The best diet advice is often given indirectly. Studies such as those associating healthy weights with eating slowly, away from the television, apart from the Blackberry or iPad and in conversation with loved ones, all essentially advise the same thing: Savor your food.

Food that is eaten mindlessly is neglected food. And neglected food imparts the emptiest of calories.

When we pay attention to what we eat -- its color, texture, freshness and seasonings -- we are satisfied in a deeper way than stuffing of our stomachs could ever accomplish. In this way, we maximize the pleasure of our meals, while eating an amount best for our bodies. And, according to Lippert, if you truly take the time to savor each luscious bite, you will be surprised how much less will satiate you.

Eating well, after all, is as much about the brain as the belly, scientists say.