What are your guilty food pleasures?

The other day I had the joy of attending a gathering with some of the most interesting people in the food world: lecturers, editors, and chefs.

As you might imagine, the conversation was lively, full of laughter, and, of course, we enjoyed some incredible food. At some point, the conversation turned to an unexpected but intriguing question: ‘What is your guilty food pleasure?’

Now, I wanted to sound as cool and sophisticated as everyone else. I mean, these were seasoned food experts!

As others started sharing their answers — battered chips, beans on toast, and other nostalgic favourites — I found myself wrestling with what to say.

I had only one thing on my mind, but it wasn’t glamorous. In fact, it was the kind of thing that might make some people think of heart attacks.

But here’s the thing: the true beauty of guilty food pleasures lies in their simplicity. And when it comes to simplicity, my mom was an absolute master.

She had a firm rule in the kitchen: nothing goes to waste. When our bread started going stale — because, as we all know, good bread doesn’t get mouldy, it just gets hard — she had a solution.

She would slice it or cut it into cubes, melt quite a lot of butter (and trust me, butter is infinitely better than oil in this case), and fry the bread until it was crisp and golden brown. A sprinkle of salt was all it needed. Is it healthy? Maybe not. But is it delicious? Absolutely.

To this day, that crispy, buttery, golden-brown bread remains one of the most indulgent pleasures I know.

According to some studies — okay, the research I read was more about activities than food — indulging in guilty pleasures can reduce stress, improve mental health, and boost your overall wellbeing. And if food makes you happy, I say that’s good enough for me!

Speaking of guilty pleasures, let me confess to another one of mine: gelee bananas. Now, I know what you're thinking — what on earth are gelee bananas?

Well, they're these little banana-flavoured jellies, shaped like bananas and covered in dark chocolate. Every Christmas, a dear friend from Germany sends me a parcel, and without fail, two packs of these little beauties are tucked inside.

And what do I do when they arrive? I hide them, of course!

Yes, I hoard them away like a child with a secret stash of sweets. I always tell myself I’ll only eat two or three at a time, but who am I kidding? They disappear in the blink of an eye.

Honestly, I was surprised to learn that even the food experts at the table had similarly simple guilty pleasures.

One person’s love for battered chips — something I’ve yet to try but now absolutely must — had me intrigued. Beans on toast came up as well, which is a classic in my book, but with a twist. I like to melt a slice of cheese on top so that it oozes into the beans. Simple, comforting, and oh-so-satisfying.

But here’s a thought: why do we even call them ‘guilty’ pleasures? If it makes you happy, why feel guilty about it? Maybe it’s time to drop the guilt altogether.

After all, if something as simple as fried bread or gelee bananas can bring a little joy into your day, it’s more than just a guilty pleasure — it’s simply a pleasure, and that’s something to celebrate.