those responses. What if I reframed the question to this. What if some manufacturer could process some all-purpose “food” that is a nutritious blend developed specifically for humans? Assume that it would be a lot like eating breakfast cereal (though maybe not as tasty as most cereals) and that you’d eat it every meal of every day? Would that be something anyone could stomach for a year?

My hidden agenda: I’m wondering whether a wide variety of tasty (and often fresh) foods is something humans actually NEED or whether it is simply a strong preference driven by our tongues and by social conventions.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:07:00 +0000

Oh, and to address the obvious question; if dogs eat it, then why is it bad for humans?
Because humans are not dogs idiot. We have different nutritional requirements and whereas dogs actually require huge amounts of protein, humans require about 7 grams a week.
There is a reason it’s called “Dog Food” and not “Food”.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:05:06 +0000

Answer? No. Absolutely not.
First, a million isn’t exactly as much as it used to be. You could probably retire, for awhile.
Second, dog food is way too high in protein for human consumption. Not to mention that vitamin supplements are not absorbed in your body in the same way the real thing is.
You’d actually be quite ill after a very short time, and honestly, it’s just money.
I can make my own money and eat fillet mignon whenever I choose.
Life is way too short to worry about money or eat bad food.

By: Rick Sparks

Rick Sparks — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:19:25 +0000

I’d do it for $100,000! Bring it! My coat could stand to be more shiny anyway.

By: Dan Klarmann

Dan Klarmann — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:01:29 +0000

Your extended family must never have been hungry. Dog food is better fare than many people get on a daily basis. As for myself, I’d insist on the vitamin clause, or at least the right to eat greens. Dogs do supplement their packaged diets with greens, and they are mainly carnivores.

2 megabucks? He was haggling for a better deal just for the sake of the game.

I think that the “world peace” offer was more readily accepted than cash because of its fairy-tale likelihood. A million dollars is routinely offered on game shows, but world peace (usually assumed to mean permanent) is an unattainable ideal. As long as there is an “us” and a “them” surviving, there will be conflict. Remember Cain and Abel.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:53:09 +0000

I’d do it for 100,000 bucks. But it would have to be gourmet.

By: A'Llyn

A'Llyn — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:13:33 +0000

I remember quite liking dry dog food when I was about 6 or 7. It tasted kind of like crackers. Mm, crunchy stuff!

I was puzzled that my mom seemed disturbed when I told her I’d been eating it, since I couldn’t see any problem. Of course, I’d probably get really tired of it after a few months of nothing else.

Nevertheless, for $1 million?–I’d certainly give it some serious thought. My main question would be, who’s paying me, and what’s in it for them?