50 "Forbidden Food" You Should Never Put On Your Plate

Think that sandwich is just food?

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• September 10, 2024

People often become accustomed to their surroundings and accept things at face value in everyday life. This natural tendency can sometimes lead to surprising misjudgments, particularly regarding visual cues.

One fascinating example of this phenomenon is "forbidden food," where objects that are not edible appear to resemble food. This intriguing illusion plays on our expectations and perceptions, revealing much about how we process visual information.

The internet is filled with striking examples of objects that look like tasty treats but are entirely inedible. Imagine mistaking a rock for a sandwich or a crystal for a slice of bacon.

These deceptive images are not only amusing but also highlight the complex ways in which our brains interpret what we see. For instance, what may appear like a savory pizza topping or a harmless household item could be entirely different.

These examples often leave people feeling momentarily hungry despite knowing these items are not meant to be eaten. To understand why these illusions have such a strong effect, it's helpful to consider insights from psychology.

Dr. Glenn Geher, a professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz, provides valuable perspectives on this food topic.

"For the lion’s share of human evolutionary history, the only foods that existed were natural foods. So on one hand, it makes sense that we would be attracted to foods that have a resemblance to natural foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables are examples," explained Dr. Glenn Geher.

Tasty....

I Guess I Don't Have To Mop The Floor With The Cursed Spaghetti Anymore

Forbidden Sushi

"Under ancestral conditions, such food preferences were healthy and adaptive. Under modern conditions, however, the world is not always matched to those ancestral conditions. Today, we have many processed foods that are extremely high in carbohydrates and salt (think doughnuts!)."

"People still tend to like foods like this because our ancestral tendencies have not had time to evolve in a way to match modern conditions— conditions under which food is plentiful. This is partly why we often prefer foods such as cookies, even if these foods tend to be very unhealthy today. This is a classic example of what we call evolutionary mismatch." he explained.

Forbidden Ice Cream Cone

If You Like Watermelon Jolly Rancher's, Then This Is The Soap For You

My Used Soap Bar Looks Like Chicken Breast

Nothing Like Practically Starting From Scratch With Forbidden Noodles

Forbidden Ham Slices (It’s Soap)

Forbidden Fruit Snacks (They Are Scent Chips - Scents Compacted Into A Small Wax Shape That Are Melted On Wax Melters To Release A Specific Scent)

Mentos Shampoo And Conditioner, Brazil

Forbidden Chia Seeds (Frog Eggs)

Forbidden Candies From The Dispenser

Forbidden Steak (Tree Trunk)

Forbidden Honey

Forbidden Olive

Forbidden Vampire Dippin' Dots (Frozen Blood From A Patient With An Incredibly Rare Blood Attribute)

Today At The Beach I Found A Rock That Looked Like A Sandwich

Spaghetti On A Conveyor Belt

"On the other hand, humans are omnivores. And from an evolutionary perspective, omnivores have an interesting approach to food. Omnivores evolved a curiosity regarding a variety of foods. This is why sometimes an omnivore will taste something that they may have never had before just to see if it tastes good and might be edible," he said.

"I would say for this reason, humans evolved to be open to eating foods with all kinds of visible features. We definitely tend to avoid things that are obviously overcooked or that are obviously rotten. But, again, we are omnivores. So humans are open to eating a variety of foods by nature."

Forbidden Twizzlers

Forbidden Juice Aisle (Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaners)

Forbidden Peeled Oranges

Dr. Geher said,

"Humans evolved largely under conditions in which famine was common. Under such conditions, humans evolved to like food that would put fat cells on their bodies so as to help prepare for adverse conditions. We like foods that are very high in carbohydrates and salts because, in combination, these foods do that ”.

Forbidden Food. I Saw This At An Art Museum I Went To Today

Forbidden Milk

Forbidden Ice Cream Sandwich

No-No Minties

Get The Strawberry Flavor

This Plant Looks Like A Giant Asparagus

Forbidden Toast (It's Insulation Foam I Think)

I Made A Blanket That Rolls Up To Look Like Sushi

If This Wasn't A Bar Of Soap, It'd Make A Great Piece Of Steak

Forbidden Olives

Forbidden Chocolate (I Believe They Go Under Table's Legs To Prevent Scuffs)

Forbidden Chicken Breast

These Were Cheaper Than Your Standard Plastic Trays, But Now My Seed Starters Just Kind Of Look Like Chocolate Cake

Forbidden Honey (Untouched Violin Rosin)

Forbidden Flying Dorito

Saw These Non-Edible "Bath Dusts" At Walmart. Seems Like A Bad Idea

Forbidden Bacon

This Shampoo In Italy Looks So Much Like Orange Juice They Tell You Not To Drink It

Visiting China And Found These Stones That Look Like Pork Belly

Forbidden Boba

House Cleaner… Whose Idea Was This?

Forbidden Snack

Forbidden Mentos

Someone Ate The Forbidden Cheese At My Gym

Pink Lake, Melbourne. Recently Saw This And Can Honestly Say The Water Really Looks Like Strawberry Milk

Forbidden Hotdogs

This Stacked Rock Formation

Croissants Have Just Been Baked

Forbidden Froot Loops

Forbidden Grapes

One key takeaway is that relying on just one sense to understand the world can be limiting. When all your senses work together, you get a much more precise and detailed perspective than if you depend on just one.

Combine that with the habit of not tasting something until you've thoroughly examined it. Take a moment to check if it smells, how it feels, and what its texture and weight are.

With a little examination, you might realize it’s not food—maybe it’s a decorative item. Snap a picture and share it with one of the many online groups that appreciate amusing "forbidden food" finds.

Damjan