I love writing and not a day goes by where I don’t think—at least for a few moments—how lucky I am to do what I love for a living. I know enough folks who don’t really enjoy their work to realize that I’m extremely fortunate.
That being said, my writing career has led to a few problems for me as well. Deadlines can be stressful and sometimes force my Muse to work faster than she appreciates. Also, writing has seriously cut into my reading time and I miss those book-a-day weeks where I would just devour stories. But by far the worst writing related problem I’ve encountered has been the birth of a new vice. Mindless eating.
Even as I write this, I’m sucking down Sugar Babies a mile a minute. My deadline snack of choice is a bowl full of French burnt peanuts. I’ll go in streaks where I want nothing but Mary Janes or Bit O’ Honeys. Then the next week I’ll be all about Gummi Bears.
It’s a really bad habit. I’ve thought about making a concentrated effort to squash this tendency, but who knows what kinds of books I’d write without the appropriate sugar high? Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote some of his best stuff while under the influence of opium and Ernest Hemingway preferred alcohol. Maybe my work requires Sugar Babies. I’m certainly happy with the stories that have come to me while I’ve munched away.
And I’ve read that the act of chewing stimulates the brain’s creative center. Just trace your jaw up through your temple and you can feel the whole apparatus moving. There’s a physical connection between that jaw movement and my gray matter. So I actually need my Gummi Bears in order to do my job well.
Honest.
Okay, just talking about food is non-caloric, so let’s indulge. What makes your mouth water in the candy aisle? And is anyone else a mindless eater?
***Prize Opportunity- Chat with me this week and one random poster will win a copy of BET ME, a sexy suspense anthology with Joanne, Debra Webb and Catherine Mann.***
-
I’m with you when it comes to Sugar Babies! I got hooked on them in grade school and still love them. 
by Susan
on August 8th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
-
Well, I don’t know if a sugar high stimulates my grey matter, but it sure makes me feel better and puts a big smile on my face. I can always indulge my sweet tooth with a yummy Snickers or KitKat bar. When I am reading or watching television I enjoy dipping into my candy dish filled with either M & M’s, Nips or cashews.
by Shari C
on August 8th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
-
I love sugar babies too. I am an emotional eater. When I am feeling down I always want to have some chocolate, whether it be my favorite dessert fudge brownies or my favorite candy which is Snickers.
by Cherie J
on August 8th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
-
Chocolate — especially M&M’s or Hershey’s kisses. I’m not much of a candy person but I love chocolate. Fortunately, I can control the snacking pretty easily (it helps not to keep the stuff in the house), so that usually isn’t a problem for me. Now if I could find a way to do away with those “brainstorming” naps…. 
I LOVE to nap.
by Gail Barrett
on August 8th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
-
When I’m upset I reach for the chocolate. With two teenagers there are times when I need that candy. My favroites are Mild Duds, Milky Ways, M& Ms.
by Maureen
on August 8th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
-
jelley belly baby
by kim h
on August 8th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
-
It helps me to have my jaw moving while I’m writing, too (I’m a compulsive teeth grinder, even when I’m awake). That’s why I have tons and tons of sugar-free gum in the house. No calories, and it tastes good…at least for a little while. Actually, not for very long at all. I go through a lot of gum. 
by Emma G.
on August 8th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
-
Brace yourself….I love sour gummie bears. I love that face puckering mouth watering experience. my family won’t even touch them.
by Paula
on August 8th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
-
I love to munch on twizzlers and zero bars!
by Teresa W.
on August 8th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
-
Hi Joanne,
When it comes to the candy aisle, I like a lot.:-) Do we count chocolate? I love those chocolate maltezers. And anything from Cadbury I will buy. As for mindless eating, I’m the worse when it comes to popcorn at the movies, but otherwise, I try to be good.
by carol
on August 8th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
-
My favorite sweets are cookies, but M&M’s are my downfall. I can’t eat just one. I’ll eat the whole bag in one sitting. Ugh!
by Laidybyrd
on August 8th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
-
The only sweet I cannot leave alone is ICE CREAM!
Gotta have it. At least once a week…twice is better.
We have a franchise in GA called Brusters and they make the best coffee toffee ice cream. It is coffee flavored ice cream with bits of Heath Bar mixed in. Or Chocolate Turtle…choc IC with huge, thick swirls of caramel and lots of pecans.
*le sigh*
Now I want some!!
by Angie T
on August 8th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
-
I am an emotional eater; I am a kid at heart; I love candy. Always have and always will. I’m just like a kid when in a store - maple buds, macaroons, red licorice, potato chips and on and on. Even the Mike and Ike cinnamon candies.
by RobynL
on August 8th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
-
From the candy section I love those Pastel Mints (flavored white chocolate), chocolate covered nuts, candied peanuts, peanut brittle and Malteser chocolate candy. This is really a dangerous topic because I’m having cravings for all theses things!
by Sue A.
on August 8th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
-
White chocolate Reeses or Reeses ice cream. Love both of those.
by Pamk
on August 8th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
-
Oh baby I love sugar babies too! I love anything crunchy such as Sun Chips, Ruffles Potato chips, Doritos Taco flavor chips, and Chex Mix, the nutty ones. The best candies that get me drooling every time are Peanut M&M’s, Snickers candy bars, and the mini-candy bar mixes from Nestle’. Oh and I can’t forget Jelly Belly’s, Cherry Twizzler’s bite size, and Spcie drops. Yum!
I know what you mean Joanne. I write reviews and noticed also if I am munching on something my creative juices flow so much better! My husband will ask me, “Are you ever going to get off that computer? I think you are having an affair with the computer because you spend more time on it than you do with me!” Ha, ha! He is a riot!
by Michele L.
on August 8th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
-
Ice cream is my ultimate weakness but since we are talking candy, my other weakness would be Kit-Kat bars. I like all the different types but my favorite flavor was their milk-shake one.
by April
on August 8th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
-
Sugar Babies - wow - memories of growing up in the 40’s and 50’s! I go in streaks but love the Hershey Hugs straight from the fridge/freezer.
by Karen B
on August 9th, 2007 at 12:02 am
-
I love M&M’s, peanut or plain, I don’t really care. I also love Lindor Chocolate Truffles. Yum. My most recent crutch was caramel cremes. I ate a whole bag in one day, I also had a stomach ache.
by Patty L
on August 9th, 2007 at 10:25 am
-
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and U-no bars are my weakness. However, I don’t do so much mindless eating as when I was more active.
by Little Lamb Lost
on August 9th, 2007 at 11:13 am
-
My faves are red vines. Just love them.
by jenna
on August 9th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
-
Right now it is gummy bears for me..and of course chocolate 
by Kathleen
on August 9th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
-
Carol, yes we count chocolate!!! And Michelle, I’d forgotten about spice drops… yum!
-
****Winner**** Congratulations to PamK, winner of BET ME! Pam, I’ve sent you a note privately and thanks to everyone for chatting!!
-
wtg pam k
by kim h
on August 13th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
