I set a goal to bake a new treat every week. So far, it's actually helped me snack less and eat healthier.

• I love baking, so I set a New Year's resolution to make a new treat each week.
• Although I knew I'd enjoy a mood boost, I didn't expect newfound healthy eating habits.
• My new hobby has helped me cut down on snacking and be more intentional about what I eat.

Over the holidays, I started making an effort to bake consistently.

I craved the same cookies that my grandmother used to make, and wanted cozy, seasonal comforts. My son regularly requested his favorite pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies, whereas my husband's favorite apple crumble was perfect on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Having fresh-baked goods on hand was so nice that I decided to set a goal for myself: Every week in 2026, I'd bake something new.

Last week, it was yellow cupcakes with chocolate buttercream; now, it's gingerbread brownies with cream-cheese frosting.

Besides the obvious appeal of having homemade baked goods around for a treat here and there, most of the things I bake are also good for easy breakfasts, lunchbox surprises, and quick snacks. I usually try to incorporate healthy ingredients — like fruits, veggies, nuts, and spices — and I often pick recipes with less sugar.

I wondered if my New Year's resolution would make me feel less "healthy," but I was surprised to find myself snacking on fewer treats overall and enjoying my daily life more. Taking the time to bake just for the joy of it feels like true self-care lately.

Since I've started baking weekly, I've noticed myself buying less junk at the grocery store

We used to get ice cream, packaged cookies, and maybe even a special pie or cake from the supermarket's bakery section each week.

Having fresh, high-quality sweets at home, however, has ruined anything that feels fake. The chocolate-chip cookies I make at home are always better than anything I can buy.

At first, I was aware that baking each week might lead to eating more sugar overall — but in addition to consuming less processed food from the store, my family really only has these home-baked goods for a couple of days each week.

For just one or two days, we indulge. Then, the rest of the week, we eat mostly healthy, whole foods.

To keep up with my cravings, I put everything I want to make on a baking bucket list that I keep on the fridge. I've been wanting to make cinnamon rolls and black-and-white cookies the most, but both are time-consuming.

However, looking forward to coming treats has become half the fun. It's like getting ready for a party, where the planning and anticipation can be just as exciting.

My bucket list also serves as a baking vision board, holding me to my goal.

The mental-health benefits of baking are what truly motivate me to keep going

As an adult, I've found it difficult to maintain hobbies, but with baking, I've been checking out new cookbooks from the library, taking notes on different flavor combinations, and mixing and matching recipes to create something new.

My new hobby is giving me a way to express myself creatively, all while learning new skills. Sometimes, baking feels a bit like magic — I'm throwing all of these different things together, and creating something entirely new.

Of course, there are challenges: Our kitchen is really small, and our food budget seems to shrink more each week because of rising grocery costs. Being able to try new recipes in a small space and pushing myself to think creatively when I don't have access to an ingredient has been empowering.

For me, baking has become a self-care technique. Just having that one recipe and baking session to look forward to every week feels like kitchen therapy — and the fact that we're buying less junk from the store is a bonus.

Eating dessert all the time is great, but feeling better overall has been the real treat.