When cooking for others...
 

How do you know if it tastes okay or not??

I was just making pasta salad for a cookout tonight and instinctively popped a piece of pasta into my mouth to see if it was done. HOLY COW I spit it out like it was on fire, completely forgot!

I cook by taste, and I have no idea if my pasta salad came out good or not! It's not by measurements, so I eyeballed it.

I hope they like it :-/

I cook for my family all the time, I just guess and if they don't like it? Well, I tell them they can cook for themselves! :p Or, I cook IP friendly meals that I know they will, including myself, enjoy.

I do the same...When i cook blind, sometimes ask my husband to taste test for me, otherwise cook for yourself! I made stuffing today for hubby & the in laws with roasted turkey & veggies and he gave the thumbs up. Everything else was IP friendly, including the gravy!

I've been wondering...but I haven't asked. What exactly would happen if we ate that piece of pasta? Or had a small chocolate chip when making cookies? I haven't done it...but I have been wondering if that's enough to get you out of ketosis? What about a lick of yogurt or ice cream? I am not tempted, but I am afraid to bake (which is my specialty, I often bake at home to feed my coworkers, it's soothing to me). I am afraid that I will have to taste test, and so I am staying away. What do you guys think?

Personally, it's a slippery slope. Part of the diet includes a change in BEHAVIORS not just dieting. If you never force yourself to stop with the spoon-licking, taste testing, etc it's too easy to make the exuces "it's just a small chip, it's only a lick, it's just a taste"....all of those little bites will add up fast - and one too many "it's just a taste" moments WILL throw you out of ketosis. I haven't stopped my baking and cooking for others (I run a small bakery business out of my house on top of my regular job) but I have completely stopped testing what I make. If I'm worried, I let hubby tell me how it tastes :)

Personally I agree with Scorbett. I am an avid baker and I used to lick the spoon or bowls all the time. But since I have been committed to IP, I haven't had as much as a crumb from anything that I have made. I had several friend's birhtdays that I baked brownies and cakes for, but didn't taste a bit of it. I was told they came out good so I didn't worry. And trust me, they would have told me otherwise!

The main part of this diet is teaching new behaviors as was mentioned above. If you can keep out of the way of temptation, then it will be easier to change your habits in the long run. And that is what will keep you healthy and whole long after you leave phase 4 of this diet. Just my 2 cents, but I have been where you are and that is how I personally dealt with it.

Good luck on your journey, no matter which decision you make.

I usually have my husband taste food that I aren't OP. I test pasta with my fingers.

G
Hi Liz....you look amazing!!!!! How did you make IP friendly gravy?

I had roasted mushroom, garlic, & celery puree that i added to the fat-skimmed pan drippings. I had the veggies roasting in the pan with 2 cups chicken stock, after i removed the veggies i put the drippings in the fridge to congeal and skim any fat. Then i added the puree on the stovetop. It was delicious and dont think i can ever make gravy the same way again! No butter, no flour, no thickener!