They loved him slender, but Elvis was a slave to his appetites

Elvis Aaron Presley's appetite is almost as legendary as his songs. It isn't just the amount Presley ate that raises eyebrows, it's the food itself. 'After a hard day of basic training, you could eat a rattlesnake,' he said of his military service.

The anniversary of Presley's death is on August 16, so devoted fans might want to fix one of The King's favourite snacks as a tribute. What would be on the menu at the Elvis Diner?

A big plate of pork chops, or burned bacon sandwiches on rye toast with mustard, or deep-fried mashed banana sandwiches. Presley had a strong connection with the Southern comfort food he grew up with, and ate it to excess.

'Elvis had what quaintly used to be called a 'healthy' appetite for what we now know to be unhealthy foods. He indulged this appetite with little rest,' write Laura Victoria Levin and John O'Hara in their book Elvis and You; Your Guide to the Pleasures of Being an Elvis Fan.

The King may have lived a superstar lifestyle, but his cravings were for American comfort food. He could be fixated with a single dish - he is said to have eaten meat loaf every night for a three-month stretch.

One night, while hosting The Beatles at his home in Graceland, he ordered a midnight feast. The simple spread included devilled eggs, broiled chicken livers in bacon, meatballs, cold cuts and cheese.