One of the twists from the game of Big Brother that has stood the test of time is the concept of Haves and Have-Nots. This twist was introduced during season 11, and has been part of the game ever since.

What Are Haves and Have-Nots?

Simply put, the "Haves" get to eat and drink all of the ordinary food and beverages that are offered each week in the Big Brother house. They also get to sleep in regular beds.

On the other hand, the "Have-Nots" must subsist on a concoction known as Big Brother Slop, along with water, an assortment of condiments, and a couple of odd items that are voted on by viewers each week. They also must sleep in a special "Have-Not Room" which is often decorated in an alarming or disturbing manner and offers only cots to rest on.

As pictured, in Big Brother 17 the Have-Not Room was designed to resemble a dentist's office.

The Haves may also partake in other food and drink related things such as:

• The nightly alcohol allowance
• Birthday cake for houseguests celebrating their birthdays
• Special rewards such as parties or dinners

Generally speaking the Have-Nots may not join their fellow houseguests for these occasions, though exceptions are sometimes made.

The Have/Have-Not Competition

While the Haves and Have-Nots are not a continuous element of the game, they are in place most weeks. Those who are Have-Nots are determined by a weekly competition. Depending on how many houseguests are in the house at competition time, the challenge is played by first dividing the group into two or three teams (or the competition can be played individually, with a certain number of bottom-finishers becoming the Have Nots).

When played in teams, the team who finishes in last place becomes the Have-Nots for the week.

The Head of Household is the only houseguest who is exempt from the Have/Have-Not competition, as this person will be considered a Have for the week that he or she reigns in the house.

Big Brother Slop

Big Brother Slop is the staple food item that the Have-Nots eat during their week of not-having. Slop has been described as having the texture of gritty oatmeal, without much flavor to speak of. It can be cooked in a variety of ways and many former houseguests have become creative with it, making cookies, pancakes, and an assortment of other items from Slop. Most often, however, the houseguests simply prepare it like a hot cereal and add condiments, either sweet or savory, to alter the taste.

In reality, the Slop is an oatmeal-like dry mixture that has been fortified to be nutritionally complete.

Weekly Extra Food Items

In an attempt to make the game more interactive, Big Brother encourages fans to vote for one of four different food combinations that the Have-Nots may eat along with Slop. These items are usually meant to be off-putting or oddly combined, such as sardines and lollipops or kale and blue cheese. Viewers vote for these items at the CBS website or by calling or texting the appropriate numbers (as noted during the show).

The winning food items are presented to the houseguests, along with a note explaining that fans have chosen these foods for them, upon their return to the house after a Have/Have-Not competition.

Impact on the Game

While the Haves and Have-Nots don't have a direct impact on game play, this twist does tend to mess with morale. If houseguests are feeling down about their games, their alliances, or just missing their friends and families, finding out that they have to eat slop and sleep on cots can really drive a nail into their already-low morales. This is really a psychological thing, though if a houseguest finds it difficult to eat the slop, he or she can grow weak enough that being a Have-Not can affect his or her performance in competitions.