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We've all been there at some time. Brownie Guilt. Or (insert your food weakness here) Guilt.

 

Let me walk you through what I call the Brownie Guilt Chain:

1. Buy brownies (It's for the kids!)

2. Leave brownies on the kitchen counter

3. Get tired and/or bored

4. Get "hungry"

5. Walk into kitchen

6. Grab a brownie (or 4) and head for the TV

7. Eat a bunch of brownies in a short amount of time

8. Feel guilty, feel like you are a failure

9. Think of yourself as weak willed and a person who can never do things right so why even try?

 

Then the chain starts over with you going and getting more brownies. We've all been there!

 

So what do we do about it? Let's give a solution for each number from above.

 

1. The easy answer is to not bring it into the house! Never shop hungry, always use a grocery list, and if you have to have brownies try buying a mix rather than pre-made brownies, cookies, cakes, etc... Chances are if you have to make them, you won't feel like going through all the effort.

 

2. Out of sight out of mind! If you leave them out where you can see them, you will crave it every time you walk by.

 

3. It's ok to take a nap! They can be very beneficial to your health. Or you can always try that exercise stuff, some say it has magical energizing properties. Find something to occupy your time and mind.

 

4. The big thing here is to figure out if you are hungry or you are just having a craving. Drink a glass of water and wait 15 minutes. If you are still hungry, then have something to eat. You can always use the rule we use with my son. If you are truly hungry you will eat vegetables.

 

5. If it is not time to eat or cook, stay out of the kitchen. Otherwise you wind up doing what I call fridge surfing. You ever go in there and start looking in the fridge to see what's in there? It's my fridge, why do I expect magical, extra food to be in there?

 

6. Sit down at a table and enjoy your brownie! Focus on how awesome it tastes, don't focus on the TV, a book, or your cell phone.

snickers-knife-fork

7. Slow down! This one gets back to enjoying your treat. Put your fork down in between bites, if you are a fork type of person. I like to use a fork when I eat a Snickers (for you Seinfeld fans). Just bring one of the brownies with you to the table, when you truly focus on eating one you will get much more out of it.

 

8. There are no bad foods! Food is meant to be enjoyed and you are not a bad person because you ate a "bad" food. Don't put food in that category and give yourself permission to enjoy foods you love.

 

9. Don't let a slip become a fall. No use beating yourself up over something in the past. It's all about the future now, moving on.