How to enjoy baking without eating everything

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is "how do you do so much baking, cooking and recipe creations without eating everything you make and 'getting fat'?!"

This is actually a really valid questions, and I completely understand why this might be something many people struggle with. Trust me, I've been there myself and I'm still not perfect.  Surrounding yourself with (delicious) foods on a regular basis is highly tempting, and even potentially triggering - especially if you dabble in disordered eating.

I've personally dealt with a really unhealthy relationship with baking in the past. I used to spend hours making the most indulgent,  calorie-dense #foodporn style treats for all  my friends in high school....without ever letting myself even have a bite. I restricted and tortured myself with what I wouldn't let myself eat, and eventually what started as a hobby very quickly become a disordered behaviour.

Since re-finding my passion for baking and cooking this year, I've definitely come a long way since those days. I now focus on creating recipes that are healthy, nutritious, and most importantly - recipes that I want to eat, and let myself eat. 

Sure, there are days where I eat a little too much batter, taste-test the same thing five too many times, and nibble and pick away at what I've made as I take photos of it....but overall, I've found a really good place with preparing and creating my own food, finding pride in it, and using it as an act of self-love and creative outlet - and I would love to inspire even the smallest fraction of my followers to do the same!

So, here's some of my tips, tricks and hints to make sure you're enjoying your baking, without over-doing it or self-sabotaging yourself!

• Don't bake on an empty stomach: pretty self-explanatory! It's like going grocery shopping hungry  - it's a recipe for disaster (no pun intended). Eat a big, wholesome meal before baking and make sure you're not so ravenous that you'll eat every single thing you touch in the kitchen. 

• Don't try to 'ban' or deny yourself from eating what you've made: I've found that the minute I say to myself "I won't try any of this one" I somehow end up eating half the batch of whatever I've made through a series of sneaky nibbles. Say to yourself "I'm going to make these and enjoy one full serving today, then set the rest aside". If you count your macros, log it in and stop at one serving. Trust me, this is SO much more enjoyable and satisfying than trying to hold back, then having to kid yourself into thinking you haven't eaten a serving, just because you ate a million little bits and pieces of it without being mindful or accountable. If you can afford a little more freedom and flexibility - then by all means eat a little bit extra here and there, but just remember that it does add up, and it's up to you to decide whether that's a good thing or bad thing for you and your goals.

• Make half-batches or share your creations around with friends and family: There is no way I could make 12 brownies and expect myself to get through them all in the 5 days they'll remain fresh.  Don't set yourself up for failure, and don't waste a whole bunch of food just to remove yourself from the 'risk' of eating it all. If you don't have anyone at home or around you that would enjoy what you've made, try to halve or quarter the recipe so you have just enough for yourself. If you do have hungry loved ones (they're the best), then share what you've made with them and spread the love! No one will turn down a free batch of homemade muffins. Trust me.

• Have something planned after baking: sitting around with a cooling rack full of freshly baked cookies staring right you will tempt even the strongest of willpowers. Make sure you have something to keep you busy and occupied while whatever you've baked is cooling and infusing your house with a delicious smell. Remove yourself from a situation you think could end badly for you. When you return to the kitchen, grab some tupperware ASAP and store whatever you're not planning on eating immediately out of sight. 

If you feel baking really is problematic for you, or you struggle with binge-eating tendencies, then some of these more structured tricks might help:

• Choose one recipe to make a week, and confine all baking to one day: this way, even if you do 'overdo it' a little on the taste-testing, the calories won't add up consistently throughout the week. Baking multiple times a week could become a little 'risky', especially if you're trying to stick to a certain calorie intake or manage your weight.

• Bake with your friends and family: having people around you will take your mind off fixating over what you're baking, it'll keep you accountable, and it'll mean you have some watchful eyes over you during the actual baking and preparation steps, so you're less inclined to go wild with the batter (..guilty).

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• Brush your teeth right before baking or chew gum while you bake: this is something I do when I'm in one of those 'emotional eating' moods and know I'm going to be loading up on the delicious chocolate brownie I'm baking. Having a minty fresh breath signals to your brain that you're done with eating and discourages you from feeling the need to keep eating and eating.

What I wouldn't recommend doing:
I've head some people bake what they don't like, but I personally don't find that purposeful, enjoyable or empowering.  Instead, I think a better option is to make whatever you're creating as nutritious and healthy as possible most of the time - so you can enjoy it without 'guilt'.

I also wouldn't get into the mindset of 'compensating' or 'budgeting' for what you've consumed during baking. That's also setting you up for a really unhealthy, punishment-driven relationship with food - and in my opinion, that's not what baking should be about!

At the end of the day, it's all up to you in how you decide to incorporate baking into your lifestyle consistently and sustainably - just remember that it should be a fun, constructive hobby, not a self-destructive one xx