I can’t tell you how many food- and weight-related resolutions I hear in a day. I mean, I work in a test kitchen ... where we feed people. Needless to say, it's a hot topic. [caption id="attachment_3225" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Many of you are already planning to never eat delicious cookies like this again!"] [/caption] The sad part is that I can’t think of one resolution that isn't a) some kind of "I'm so fat" punishment, b) completely unrealistic or c) all of the above. Eat less! No more carbs! No more alcohol! Never eat chocolate again! Lose xx pounds by Valentine's Day! Fit into that dress I wore in 2002... by March! Work out every day for 14 zillion hours! How many times have we all made resolutions just like these? I know I have. And how effective have they been? Oh yes, that's right — they haven't been effective AT ALL. Now how refreshing would it be to choose to make resolutions that are a little kinder to YOU? That are achievable? Resolutions that celebrate life, rather than set us up for failure? Here are my 10 food-friendly resolutions for 2012. And guess what? You won’t find one among them that involves giving up chocolate. 1. Eat extremely deliciously — every day. I hereby vow to only eat food that I find absolutely delicious. If it's not ridiculously tasty, it doesn't make it into my belly. I will also make a special point to eat something that really thrills me every once in a while . I shall eat it mindfully, savouring every bite. Doesn't have to be unhealthy. Just has to be scrumptious. 2. If I want something decadent, I get to have it! Gone are the days of “no more (fill in the blank)." If I want a butter tart, I’m eating the damn thing. Not 10 of them. It's not about that. But I'll eat it and I'll love it. Especially if it’s made using real ingredients... with love. 3. Take time to enjoy food. How many meals have I crammed into my maw without even thinking about it? Savour it! 4. Enjoy ingredients at their peak. Sure, those local, in-season strawberries sometimes cost more than the imported ones. But they are sooooo much better — and not all giant and weird. Plus, in eating locally, you’re supporting your local farmers and food producers, which is extremely valiant, if you ask me. Bring on the Niagara wine!! 5. Let friends help. I promise to invite my friends and family over more often and celebrate delicious food with them. And in the process, I will not get all control freaky. I will actually let them do something to help. I hereby relinquish control! 6. Cook from scratch, just for kicks. I will make something time-consuming every once in a while just for the fun of it! I enjoy making bread more than just about anything in this world. So why not do it? 7. Eat more! And by that, I mean I will not go 7 hours without eating, only to become a ravenous beast who will hoover up anything in her path. I will eat breakfast, lunch, dinner. And snacks in between, if I'm hungry! 8. Throw out the bloody scale. I’ve never understood scales. Seriously? Do we really need to know how much we weigh in order to be healthy? I don’t know about you, but my weight can fluctuate up to 5 lbs from one day to the next, depending on the time of month, how much water I’ve had, etc. And that is perfectly normal. Why be a slave to those fluctuations? A tape measure is much better for your mental health. Torch the scale! 9. Regret nothing. Who wants to waste time feeling bad about food choices? Not this lady. Last time I checked, a shame spiral didn’t fix anything. And frankly, I am exactly who I’m meant to be. Lumps and all. 10. Have fun. I will dance around like a fool, every day. Possibly while making dinner. Possibly without pants on. Unless I'm making something that spatters, in which case, the pants stay on. [caption id="attachment_3235" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Me, really enjoying a deeelicious smoked meat sandwich (from Schwartz's Deli in Montreal) — without regret."] [/caption] What resolutions do you resolve to give up, this year?