Lack of food as power-ups in some Mario games

[FirePuppy]

I've noticed that in Super Mario Bros. 1 and 3 and Super Mario 64, no food is served as power-ups -- well, other than mushrooms, which I wouldn't count anyways. You think there should have been real food as power-ups in these games? If so, which ones?

 

[Xiahou Ba]

what if the leaves, feathers, and tanooki/frog suits ARE food though

 

[Night King]

feathers and tanookis arent foods tho

 

[Xiahou Dun]

Raccoon dogs are hunted by humans extensively, including in Japan, so I assume some of that goes toward nourishment.

 

[Biddybud]

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Joke aside, why do they need to be food? To fit in with Namco and the 80's arcade/casino scene? I'll admit I love that old trope.

 

[zel]

introduce more edible mushrooms as powerups so i could point at them and go id like to eat this irl

 

[SlyWhyGuy]

The super cucumber. Lol.

 

[Fawfulthegreat64]

If that doesn't give Mario a purple mask and plunger ears I'd be sorely disappointed.

 

[TinTinfinite]

Carrot says "hi".

EDIT: And does acorns edible by humans? If we do eat them, then there's the Super Acorn item as well.

 

[Xiahou Ba]

And does acorns edible by humans? If we do eat them, then there's the Super Acorn item as well.

certainly do eat them

 

[Biddybud]

Now I want the return of Bunny Mario
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But why food? I don't see Super Mario eating the power ups.. he just runs into them and they kinda, fuse?

I suppose Paper Mario eats them, but his reality works differently.. and he has a lot of food items!
..
But now that you mention it.. It would be fun to have a Cooking Mario minigame in the next 3D Mario!
Food items could be his health replenish and element shields like in Paper Mario!