A Look Back at All the Weird Shit Our Candidates Ate on the Campaign Trail This Year

After more than a year's worth of unbelievable twists and turns, Election Day is finally upon us, and we'll have some resolution to this political farce/thriller soon enough.

But when we look back at the election season, we'll have more to think about than the political machinations that landed us our 45th President. We'll also have the Trump Taco Bowl and that time Hillary Clinton called bubble tea "chewy tea."

Food on the campaign trail is full of pitfalls, and most savvy politicians avoid having to put anything in their mouths in front of people. But as presidential hopefuls glad-hand their ways across the US, hosting multiple breakfasts daily and popping by state fairs, they are welcomed by an electorate eager to share their local culinary treasures. With the entire press corps cameras trained on the candidate, the question is then whether to dive into a cannoli or corn dog with America watching.

Let's take a look back, shall we?

We'll begin with a fallen candidate—who can forget how John Kasich tried to eat his way to the White House? How in but one of many feats of eating prowess, Kasich found himself in the Bronx, and tried to win over the borough by housing an ungodly amount of Italian food? How, with each successive bite, he demonstrated his pure willpower and perseverance, trying to shove just one more bite of a hero into his mouth, doomed to fail but destined to go down swinging?

I think Kasich is enjoying the Bronx pic.twitter.com/WXOBhO84my

— Jennifer Fermino (@jfermino) April 7, 2016

Not far away in Queens, Hilary tried out boba tea for the first time while she was in the process of dispatching Bernie Sanders. She liked it, saying, "I've never had chewy tea before. I love it." "Chewy tea" may have been a faux pas, but Hilary's a pro, and has largely avoided food-related gaffes this year. Hell, she even ordered Chipotle incognito, opting for a manageable bowl rather than a burrito, and, capitalizing on the Beyoncé "hot sauce" zeitgeist, mentioned on a radio interview that she carries around hot sauce in her bag everywhere she goes. (Some questioned this claim.) Apparently, Clinton kept about 100 hot sauces at the White House when Bill was president.

Trump's newer to the campaign trail, but he had time to get ready for election season since he took Sarah Palin to Famous Famiglia's—in Times Square, of all places—in 2011 and proceeded to eat his pizza with a knife and fork. SMH. More recently, he's made hilariously flaccid attempts to connect with Hispanic voters by ordering claiming ownership of "the best taco bowls" in a very strange tweet dispatched on Cinco de Mayo.

Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics! https://t.co/ufoTeQd8yA pic.twitter.com/k01Mc6CuDI

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2016

Since Trump Steaks (best cooked well-done) are discontinued, Trump has largely turned his tastes to fast food as he considers it "clean." He loves a "Fish Delight" (his botched name for the Filet-O-Fish) from McDonald's, orders KFC to his private plane, and celebrated winning the Republican nomination with a burger and fries from McDonald's.

One thing you almost won't ever see is Trump actually eating on camera. On John Kasich eating pancakes, Trump said, "I have never seen a human being eat in such a disgusting fashion… This guy takes a pancake and he's shoving it in his mouth… "Do you want that for your president? I don't think so."

Great afternoon in Ohio & a great evening in Pennsylvania - departing now. See you tomorrow Virginia! pic.twitter.com/jQTQYBFpdb

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2016

Proclivity for fast food runs in the Trump family—Eric Trump recently stopped by an In-N-Out around the time of one of the debates. But a fan photo of the occasion posted on Instagram led to one burning question—did Trump fill his free water cup up with decidedly not-free lemonade?

We'll be oh-so-lucky if we get one final food-related head-scratcher today—but at least we closed the case on whether Obama actually eats seven almonds every night.

Now go vote.