Those are great ideas, kathleen24! I think I can work with that. Regarding the food tasting is concerned ...that'll still be a tough one for me since the base of my cooking (since the beginning of time) was to follow the taste buds rather than the recipe. I very rarely use recipes unless I'm baking (which I almost never do anymore since it almost always means the high calories I don't want in my or my family's body).
PS: I'm impressed at your success in weightloss!! Way to go! I hope that will be me someday. Congratulations!!!