Customer Reviews

Dr. David Katz's Flavor-Full Diet: Use Your Tastebuds to Lose Pounds and Inches with this Scientifically Proven Plan

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The core concept of The Flavor Full Diet is one that has apparently been researched for quite a while, but few of us know of - that of "sensory specific satiety". This refers to the role of flavor, and specifically, many different flavors (sweet, salty, bitter, etc) combined in one meal causing our hypothalamus to be over-stimulated. The net result is that too many flavors increase our appetite and leave us wanting to eat more food, even if our stomachs are full.

I've always wondered why I feel still feel hungry after eating several different courses, or at family gatherings during the holidays. Now I have the scientific reason behind my cravings and am learning how to curb my appetite by sticking closer to one "flavor category." I can still enjoy sweet foods, for example, I just try not to eat them after a salty meal.

Dr. Katz makes the concept very easy to understand and with his wife Catherine, have supplied some great recipes that are easy to make. Though I don't have kids, the recipes seem quite family friendly - and as the book doesn't limit what you eat, only how you eat it - I think this eating plan will be very attractive to people.

I deeply respect Dr. Katz' work, as he is one of a few leaders in this industry that is not just writing books on how to improve your health, but is advocating through research, policy and program initiatives to improve health across the nation. Thanks Dr. Katz for an excellent book!

This book is an exact copy of the old version(2005). It costs several dollars more and it has different front and back covers. The meal plan, recipes, information and everything else is the same. Good recipes, I tried some, and it had an interesting twist to the boring recipes I'm use to. I have been eating healthier for the past several years and wanted something different and with a twist. Please don't waste your money buying the 2007 version, it's much cheaper to buy the 2005 version "The Flavor Point Diet" and it's a hardcover. The new version is printed on cheap paper and it's a paperback. Please don't throw your money on this new version, you're better off buying the old version.

I like the idea behind the theory of this book, but I don't think it would be very applicable in the real world if followed to a T.

Basically the author advocates eating one repeated flavour theme per day so you don't have tastebuds looking for a buffet of flavours. The reasoning being that if you have more flavors to chose from, you will eat more. There is some merit to this idea, but I can't see planning my days like this.

This may be great for single people with no kids, or couples trying to lose weight together -- but unless you want to have your family on the same diet, you'll be cooking twice for meals. I was not interested in doing this as my husband is actually not a fan of some of the flavors, and I was not interested in cooking two dinners :)

Just knowing that when more flavors are present, there may be the urge to over-eat is a good thing to know; I can make meals a little less complex to stem wanting seconds. But that is about where the usefulness of this book stops for me.

This book changed how my husband and I eat. We no longer crave the sugars and salty food we did before starting this diet. I have lost 12 pounds in five weeks of this diet. A lot of the menu items are gourmet and taste wonderful. There were a few items that we won't have again but just a few. It is a commitment to eating that takes time and effort and well worth it.
Valerie

I believe in Dr Katz's ideas and I think that this diet could work if you had a LOT of time to devote to it. He mentions that his "busy" wife has time to do it, but it sounds like she's a housewife, so perhaps cooking meals from scratch is part of her normal routine. I'm also guessing that being the wife of a famous DR. means that she has household help (maid, nanny, etc). I don't.

I don't understand why they didn't include a grocery shopping list for each week of the diet. That alone was such a chore that I never got past the first one. They should also include more options for people who work. I don't have time to cook three meals a day; I'm lucky if I have time to eat three meals a day. The cereal brands that they mentioned as quicker breakfast options are not available in the area where I live.

The recipes I did make were very good. I think this plan would be great for either a housewife or a wealthy person who could hire a cook. I don't think that it's practical for people who work full time. For me the book is more of a reference and/or cookbook than a diet plan.