Having many food choices - desirable or problematic?

I think it's up to you to decide what will help or hurt your progress. I don't personally keep too many unhealthy things in my kitchen, that way if I do want something unhealthy then I have to go out of my way to get it, making me less likely to do that. Having a lot of healthy options keeps me on track.

A recent study shows that food boredom can lead to lowered calorie consumption. That said, there is a point where it's just not worth it. For me that point is when budget considerations force me to eat eggs for several days in a row. Ick! I sometimes will just not eat instead, which is never good.

It doesn't really bother me in things like choosing food or a meal. I definitely get analysis paralysis in bigger projects like painting a room or deciding how to landscape my yard. So rather than make a decision it just doesn't get done. But when it comes time for me to decide what to eat I go by what I want at that point balanced with nutritional value. I also eat pretty much the same meals during the week for breakfast and lunch, removing the decision making. So the only meal I really need to make decisions on is dinner.

I'm definitely a fan of limiting food choices. In a similar vein to the "Paradox of Choice" is this infographic on decision fatigue, which shows how peoples' eating habits get worse as the day progresses.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669761/infographic-when-the-lights-go-out-the-world-eats-junk

This infographic is linked to the original NYT article on decision fatigue, which I found to be very interesting reading:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/magazine/do-you-suffer-from-decision-fatigue.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Basically, the article states that when we make decisions constantly thoughout the day, we suffer from mental fatigue and it becomes more difficult for our brain to make these decisions. Subsequently, our brain starts to look for shortcuts and it will be more difficult for people to make good decisions. The concept of decision fatigue is based on experiments that indicate that "there is a finite store of mental energy for exerting self-control. When people fended off the temptation to scarf down M&M's or freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies, they were then less able to resist other temptations."

There is an interesting section later in the article about the connection between glucose and willpower, arguing that glucose helps fuel peoples' willpower/self control.

"The discoveries about glucose help explain why dieting is a uniquely difficult test of self-control — and why even people with phenomenally strong willpower in the rest of their lives can have such a hard time losing weight. They start out the day with virtuous intentions, resisting croissants at breakfast and dessert at lunch, but each act of resistance further lowers their willpower. As their willpower weakens late in the day, they need to replenish it. But to resupply that energy, they need to give the body glucose. They’re trapped in a nutritional catch-22:"

Just speaking from personal experience, I have found that I do make worse eating decisions later in the day. Whether this is because I'm more physically tired, more rushed, or am suffering from "decision fatigue," I don't know. But I HAVE found that I tend to eat better overall if I limit my food choices and bring a packed lunch and packed snacks to work, or pre-log everything that I am going to eat for the day in the morning. Both these strategies limit my food options and help me from overindulging on food I don't really want and that I will regret later.

Just remember a balanced meal is a balanced diet. I, along with many of my clients, find it much easier and more successful to have a few 'good' meals ready to go and made up than following some crazy five week diet plan with 100's recipes in it.

Good Luck,
JU