Knitting? Crochet? Pottery? If you still want to do food-related perhaps try pantry items, that is junk-ingredient-free pantry items, or something like homebrew?

I was known for my sweet baking also but instead of abandoning that pursuit I started subbing ingredients to make them healthier (reducing sugar, exploring sugar alternatives, switching some flour for quinoa flour to increase protein, now going gluten free entirely with a goal to produce something wonderful instead of edible bricks, etc).

Discovering and making good coffee gets me interested in a lot of the same ways that baking does - good technique counts for a lot, understanding the science of it can help, and sourcing good ingrediants is key. Plus there's the chance to play with some new equipment (especially if you like espresso).

I actually have a pretty low tolerance for caffeine, so I can only enjoy a little bit of coffee everyday, but I've learned to like it like that. It's something that's better enjoyed a little bit at a time instead of just whipping up a big batch (of brownies, cookies, etc.) and having them around the house. But you can still be social and have everyone over for coffee (instead of having everyone over for brunch and making donuts).

Running?? That is what I have turned to - although I have not quit the sugar habit entirely. What about some baking using whole grains and natural sweetners like agave - a la Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce?

I have a lot of creative outlets (sewing, quilting, painting and now running), but I still like to bake - I just tend to only bake when it's for others at a gathering or for work events.

I also love to bake, but have been doing more 'making things' instead of baking lately. Into a low-sugar, low-processed-food diet could go homemade whole grain crackers (very satisfying for the cookie baker), homemade yogurt, whole grain bread (I've had good success with the no knead variety), frozen popsicles of yogurt blended with fresh fruit. Also baked fresh fruit with a simple unsweetened oat/nut topping is delicious and ends up tasting quite sweet without sugar; delicious with unsweetened greek yogurt on top. For lower sugar occasional treats, both the Vegan Thumbprint cookies and the NY Times olive oil granola are great, and both on this site. Enjoy the diet change!

Make jam (for gifts) or pickles? Most pickles do have sugar in the brine. Or get a pressure canner and start making soups, beans, stock, etc...

This is speaking as someone who shifted her knitting obsession to canning.

I agree with Kris in MD. There's such a huge variety of food-related processes and past-times that don't involve sugar and carbs, or if they do, in much more controlled amounts than your typical tart or pie. Fermentation, food drying, gardening, canning, scratch-making (learning the secrets of all of those simple-to-buy things that Grandmothers the world over make very morning -- I'm thinking pasta, tortillas, etc). All of these things have entertained and challenged me as an amateur kitchen cook, and most of them can be as healthy as you want to make them, and certainly a lot healthier than any dessert. They may not be as instantly recognizable and welcome at a potluck (fishy but colorful kimchee makes quite a different impression at a potluck than a plate of French confections), but they give a certain satisfaction that may not be completely absent from sugary doughs, but all the better for not having to contend with the post-sugar-high doldrums.

I'm so glad you brought this up. I too am moving away from baking especially when it means a whole cake or pan of brownies is left for two people to eat, which I assure you we can. Someone was mentioning cheese making to me the other day. Still not a superfood, but with the same realm. Good Luck finding something new!

I strongly suggest gardening, if you have the room. Growing your own food is one of the most rewarding things I've done in my life.

I feel the same way- Over the last 3 months I've stopped eating sweets for weeks on end. I definitely feel so much better- but I've been defined by my baking skills for SO long- and I love doing it, but when I'm not eating it and it sits there- it's awful- I even try to shove things off on people. I've taken up reading again and am hoping to try my hand at refinishing furniture- and who knows, maybe I'll come full circle and bake non-stop again someday. Best of luck!

Start baking with almond flour and coconut flour.

Running is my key too! Balances out the occasional splurge of chocolate :)

I'm pursuing a similar diet change, but I've enjoyed the challenge of learning to bake with high protein flours like almond and coconut, and sugar substitutes like stevia. Have you checked out the recipes on Elana's Pantry? Some of them are really tasty!

Make soap -- endless variety, totally useful, no calories. Some of the same great smells, I even use my oven to cure my soap.

If carbs are your anti-thing, you should try your hand at charcuterie! Low-to-no carb stuff that is easy to learn, but hard to master.

The entire savory world of food is at your fingertips! Take on fun challenges like people have mentioned above such as yogurt making, or gardening - or maybe get inspired by international cuisines. Buy a few new cookbooks and become an expert in Thai, Italian, French or Mexican. The culinary world is chock full of potential discoveries, surprises and new experiences, even without the sweet end of the spectrum. Would love to hear what you end up doing!

