Head Hunger is a trip

I know I can't have it but I am making my family curry chicken w/  potatoes and roti for dinner.  I am not hungry but the smell is driving me nuts 'cause it smells so good. Are there any tricks that y'all know to get over this 'cause my family still has to eat and they would revolt if I started cooking bland food.  

This is how I feel about food denial. There are certain things I can't eat yet, I know this... So it's easy too stay away from them. But if something has me salivating, I will 'taste' it, but not go overboard. Get it out of the way and 'own' the temptation. Instead of the temptation owning you.

By this I mean. If you don't 'taste' some of it, even the tiniest portion. Like dipping your finger in the sauce. You might find yourself 'binging' on something else to make up for the denial of what you really want.

example: I say, no chocolate. Even though it's that time of the month and my mind/body/soul screams chocolate. A few days down the line and it's still on my mind. So much that it becomes an obsession. I could avoid all this by allowing myself 'one' hersey's kiss. Get the taste into and out of my system.

If I don't, i know later I will 'binge' on the food I'm denying myself.

This is me at least. It may be different for someone else.

Just a thought.

Thank you for responding, it truly gave me some perspective.  It's not even that it's bad for me because instead of oil to cook the chicken with I use PAM cooking spray and the only thing that gives me pause is the coconut milk (no sugar added) and spices in the curry sauce (I make my own curry so it's got heat).  Other than that, it's boiled until real tender and the sauce reduces to 1/2.    I think once I am further out it might not be bad but right now  as i am only a little over 5 weeks out it may not be the best choice.  So I will be diipping my finger in the sauce for now, lol.

This is a great idea, it has worked for me as  I choose to cook for my family too.  Great advice, thanks ....

Well, I think I am confused abou the head hunger thing.  Sometimes I am not hungry, but it is breakfast/lunch/dinner time so I will get something to eat.  Or I am watching tv and I just "want" something in my mouth and I will get something to eat.  I feel really stuffed sometimes afterwards and I am not sure how to overcome it. 

Whew, feels good confessing that.    I been struggling to keep my hands off food.  I did find that snacking on soynuts helps but I really need to get a handle on this.   Old bad habits die hard.

I eat during stress, boredom and depression. It's hard to get a handle on, but I usually ask myself the question. "Am I hungry or am I thirsty?"

The answer is usually 'thirsty'. So I get some sugar free beverage and drink 'til I'm satisfied. Usually works.

Soy nuts are great too. Can't really do nuts now, but I will in the future. I use too LOVE soy nuts.

learning too deal with emotions without food as a crutch is so hard sometimes.

Well this doesn't sound like "head hunger" (Feeling like you're hungry but know you're not) this is more about self control since I don't know what your surgeon/NUT gave you to eat at 5 weeks but this doesn't sound bad to have. IF its on your approve list (chicken and a sauce) at this point it was on mine.  What you may want to do in the future is to make you a smaller portion of the sauce that's a little less spicy and enjoy!

Thank you and I checked my NUT  list and I can have chicken and sauce but not spicy foods and only if it is pureed or fork tender (Soft foods).  The chicken is very moist and tender so I will take your suggestion the next time and make a bit on the side that packs a bit les*****h for me. 

This early out portion control isn't an issue for me since I can only eat about 1 1/2 tablespoons on a good day at one sitting and even then more like 1.   Like the other lady said, I think of the food and want to eat but the second anything is in front of me I don't want it anymore, which is confusing the he** outta me.  It's like I go through the motions and eat when I am supposed to but never do I want it.  I think about food and in my head at least , it tastes good,  but if it is right in front of me the desire to eat disappears.   That's why I thought it was head huunger because it'sI only want it as long as it's not in front of me since I am never hungry.