A Plan For Your Plan

While planning is the key to good eating, even our best plans can go awry. Studies show that tempting foods are more likely to make us overeat when we come upon them unexpectedly. Say, for example, the cheesecake lady at Costco. Cheesecake would never be in our plans, but if someone offers a big chunk for free, it will probably be hard to resist.

Unexpected food is everywhere: A co-worker shows up for a meeting with donuts. Your significant other can't resist buying girl scout cookies. The waiter brings a free dessert because your fish was undercooked. Aunt Edith unexpectedly turns up at a family dinner with her peanut butter pie. And it always happens when you least expect it.

So make a plan for when your plans go awry. Devise a script to follow when unexpected food tempts you. Before you even consider indulging, recite your line: "No thanks, I just ate." "I probably shouldn't because of my food allergies." "I couldn't eat another bite!" "No, not my favorite." Whatever works for you, say it, and go back to what you were doing before the food suddenly appeared in front of you.

The key here is to keep the script on the tip of your tongue. If you hesitate, you might give in. But once you've recited your line, you should be able to pull yourself together and stay with your original plan.