In the same boat sigh. Diagnosed with celiac and another autoimmune disease and avoiding sugar as well as gluten....I'm known as a foodie and a cook so while it's helped a ton and I could never go back, its left me at a loss.

I'm trying to have a good attitude - looking at it as another challenge...instead of mastering pie crust, or relying on flour, I'm finding great recipes that highlight almond or coconut flour and people are going bananas for them.

One surprise - many people PREFER healthier treats. While I loved baking, I never really loved having the stuff in my house at all time...I'm seeing that many freinds felt the same way: they loved AND hated when I brought sweet treats. Now hostess are much more appreciative of say, my AWESOME hummus.

Try perfecting bacon jam or sausage or the like...start to be known as the person who makes awesome dips or salads. You'll be more popular than you think!

It's so gratifying to see this being covered - and so many people who agree.

I came to the same conclusion not too long ago, after it hit me that we live in a culture of baking.

In my opinion, the answer is to move to non-food related activities -- gardening & sewing in my case.

I'm going through the same thing! There has been a whole in my heart since I've cut back on sweets. I made cherry pie last week, had one slice, and gave the rest away. And aside from the occasional birthday cake, that is the only treat I've baked in months!!
I have been pickling a lot, experimenting with infusing liquors (which I don't really drink), and making fruit preserves with minimal sugar. Despite these time gap-filling activities, they don't quite fill the gap in my heart and mind. It's just not the same.

I keep collecting recipes of fancy deserts, beautiful cakes etc. But I hardly ever get around to doing them, because, ... who is going to eat that?
So when I have time and my fingers are itching with wanting to make something lovely, I turn to preserving (jams, chutneys etc.).
It's great, since
a. it doesn't need to be eaten within a very limited amlunt of time,
b. it makes great little gifts, and
c. who doesn't like a spoon of strawberry jam in your plain yoghurt, or some rhubarb chutney with your chicken breast?
It helps me and my family to be (reasonably) healthy without sacrificing my need to nurture and to be creative in my off time.

I second the vote on soap making. It requires many of the same skills as baking. It's also one of those things you bring to a friend and they ooo and ahhh if you've done it well just like baking.
A paralllel to it is flowercraft.

Before my sister and I started our soap making business I kicked up my bread making and baking skills to train me to stick to a recipe, follow a specific system, and be patient for the results.

Making your own soap, skin care items, and doing flowercraft is also an act of self-care, which sounds like where you are pointing your energy, and it is so rewarding.

Agreed on soap making. Candle making as well. You're still in your kitchen doing "kitcheny" things but it's not food.

You can still bake and avoid carbs and sugar. Quiches, savory souffles. Not the most exciting things in the world, but still.

I know for me, I rarely eat the sweets I bake. I'd be as big as a house if I did. I make things and almost exclusively bring them in to work or parties for others to enjoy. So I don't think a love of baking has to die because your eating habits have, just share the fruits of your talents with others.

Is it the process of baking you love so much? Why not keep doing it and just gift it or sell it to friends/family/strangers? I bake a ton but 99% of it goes to other people. For the most part, baked goods make people happy and I get to enjoy them enjoying them!

Food photography- take foodie photos of you new favorite items.

Make your own condiments- world of ketchups and mustards and many more out there without the sugar you are avoiding or the salt I am avoiding. still requires a balance to the flavors and some chemistry as in the baking. You can dream up new flavor combos to experiment with. Sounds like you enjoyed the flavor creativity, and chemistry involved.

PIE!! Please oh please let it be pie! Sweet, savory, mini, large, double crust, dutch crumble, I'll take it anyway I can get it. You just watch, pie shops are gonna fill in the gaps when all those cupcake joints finally go out of business.

I've been having a similar conundrum lately, and I echo the suggestions for non-culinary activities. But for the last bit of "But... yummy things..." that's still floating around in my head, I've chosen to geek out on cheese. There's a similar level of expertise that can be aimed for as with baking, and sufficient variety. And yumminess.

i, too, am going through a similar diet transformation. have continued baking, though, since my husband and children would revolt if i stopped. am just baking LESS. instead i am starting to "juice" (such a cliche!) and am also newly obsessed with making popsicles and "palletas" - still uses some sugar, but it's a fraction of the amount. perfected lavender lemonade popsicle last weekend. also STRONGLY recommend joining a CSA. i spend all my free time dreaming of how to use my week's produce (instead of obsessing on how to perfect my dark chocolate chocolate cookies). good luck!

