Peanut Butter Puffins = Crack (and other food addictions)

It started out innocently enough. At work one day, I went over to visit Alec at his desk, as I was hungry and it was still hours from lunchtime. He suggested I try some of Meadow’s (new character alert! Meadow is named after Meadow Soprano. She’s a coworker who enjoys rugby games and men with accents) peanut butter Puffins cereal. I had tried them before, in the cinnamon flavor, and thought they were okay, not that great. But I was desperate, and the puffin on the front looked so cute and friendly and innocent.WRONG! Not innocent at all!! This puffin is like the dieter's version of Joe the Camel—sure he looks all cute and cuddly, but really he unlocks the door to something addictive and dangerous…

These little puffs of peanut buttery goodness are amongst the more amazing foods I’ve ever tried. I can’t even put into words my lack of control when these guys are around. I even found myself day dreaming about them when I was at home in the North End, thinking about the box in my desk drawer at work, and when I could get my next peanut butter puffin fix.

And that Friday when no one was at work? When everyone was outside frolicking in the sunshine? I sat with the box, on my lap, and just noshed on those little guys all day long, until I literally felt sick to my stomach. Why eat lunch when you can snack on PB puffins?! I thought to myself.

When I confessed (via twitter) my addiction, many others came forward, afflicted with this similar love of PB puffins, while others confessed other foods they can’t allow themselves to buy, for fear of gorging themselves.

Here are some other suggestions from friends of foods that are so addictive, they’re akin to drugs.

Jamie rattled off a bunch in one breath: clementines, movie theatre popcorn, Tostitos, Fritos, cookie dough, French fries, Life cereal, champagne.

More suggestions from Jamie: those crunchy, wonton noodles at Chinese restaurants that they put on the table in place of bread. “And they’re not even that good,” she pointed out, “but everyone houses them!”

Another friend at work is ready to check herself into rehab over meringue cookies at Whole Foods.

Besides puffins, I’d add green grapes and ice cream in cartons to my list (case in point—last night’s mistake of buying a pint of Dove ice cream).

Dearest readers, what are your addictive foods? You know, the kind that when you take a bite, you know you’re a goner and you’ll be thinking about the rest of the day or until you can get your next fix?? Leave yours in the comments! I'm very curious to hear...