[rockinrobin]

Originally Posted by xty

rockinrobin, thanks!

and ya know, its not that I view food *only* as fuel. just primarily. first, as you said it is the priority!

however, i am a complete foodie.

100%. I MUST enjoy what I'm eating. Eating must be a pleasurable experience. I said this from day one of my journey - I can not and will not eat boring, bland, tasteless foods. It's got to be tasty, delicious, satisfying. I was willing to give up certain foods in order to lose the weight, but I was not willing to give up flavor.

I've said this dozens of times as well - I stopped settling for foods that only tastes good - it has to taste good AND be good for me - long after I'm done chewing. I raised my standards. I require more from myself.

I am without a doubt a bigger foodie now, than I was prior. I make some pretty spectacular foods if I do say so myself.

In fact, I had my parents over for dinner the other night and my dad said to me, "If you would open up a restaurant you'd be a millionaire". And that is not the first time that he's said it and many others have said it as well.

[calluna]

I would add that I am not only a foodie, I have become something like a food snob. It totally isn't worth messing around with substandard food!

[Mudpie]

Another slightly different perspective on snacking - I eat my daytime snacks for fuelling (one gulped down in the car, the other eaten the moment I come in the house door in the late afternoon). They are protein and a veggie - usually a boiled egg/carrot/baby toms and then a packet of processed turkey/celery/cucumber.

The evening snack is the one for enjoyment. It is 200 cals and can be sweet or savoury. I tend to regard this one as my dessert. I take my time and don't let anything else distract from eating and enjoying it.

This particular approach works best for me and my work situation.

Dagmar