Cookie Rules

I made cookies this week. It was part of a school project to provide an on-line, fun, learning activity for students who wanted to bake. I figured kids like cookies, so this would be a good bet. I had chosen my favorite cookie recipe (chewy molasses cookies, almost like the one you used to be able to get at Starbucks) and now here I was, with 30 cookies all staring deliciously my way. I ate one. And admired the others. I packed two into my husbands lunch kit for the next day and then decided I would send the rest to school with him to be shared with any staff members still working in the building. My husband didn't think sharing food in this day and age was a good idea, so now, 30 chewy, delicious cookies sit patiently waiting to be eaten in my house. They're in the deep freeze right now, to keep them out of sight, and (hopefully) available for a time when guests are allowed to return or when we are invited out for an event somewhere.

The thing is, I'm at home all day and I can't pretend the cookies aren't there. I KNOW they're there! It's like they are calling from the deep freeze....

So what to do? When we are home bound, experiencing strange stresses and adapting to ever changing scenarios, it is easy to fall into the trap of eating anything and everything that comes across our path as a way to comfort our anxious souls.

In times like these, simple rules can be very helpful. Some hate the idea of food rules, but frankly, sometimes rules are just what we need! Let's face it - many of us are following the social distancing rules right now, not because we want to, but because we believe it is best. We are generally all better off when cars all stop at red lights and move forward again on green. Rules CAN be very helpful, so long as they don't run our lives.

So...my new work-from-home rule: "No Cookies"! Simple, but that is what will help me get through the next few weeks without giving myself a bellyache and making me wonder how I've lost control. What rules might be helpful for you over the next few weeks of your "quarantine"? Maybe you don't need any, but my hunch is, most of us do.