If there’s one thing that our American culture has going for it, it is a love for variety. And that is especially true when it comes to the way we eat (and shop). We don’t want just a box of plain instant Oatmeal, we want the variety box that includes cinnamon apple and maple syrup flavors too, regardless of whether we will actually eat all of the different flavors. Understanding this psychological love for variety, and putting it to work for us, can be a huge help when it comes to dropping pounds or shedding inches.

The truth is that most of us eat the same foods over and over again. We know what we like so we keep eating the same foods repeatedly, despite knowing that variety abounds. The problem with repetitious eating is that we lose the sensual pleasure of eating and it becomes more gluttonous than enjoyable. On the other hand, when you try something new for the first time, you tend to pay closer attention to the act of eating. You notice the new food’s texture, whether it’s juicy or dry, sweet or savory. This kind of “paying attention” buys you time to slow down and think about whether you really want to keep stuffing yourself.

If you would like to enjoy your way to thinness, then simply open your mind to trying new foods and new flavors. By doing this you will awaken your senses to taste, textures and smells that make a lasting enjoyable impression on your memory. As a result your journey to a thinner you will become far more pleasurable than you ever imagined. You will have engaged in the experience of eating – you will actually think about what you are eating as opposed to just stuffing it in your mouth out of familiarity.

BUT, here’s the catch: the variety must be part of your overall diet, not at each meal; too much variety at a single meal stimulates your taste buds to keep eating more. Plan your meals to focus primarily on just one of the basic flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, salty or savory.