Food. It's a fundamental source of survival, and thankfully, it can also be a delicious slice of life. From the sweetest of deserts to the meatiest of meals, sometimes there's nothing quite like a big banquet to remind you why being alive is awesome. But food isn't without some downsides, like swift and shocking weight gain or potentially lethal allergic qualities. Perhaps the greatest food-related difficulty of all is that sometimes, the delicacy you crave the most is simply impossible to attain -- which is exactly the case in the world of video games.

There are so many different meals, meats and treats in the gaming pantheon that food connoisseurs would love to devour, but unless you can bend the rules of reality ala Tron or Nick Arcade, you're never going to satisfy that sweet tooth. But let's play the make believe game and imagine that gaming goodies somehow became available at your local markets -- in such an event, these are the five food products I'd most want to eat.

Herbs (Resident Evil Series)

In a world filled with mindless monsters and flesh-eating zombies, it's hard to imagine survivors like Chris Redfield harboring a craving for specific munchies. But there's nonetheless one item that everybody in the Resident Evil universe should desire -- herbs. I can't testify to the taste of these green plants, but the medicinal properties speak for themselves. Who wouldn't want to eat an herb that instantly restores a vast portion of your health? I'd just cut some up, sprinkle them in pasta and eat for days. I might not achieve immortality, but I would certainly be healthier than a zombified horse.

Magic Mushrooms (Super Mario Bros. Series)

The magic mushrooms of the Super Mario Bros. games are vastly different than the magic mushrooms of reality, but they're nonetheless responsible for some very bizarre side effects. Eating one such mushroom transforms you from a miniature plumber into a taller and presumably more confident man. Clearly, this is a food product that should be consumed with a great degree of caution -- but perhaps if finely chopped and applied to a salad or a pizza, the mushroom's effects would be lessened but still beneficial towards your continued physical growth.

Pizza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game)

As a longtime resident of New York City, I'm not exactly lacking when it comes to the pizza department. Still, I would love to eat some of the pizza pies found in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game if only so I could chow down with Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo. While I absolutely adore pizza, I'm nowhere near as big a fan as the Turtles are. Simply getting the opportunity to grab a slice with the heroes in a half shell would undoubtedly renew my respect for pizza.

Snakes (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)

I'd like to think that I'm an adventurous eater, so the idea of consuming a snake isn't particularly daunting, even if it's not at the top of my to do list. That said, picking up a massive boa constrictor and taking a bite out of it while it's still alive is a considerably more intimidating prospect -- but if Naked Snake is able to do such a thing in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, there's no reason I shouldn't give it a shot! No reason, of course, except for the fact that he's a highly trained combat and stealth specialist while I'm an out-of-shape stay-at-home blogger. On second thought, I might want to rethink this choice.

Whole Roasted Turkey (Final Fight)

Imagine the dangerous setting of Final Fight -- an alley way filled with thugs brandishing knives, baseball bats and a wide assortment of other dangerous weapons, where every one of these vicious men would love nothing more than to pulverize your face into a bloody pulp. Your only defenses are your brains and brawn, both of which are considerably mighty but not quite enough to tackle these goons without some back up. Thankfully, there is a whole roasted turkey conveniently located in the alley, and feasting upon said poultry results in a power boost. Think about that -- a massive turkey, when consumed, instantly gives you renewed strength and energy. If that's not a desirable food product, I'm not sure what is.