Confessions of a Competitive Eater
Eric Livingston of Drexel Hill isn’t your average suburban dad and husband. He is one of the 30 competitive eaters primed to “eat his way to fame” at tomorrow’s Wing Bowl 16. (He ate one of everything on the McDonald’s Dollar Menu in five minutes and 30 seconds to qualify.) Livingston’s eating ego, Steakbellie, who dons a Scottish kilt during competitions, took time out of his surprisingly low-key, pre-Wing Bowl workout to dish about his favorite foods (it’s not wings!) and his path to professionally ranked speed-eater. — Bridget Salmons
So you are ranked 21st in the world; how did you get involved in competitive eating?
This is my third year as a pro. I tried out for the Wing Bowl 14 on a bet, and I was predicted by WIP to come in Dead Last (30th). I wound up placing 6th and only getting beat by mostly pros. I had such a good time that I signed up for the very next professional contest I could find. (And got my butt kicked!) Since then, it’s been a long, slow climb to breaking the top 50 rankings.
How many wings did you eat in your first Wing Bowl competition?
106! People asked me how I felt … FULL. But later that night I ate some leftover chicken parm out of the fridge.
How many do you plan on eating this year?
If everything goes well, I should be in the 150 range. I don’t say that lightly … that’s a lot of food!
How do your prepare for the Wing Bowl?
Many people are surprised at how little I eat on a regular basis, or the healthy choices I try to make when eating. Even competitive eaters have to be responsible for their own health and weight. For me it’s more important to get a familiarity with the food, and think about what techniques might be best. I also don’t eat for 24 hours before an event so that I show up hungry.
What is your favorite food?
I love pizza. It’s really a weak spot for me.
What is the nastiest thing you’ve ever had to eat for a competition?
I’ve been in 23 professional contests so far and have eaten everything from hot dogs and hamburgers to whole turkeys to shoo-fly pie. All of them are unique. I ate 61 jalapenos in a contest in Chicago this summer. You can imagine the flight home. Surprisingly, the absolute worst food was the time I ate 6.5 pounds of cranberry sauce.
Image, steakbellie.com