Food for Thought. Literally.

If you know ahead of time you are likely (maybe even certain) to eat the entire batch of cookies should you limit the number of cookies you bake? Because in all honesty, cookie dough doesn't keep that well if we're talking about more than a day. And attempting to keep it opens up the possibility of eating refrigerated raw cookie-dough. An almost unconscionable alternative. I mean, you're a stronger person than I if you can open your fridge for a measly glass of water & NOT stare at a bowl of yummy doughy-goodness without justifying a spoonful..... & a glass of water every 15-20 mins. Oops.

Quite the dilemma. It's sad really. The reality of this qualm exists with home-made dough, Toll-house pre-cut cookies & pre-made dough of any variety. I've been guilty of devouring each & still have yet to find a suitable solution. I've tried not keeping baking products in my house. I've tried not baking unless I know other people will be over to help me eat the products so I don't gorge myself with a weekly allotment of calories in one sitting. Maybe I'm not a strong enough person.

And then I got to thinking. I'm that person who goes out to dinner & ALWAYS wants dessert. I'm the person who takes my left-overs home only to eat them hours later instead of for lunch the next day. It's as if I think the food will disappear over night or worse, something will come between me & the food that will keep me from enjoying it. In which case, I justify in my head, I should just eat it now. Yes, now. That's a better alternative. Even though I'm not hungry. Even though I know it is highly unlikely anything will come between me & said "cherished meal" in the next 24 hours. Honestly, if something did it would probably be vastly more important than food. Ridiculous.

Now, I hear stories from when I was a child about my father taking food from plate when I was a baby & toddler. I would react slightly violently & was likely disturbed that my own Daddy would take the food designated for his growing child out of her own hands. But I seriously doubt this has scarred me in any way that would link my new found obsession with eating EVERYTHING I'm given rather than stopping when I'm full. It's strange, really, to think that children hardly even want to sit still & finish their food. Granted they almost always want dessert but for all intents & purposes children need food for fuel to get on with other more important things. Building forts. Coloring. Terrorizing the dog. What have you. Why aren't adults more like this? New Yorkers are in some sense. I am like this with coffee...but not will sweets.

I need to re-prioritize my life. America's a little too centered around food. Not in the healthy way Italians are. Food is a staple for Americans. Food is a means of family & heritage for Italians. Aw, who am I kidding. Italians gorge themselves too. Maybe I can look to the Chinese for a more balanced example.... and eat everything with chopsticks. At least that will slow me down ; )