Yes, this is a serious question. I ask because whenever I see something sweet, it triggers an irritating voice in my head, which keeps niggling like the spoilt toddler intent on getting its own way until you lose the will to live and comply just for a quiet life.
Recently, the niggling came in the form of a jar of gooey chocolate spread that the grandkids had opened to lather on their toast for breakfast. I thought no more about it until I found it lurking in the back of the food pantry. BING, the connection was instant. I opened the jar and inhaled the chocolate smell. Reasoned you can’t get fat just by the smell. Opening the lid unleashed the gene, and so it began.
“You know you want some,” the voice coaxed.
“No, I don’t. I’m on a diet,” I replied, proud of my restraint.
“Yes, you do. One mouthful won’t hurt. You’ve been good for days. Reward yourself.”
I thought of the new pair of trousers I desperately wanted to wear come autumn. Tossed the jar of chocolate goo in the rubbish bin. Retrieved it. That was a waste. It was too expensive to throw away. Remembered my home help loved chocolate. Hid the flipping jar until her next visit. Reasoned: Out of sight, out of mind.
It took all my willpower and then some. Gave her the jar, and as a fellow chocoholic, she gratefully accepted. I sighed with relief. Problem solved.
Nope, after she left, I saw the jar on the side. Cursed. I swear I could hear it laughing. Taunting me.
I grabbed a spoon and greedily dug in mouthful after mouthful until I felt sick. Disgusted with myself, I threw the now almost empty jar in the bin. My punishment? I was up ALL night suffering from horrendous heartburn and back to square one on my diet.
Groan … I have the willpower of a gnatt and as for losing weight, the stubbornness of an old goat.
If we were having coffee, I’d ask:
- How do you resist sweet temptations? Maybe it was the same with Adam not resisting Eve’s apple?
- Which foods lead you down the path of temptation and how do you resist?
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Piglet in Portugal 
The temptation is real! Having plenty of protein at meals helps to deflect from too much sugar want I find.
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Hi Lana, i am trying to retrain my taste buds to get excited about savoury instead of sweet. We will see. IT’s been nearly a week now and counting
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Natural Greek yoghurt with some chopped fruit like berries is good for a bit of a sweet hit and you don’t feel crap afterwards, mentally or physically 🙂
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That’s such a relatable reflection — it’s incredible how food can trigger both emotional and sensory memories. The way you describe the chocolate spread moment captures perfectly how temptation often wins before reason even has a chance to argue. Personally, I find that small, intentional habits like portioning in advance or pairing a treat with something healthy help me enjoy without guilt.
It’s interesting how discussions around food temptations overlap with how we present food to ourselves and others. For example, I recently came across the yardhousemenu.us
online, and it reminded me how even the way food is displayed can influence cravings and choices.
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Hi Sarah, thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on food temptation. I can so relate to your observation ‘how temptation often wins before reason even has a chance to argue.’ And you are right the way food is displayed does influence my cravings. I sometimes go to restuarnts with the intention of NOT having a dessert but if I happen on the dessert dispay are I can barely resist. Whereas if I read about the desserts from a menu I have no problem saying NO.
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Not having sweets at home and following my shoppinglist while grocery shopping helps me. I do sometimes (like once a month) reward myself with a piece of really dark chocolate. If a craving is really bad I purchase some Medjool dates, they are sweet but I can’t eat more than 2-3/time.
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Hi Maria, I no longer buy sweet things unless we have the grandkids staying becaues I know, like the chocolate spread, I cannot resist once the packet/jar is opened. I admire your willpower to only eat a piece of really dark chocolate. I’d end up gobbling the whole bar 😦 As for dates my weekeness is dried black figs… but I’ve learned from experience not to eat more than a couple otherwise there WILL be consequeneces
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Nope — it will take close to a year and then it will all creep back on. 🤨
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You must be a Capricorn like me. LoL
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Fudge brownies and cheesecake are seldom visitors in our house for this exact reason, Carole. You expressed it well!
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Fudge brownies are wicked. But you might be pleased to know you can make low carb cheesecake by using diebetic biscuits for the base. I am going to try it in the next few weeks.
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I’ll look forward to hearing about how it turns out!
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Digestives – one is never enough. In fact, if I’m being honest most biscuits…
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Oooo… I used to love McVities chocolate digestives. When I was working in an office I could eat a whole packet over the course of a morning
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McVities Chocolate Digestives – delicious, but they have to be the plain chocolate ones for me 😂
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So yes I have been there and done that. I am coming home from the trip feeling like the Goodyear Blimp – so many carbs. So much weight.
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the Goodyear Blimp … yep, knowing you I am sure you’ll loose the extra tyres very quickly 🙂
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Chocolate chip cookies…absolutely irresistible. Hate myself after, but I could eat 8 or 10 if I let myself.
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Choc chip cookies… I know what you mean. I no longer buy them ….
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The Engineer would hold a protest if I quit making them.
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