Every day, most of us are faced with decisions to make about what to eat, how much, and when. Some research puts the number of food decisions we make daily at about 220. Sounds exhausting, right? Perhaps Roy Baumeister, known for his research on willpower, has a point when he says it can get depleted if we make too many decisions. Many of us end up throwing in the towel and making an impulsive choice.

It's not just the number of decisions to be made, it’s their complexity. Research from 1996 laid it out in detail. Food choices involve personal values, sensory perceptions (as in “I hate Brussels sprouts”), monetary considerations, health and nutrition, beliefs and concerns, convenience, social relationships, and food quality. And the food choices we make can be conscious or subconscious and habitual.

Some of us are better at making deliberate decisions than others. There are people who are very focused on health and nutrition and that is what drives their choices pretty consistently. Others may not be aware of their values about food, and don’t consider what........

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