Have you ever sat down to a meal after cooking it and found yourself not hungry?
Worse yet, do you lack the anticipation of actually sitting down to a great meal because you already KNOW how everything on your plate tastes?
Like a lot of cooks, you may "suffer" from BLT syndrome.
No, not THAT BLT, but Bite, Lick, Taste syndrome. The one that has you eating almost your entire dinner before even sitting down to the table!
In many instances, yes, we want to taste to make sure things are seasoned properly and that they taste "just right". In others, however, it's mindless.
Recently, I found myself popping little "pieces" of things that were going into my recipe into my mouth as I was putting others in the dish. Duh! I also have a habit of licking spoons before throwing them in the dishwasher. Really? I KNOW what sour cream tastes like, lol, but I sure as heck didn't need those extra calories. It's just a bad habit.
Here's 5 ways to help ward off the BLT's and sit down to a great meal that you'll love:
1. Don't Cook Hungry
This one is a no-brainer. Much like not going grocery shopping hungry, don't start cooking hungry! I don't really need to explain why, this one is easy enough to get!
2. Try Chewing Gum
Keeping your mouth busy will keep you from mindlessly putting food in your mouth. Not to mention, there's nothing worse than a wad of gum with food stuck in it! Yuck.
3. Drink Water
Drink a big glass of water before you start cooking and then keep sipping while you're cooking. Keeping your mouth busy AND keeping your stomach feeling full can both play a part in keeping the mindless munchies at bay.
4. Brush Your Teeth
There's something magical about that smooth, fresh and minty feeling that comes from freshly brushed teeth. You KNOW you don't want to mess it up by eating so give it a try and brush up before cooking. If you have a bathroom near the kitchen, keep a spare brush & your favorite toothpaste stashed there. Avoid cavities AND muffin top. Win -win!
5. Stay Mindful
Instead of wandering off to that place in your head that takes you to places other than the present, stay focused on what you're doing. Not only will you wind up with better tasting and looking food, but you'll actually remember what you're biting, licking and tasting.
And since we know that taste IS everything, it really IS important to taste what you're cooking as you're cooking it. After all, we want to make sure it is perfect before we serve it. So how do you DO that?
Simply try to stay focused on what you're doing. To help, set out 5 small spoons for tasting (or less if you desire) and use those spoons wisely. They're the only 5 samples you're going to get!
Happy cooking-
Stacey
