Are there strategies for getting the most satisfaction out of each bite?

Sure, it's easy to go for the cheap thrill of polishing off a pint of Ben & Jerry's Rainforest Crunch, but will your body respect you in the morning? The trick to intensifying the eating experience is not to OD on treats, but to "take your time, savor your food," says Marcia Pelchat, Ph.D., a researcher who studies cravings at Philadelphia's Monell Chemical Senses Center. With each bite of a certain food, the body inches toward "sensory-specific satiety," the state of being full of a certain item. "Paying attention to flavor is the best way to maintain the sensory experience of food," says Pelchat. That means turning off the TV or sitting still long enough to appreciate the flavor of a perfectly ripe Georgia peach. The variety of peach also matters, says Edgar Chambers, Ph.D., professor of sensory analysis in the department of foods and nutrition at Kansas State University. "Some varieties of fruit are more flavorful than others." Chambers points out that the perfect variety of fruit depends on the individual and where he or she experiences what one colleague calls a "bliss point" of flavor. Think of it as hitting the G-spot for tastebuds.