Flavor Point Diet

Yale University nutrition expert Dr. David Katz developed the Flavor Point Diet based on appetite control and research deemed "sensory specific satiety." Practitioners can expect delicious food and a plan to feel less hungry for longer, all with weight loss in mind.c

Flavor Point Diet Premise

The Flavor Point Diet, according to WebMD, is the first diet to be planned around food flavors and their appetite impact. Dr. Katz's research determined that the more flavor categories represented in a meal (i.e. sweet, salty, savory, etc.), the more likely you are to overeat as the flavors compete in the brain.

Limiting flavors in meals and snacks allows your brain and stomach to reach what WebMD notes is a "flavor point," when you are satisfied with what you have eaten and stop.c

Flavor Point Diet: Phase 1

During the first four weeks of your diet, you will eat to a theme of flavor per day as follows:

Week 1 - raisins/currants, pineapples, cranberries, oranges, lemons, peaches, apples

Week 2 - tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions, pumpkin, spinach, bell peppers

Week 3 - apples, tomatoes, almonds, thyme, walnuts, sesame, basil

Week 4 - spinach, oranges, mint, lemons, pecans, dill, cranberries (and a weekly indulgence of coconut or chocolate)

An example meal plan on "spinach day" could look

something like the following:

Breakfast - spinach and feta omelet and whole-grain toast

Snack - crackers with spinach-yogurt dip or baby carrots

Lunch - spinach and turkey salad

Dinner - pasta with spinach marinara sauce, green salad and mixed berriesc

Flavor Point Diet: Phase 2

During the next two weeks of your diet, you will eat a greater variety of flavors each day, though each meal or snack has a flavor theme. Breakfast could be peach-themed, lunch spinach-themed and dinner curry-themed, for instance.c

Flavor Point Diet: Phase 3

During the final phase, which is intended to be a lifestyle to retain forever, you are encouraged to determine your own flavor management on a daily basis. You are told to read labels and eat whole, unprocessed foods. Foods to avoid include high-fructose corn syrups and trans fats among others.c

Results

Dr. Katz claims that following the Flavor Point Diet for six weeks will allow you to lose about 16 pounds.c

The American Dietetic Association backs this diet as it is nutritious, balanced in nutrients, high in fiber and includes 1,300 to 1,500 calories per day in meal plans.c