We are talking about how to make the perfect food choice every time.

The key to the final question you need to ask yourself, “What do I have?”, is planning. If you feel hungry and the only thing available is a vending machine, you’re likely to choose a snack food that may not be very healthy, may not taste very good and may not really be what you were hungry for anyway.

Instead, keep a variety of foods on hand that are healthful and appealing but not overly tempting. These are foods that you enjoy when you’re hungry but won’t be calling out to you from their storage place saying, “Come eat me!”

Of course, you’re not always in control of which foods are available. At a restaurant, office potluck, or friend’s house, simply see what's available and do your best to match what you want and need with what you have to choose from.

Matching the food you choose to what you’re really hungry for and what your body needs leads to greater satisfaction and more enjoyment—with less food.

Remember that small changes really do make a difference and that balanced eating is simply the result of all of the decisions you make. Eating food that you truly enjoy while taking good care of your body is the best way to make long term changes that you can live with.

Michelle May, M.D. is a recovered yoyo dieter and the award-winning author of Am I Hungry? What To Do When Diets Don’t Work. Learn to manage your weight without deprivation and guilt with her free mini e-course at www.amihungry.com/mini-e-course-intro.shtml.