13 Cheat Meals That Will Tempt the Strictest of Diets
No matter how many times you hashtag #fitspo on Instagram or assert that your Kardashian-esque diet is changing your life, sometimes all you want is a pizza (or sundae/ cheeseburger/ fried butter, etc.)
The key to life is ~balance~ and even aspiring Fit Tea modes shouldn’t give up the good stuff completely.
Carbs, cheese, and the occasional bacon wrapped donut, may not be the most nutritious, but they still feed the soul in a way kale never could.
So to prep for any upcoming cheat days you already have on the calendar, here’s the top 13 meals to indulge in.
Serendipity 3 – Golden Opulence Sundae
If you’ve got a raging sweet tooth as well as $1000 dollars burning a hole in your pocket, make your way over to Serendipity 3. Located in New York City, Serendipity is home to the Golden Opulence Sundae, a dessert so #extra it needs to be ordered two days in advance. The sundae is comprised of Tahitian Vanilla ice cream, drizzled with Amedei Porcelana chocolate, gold-coated almonds, candied fruit flown in from Paris, ‘sweet grand passion caviar’ and covered in 23-carat gold leaf.
Katz’s Delicatessen – Pastrami Sandwich
Established in 1888, Katz’s Delicatessen has become one of the world’s most famous restaurants. The legendary deli is known for many things from its cranky staff to its late night crowd, but most importantly for its mile high, unreal pastrami sandwiches. Yet it’s not just the sandwiches’ absurd size that has made them so iconic. Since its inception, the restaurant has utilized old school cooking methods using no chemicals or additives which accounts for the pastrami on rye’s utter perfection.
Flour Shop – Mini Sprinkle Explosion Cake
NYC’s Flour Shop knows just how much everybody loves surprises and incorporates such in their latest crazy creation. Meet their Mini Sprinkle Explosion Cake, an eye-popping treat that reveals a treasure trove of sprinkles and candy once sliced into. If cheat days are already a gift to ourselves, why not sneak in a bonus surprise like this sugar dream?
Bakers & Baristas – Fruity Pebbles Tres Leches Cake
Rub your eyes all you want, but trust, you didn’t not misread the headline for this entry. Yes, a tres leches cake with Fruity Pebbles exists, and you can get it at Bakers & Baristas in Artesia, CA. This wild dessert is such a creative and fun play on cereal and milk, while also providing your feed with ample aesthetics.
Maison Pickle – 24 Layer Chocolate Cake
Because everyone knows 23 just isn’t enough, NYC’s Maison Pickle created a chocoholics’ wet dream by making a 24 layer chocolate cake. This notorious monstrosity of sweet is made with 12 layers of thin chocolate cake and 12 layers of smooth chocolate filling. Perfect for sharing, but it really wouldn’t be a cheat day if you did, now would it?
Myeong-Dong Market – Footlong Soft Serve
When exploring through Myeong-Dong in Korea, make sure to fill your IG feed and tummy with the absolutely bonkers footlong soft serve cone. It’s a great way to chill out after shopping through the famous luxury shops and marketplace. That’s treatin’ yoself times two!
Black Tap – Crazy Shakes
Though the freak shake trend may have peaked in 2016, it’s really never too late to indulge in a comically decadent milkshake. These aptly named, outrageous desserts can be found in a number of places, but Black Tap is perhaps the most famous. Sweet, massive and still super #instaworthy, Black Tap’s shakes are a must try.
Caked Up – Bacon Croissant
A wise man probably once said, “everything’s better with bacon.” Caked Up Cafe in New York City clearly got this memo because they created bacon stuffed croissants that are absolutely amazing. More things in life should be stuffed with bacon. Maybe even bacon.
Jaburritos – Jachos
You know that feeling when you’re hungry and can’t decide between nachos and sushi? We’ve all been there. Luckily, Jaburritos in Las Vegas offers the ultimate (and delicious) solution to this universal problem. “Jachos” are tortilla chips doused with spicy tuna, crab, shrimp tempura, and chipotle mayo. Yeah, get you a dish that can do both.
Pizza Barn – Giant Slices
If you wanna do cheat day proper with pizza, head on over to Pizza Barn in Yonkers, NY. A good indicator of a pizza that qualifies as a proper cheat meal is if it’s practically half the size of you. Check. Pizza Barn passes that test with flying colors.
Clinton Hall – Doughnut Grilled Cheese
In what may be a triumph in #foodporn, Clinton Hall’s Doughnut Grilled Cheese should be a go-to when you’re looking to collect some calories for the heck of it. Picture this indulgent scene: a glazed doughnut fashioned as a grilled cheese sandwich, hung up on a hook that dangles itself precariously over a steaming bowl of creamy tomato soup. Ugh. Excuse me while I go fan myself.
Café du Monde // Beignets
The beignets served at Cafe du Monde are like a childhood fantasy come true. Made with only two ingredients, fried dough and literal mountains of powdered sugar, the famous pastries are a heavenly sugar rush waiting to happen. Not to mention, these beignets have delighted the taste buds of many a celebrity ,so if you wanna feel ~famous~ I’d recommend getting to NOLA as fast as you can!
Elbows – Pizza Mac N’ Cheese
Elbows in Los Angeles created a mac n’ cheese pizza hybrid, and it’s just as magical as it sounds. People might say this combo is too much. But don’t listen to them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.
