“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor”, 18th century poet and writer William Cowper.

I like to try a little bit of of everything: a spoonful of lemon curd on a small scone, one egg scrambled with cheese, a slice of smoked salmon, a taste of greek yogurt with honey, almonds, and a few dried cherries, a cappuccino…. Breakfast like a “king”, right? Cooking and taste testing as a profession could lead one down a widening path. Someone British is credited with cautioning: never trust a thin chef.

Number  1: I’m not an accredited “chef”.

Number  2: I’m determined to stay in my favorite jeans.

Number 3: Never be wider than your yoga mat.

Number 4: Containers of provisions are stored above my desk for easy access.  Right of “Joy”: chocolate chips.

Last month (channeling Julia Child) we wrote about our favorite glass bowls , small squares that make much of the above possible. Yesterday someone sent me a link to advice about how to reduce the amount we eat. I recognized a few of the tips and learned some new ones, like: we are less likely to eat something if it’s out of sight and out of reach.  Trust me on this: you’ll discover a few interesting things about the psychological science of dining.