Bread baking? I know you're cutting down on carbs but there's nearly always a place for bread. Ha!

I too am with running! I always loved baking and definitely cut back though not consciously. Like you, I still bake for special occasions. Running is a great outlet and invigorating. It's also an efficient way to exercise and all you need is shoes so it's a good workout for apartmenters.

I veto this 'running' trend. People who feel at home singing along to some good music in an apron while creating food (the joy is in both creation AND watching people eat it) are not going to be satisfied by getting sweaty and hot by themselves. No one else gets to enjoy that, and you haven't created anything. At least in my experience, this is not a real trade off. It's like trading smoking for eating iceberg lettuce... ha! I would suggest learning how to cook exotic things. Learn the ingredients in the local Asian market and embrace thai food recipes for awhile. Then see if you can make east African food. There are lots of veggie heavy healthy creative options for cooking that you can still enjoy creating and share with others.

Alternately to food, I think sewing or knitting are great ways to create and share... though I have the focus for neither.

I, too, am going through the same diet change and have taken up making needlepoint cushions. I also second / third / fourth the suggestion of soapmaking - I've done it and its great fun. You can make chocolate soap and strawberry soap and lemon soap and coffee soap...

Gah. That should be "it's great fun" not "its".

you should start catering ;) Honestly!

I'll put in another plug for canning. :) It's a really fun, involved activity that gives me the same satisfaction as baking, anyway. And you can experiment with low-sugar recipes, or can your own tomato sauce...the possibilities are endless!

I'm not a sweets person so I bake mostly breads--all different kinds and all different levels of difficulty. I also do a lots of preserving and would suggest that could be another place you could explore. I also have a habit of "cooking through" a cookbook at a time, learning new techniques, trying new foods, etc.

Pickling! Yes, you could try canning at-large, but I've been fascinated with pickling lately. It's cross-cultural, and there are a wide varieties of types. Pickled veggies are great as a snack or garnish. I fully endorse pickling.

Look into using Stevia instead of sugar in baking. I actually like the taste more than sugar in a lot of cases.

I've been doing less baking and more veggie cooking lately. Playing with things like making "pasta" out of julienned zucchini, baking multigrain pizza with roasted veggies, making whole grains, and cooking with lean poultry instead of red meat (I love me some beef).

I've also been doing a lot of canning. I have been making jam and marmalade - it's time consuming and by the time I'm done I have these little jars of gold that can last a year. I send them out to friend and family.

Liana Krissoff's modern canning book has recommendations on lower sugar recipes. I'm not a fan of sugar substitutes, but would rather just use less of the real stuff.

Yes, right now I am switching over to bread baking from cakes and cookies. Transitions like banana bread, biscuits and shortcakes might help.

Just cook other things! Instead of bringing baked goods to family events etc., make a big batch of whatever it is you have been eating to improve your health. This can show them that it doesn't have to involve sugar to be yummy and bring a little health to the backyard cookout. Good luck!

Home brewing? I've been meaning to pick that up as a hobby...
Or freezer cooking? I've been making healthy things to stash away for days I get home from work late, or we have lots of people to feed on short notice. It's nice because there is a serious method to it, and it keeps me from eating junk all week.

As someone who used to do pastry in restaurants (and grow sourdough at home), I totally understand. Very recently, I've come to the conclusion that I may have a wheat allergy (ARGH). I know that there is a world of wheat alternatives out there but I feel like before I even consider them, I need to go through a weird mourning period. So for now, I'm cutting out wheat/refined flour and excess sugar and while I feel good, am still pretty cranky about it.

To combat the frustration, I've been working on my cheese making skills. I love making ricotta, yogurt and chevre but now I'm working on converting a mini fridge so I can begin wrapping and aging cheese as well. For anyone who loves the science behind French pastry, cheese making is wonderful!

I find myself in the same boat recently as well. I've been a professional baker for the past five years (with a culinary degree and everything), but decided to make a career switch and go to school for nutrition science.

I still have the occasional treat but I rarely ever bake anymore. Maybe when the colder months come along and I get the itch to bake I'll do some experimenting with different whole grain breads. Until then I try to experiment with veggie loaded dinners and keep active.

I'm in the same place. I'm a baking fiend and a wheat-and-sugar addict and am having to severely reduce that love for health reasons. It's hard, but I feel much better.

That said, I hope to find natural substitutions and ways to continue baking.

When you find a solution, I do hope you'll share it with us... especially those of us who aren't able to run. :)