foremastJack

Sugar rush and then withdrawal, that would be a fun and interesting twist!

True. It wouldn't be realistic to gain better health by munching cake. Haha. What about this instead: By filling up the "tasty food" nutrition, you'll loose some of the balance in your diet, making you eventually go down to zero, and by that lower health instead of obesity, if you only eat sugar. Happiness isn't nutrition. But happiness can give extra strength. I like the idea to gaining buffs. However, that may create a dilemma with alcoholic beverages. I really don't like drunk buffs.

I like the balanced diet mechanic. How about adding one more "nutrient"? A "feeling fulfilled" kind of nutrient. "I can eat tasty foods, and that makes me happy" nutrient. And because life is sweet, the player get better stats. This could open up for more possibilities and realism to the game. Even primitive tribes had their guilty pleasures; just sayin. Imagine being rewarded with more than plain old saturation for going the extra mile by making a cake. Or, if a gamer can dream, wine perhaps?