A vegan once told me that he was able to stop eating bacon because bacon actually smells better than it tastes. I still eat bacon, but what he said has stuck with me every time I see a delicious smelling indulgence. Every workday morning I am confronted with a pallet of pastries. On the kitchen table there is perpetually four square feet of snickerdoodles, cinnamon buns, bear claws, mini chocolate bundt cakes, biscottis, brownies, breads, croissants, blueberry muffins, chocolate cream cheese muffins, pecan bars, and peanut butter cookies.

Rather than try to escape from sugar and carbs, I have chosen to embrace them. I pile my favorites on a plate and dub them my “sniffers.” It helps me to see the plate that I would normally consume in a heartbeat and instead – inhale them freely. I don’t eat a single crumb. I know this coping technique isn’t for everyone and too tempting for most. My co-workers can’t stop giggling whenever I bend down to smell their lunches and snacks. I’m considered crazy or strong willed. In reality, I am only able to have sniffers in combination with Janeva’s baked goods. Her cookie, cupcake, and muffin recipes have helped me to not feel deprived of sweets. Rather, I feel I get to indulge in chocolate decadence at least three times a day and knowing this helps me avoid not-so-IP friendly foods.

I have tried utilizing sniffers with other foods such as fries or fudge and failed miserably. I realize it is because I have yet to duplicate  them with protocol friendly ingredients. I’m on a mission to keep trying new recipes. In the near future, keep an eye out for feedback on chocolate bark and fudge recipes!

Last night, I tweaked the Janeva’s Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies (Join Janeva’s Ideal Recipes Facebook Group for recipe) further and switched out the WF caramel syrup with peanut butter and marshmallow fluff. I can’t get enough of experimenting!

What are you discovering?

What is helping you succeed?