Imagine this: you’re watching a movie, the room is quiet, the glow of the screen lighting your face… and then it happens. A dish appears, ridiculous, chaotic, maybe even offensive to basic culinary standards, but somehow it calls to you. You sit up. You squint. You think, why does that actually look kind of amazing? That was me while watching Elf. In a world of syrup-covered spaghetti and sugar-fueled madness, three foods rose above the rest and whispered, eat me. And honestly? I would.
3. candy spaghetti
Listen, I know Buddy the Elf’s spaghetti looks like the aftermath of a toddler’s birthday party, but hear me out: this might be the peak of human innovation. Think about it, spaghetti is basically a blank canvas, right? Now imagine that canvas covered in maple syrup so glossy it practically sparkles, candy that crunches like festive confetti, marshmallows that melt into little sugary clouds, and Pop-Tarts crushed on top like a pastry crown. It’s not a meal, it’s an experience. And honestly, why wouldn’t you want to try a dish that simultaneously looks wrong and yet somehow feels spiritually right?
2. CANDY CANE FOREST
The Candy Cane Forest in Elf might not be real, but honestly, it sounds like the perfect escape for anyone in their 20s who’s tired and burnt out (especially during finals week). Buddy talks about walking through “the seven levels of the candy cane forest” like it’s just another stroll, but imagine being surrounded by trees you can literally eat. Stress? Bite a branch. Bad day? Grab a handful of gumdrops. Overthinking your whole life at 2 a.m.? Just lean against a peppermint trunk and chill. It’s basically a sugary alternate universe where nothing hurts, everything tastes good, and no one expects you to check HuskyCT.
1. four main food groups
When Buddy the Elf talks about growing up in the North Pole, he proudly rattles off the elves’ “four main food groups,” and not a single one would ever show up on a real nutrition chart. No veggies, no dairy, no protein, nothing remotely balanced or doctor-approved. Instead, their entire diet is built on candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup. And honestly, the fact that it’s not just one specific food but an entire category of sugar is exactly why this earns the number-one spot on my list of foods I’d try from Elf. It’s versatile. You can add it to literally anything: breakfast, dinner, snacks, mid-semester emotional breakdown meals. Buddy treats sugar like a lifestyle, a philosophy, a belief system, and the way he talks about it almost makes you want to believe in it too. If you’re going to fully commit to eating like an elf for a day, this is the food group that gives you the most creative freedom and the highest chance of needing a nap afterward.
anyone hungry?
At the end of the day, the world of Elf is basically one giant sugar-fueled fever dream. From Buddy’s unhinged spaghetti masterpiece, to the magical Candy Cane Forest I wish I could escape to during finals, to the elves’ entire food pyramid being replaced with straight-up sugar, every “food” moment in this movie feels chaotic in the best way.
Would any of these choices be approved by a doctor? Absolutely not. Would they taste good? Debatable. Would I still try them? Without hesitation. Because if there’s anything Buddy the Elf teaches us, it’s that life is more fun when you embrace a little madness, sprinkle on a lot of sugar, and follow the holiday spirit, no matter how questionable the meal looks.