What about tasting what you are cooking?

No Snacks, no sweets, no seconds. Except on Days that start with S. Too simple for you? Simple is why it works. Look here for questions, introductions, support, success stories.

Moderators: Soprano, automatedeating

Post Reply
GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:39 pm

I can't imagine not tasting a tiny bit as I cook, especially if I'm making something new. How do you know if it needs more salt, etc.? :shock: Thanks.

Soprano
Posts: 1184
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:56 pm
Location: UK

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by Soprano » Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:13 am

I don't worry, if I need to taste I do :)

But you only need a teaspoonful!!!

Jx
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:18 pm

Okay, thanks.

simmstone
Posts: 152
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:31 pm
Location: TX

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by simmstone » Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:34 pm

For a moment, forget the 'calories' in any given spoonful you might sample while cooking and simply consider the issue from a long-term, behavioral perspective... and, when doing that, a good question to ask yourself whenever you encounter an issue like this is:
If not explicitly spelled out in the No S rules, is the activity I'm unsure about a substantial contributor to my weight/eating issues?

Personal example:
My primary issue is binge eating. This means that snacks, seconds, and sweets are unlikely to be an issue for me on a 'normal' day, because I'm pretty darn good at avoiding those completely... when I am not binge eating.

If I am about to go into an important meeting on a weekday and feel like I need to eat a breath mint before-hand, I don't give it a second thought. I don't care if the breath mint is sugar free, and I don't consider it, in any way, a snack/sweet/violation of the No S rules when I eat one or two mints (even though they technically might be 'sweet').

Why? Because I didn't get overweight eating massive amounts of breath mints. Consuming one or two breath mints will not throw me off for the entire day... I simply eat it and move on.

But what about ONE dove chocolate square?

While one square of Dove Chocolate probably doesn't have all that many more calories than some brand of sugary breath mints (or even dinner mints) do, and when eaten occasionally between meals, would not be a huge issue for some... it IS an issue or me.

Why? Because I have eaten an entire bag of dove chocolates before. Even one Dove chocolate is a slippery slope for someone who has, traditionally, struggled with binge eating, and could throw my entire day off.

So I will eat a breath mint whenever I feel like it, but not a Dove Chocolate (unless it is an S day). My weight and eating sanity, at any given time, have both definitely been affected by chocolate consumption, but neither has ever been impacted by breath mint consumption.

Just my two cents: While following No S rules forces us to limit snacks, sweets, and seconds, each of us must determine what other 'iffy' eating behaviors are problems for us, specifically. You don't have to defer to the diet 'rules' to make determinations about borderline issues, like tasting during cooking, if you perceive that those issues don't have a major impact on your appetites/behaviors.

If something, intuitively, seems like an issue to you, then just avoid it.
If not, taste those spoonfuls and give the behavior no other thoughts, then mark your day as Green :)
Best of luck!
"No S is such a good way to combat the randomness, which is often the slide into more and more." - oolala53

GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:45 pm

Thank you so much, simmstone! What a thoughtful, helpful answer. I have a much better understanding now. :D

oolala53
Posts: 10059
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:46 am
Location: San Diego, CA USA

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by oolala53 » Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:28 am

Though it's been pretty well covered, I'd say consider limiting taste tests to new recipes. But keeping it to even less than a teaspoon and only a couple of those might work, too.
Count plates, not calories. 11 years "during"
Age 69
BMI Jan/10-30.8
1/12-26.8 3/13-24.9 +/- 8-lb. 3 yrs
9/17 22.8 (flux) 3/18 22.2
2 yrs flux 6/20 22
1/21-23

There is no S better than Vanilla No S (mods now as a senior citizen)

GabbyGirl2
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:37 am

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by GabbyGirl2 » Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:49 am

Thank you, oolala!

User avatar
Over43
Posts: 1850
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:15 pm
Location: The Mountains

Re: What about tasting what you are cooking?

Post by Over43 » Tue Dec 08, 2020 5:19 am

Why not?
Bacon is the gateway meat. - Anthony Bourdain
You pale in comparison to Fox Mulder. - The Smoking Man

I made myself be hungry, then I would get hungrier. - Frank Zane Mr. Olympia '77, '78, '79

Post Reply