Examples of “tastes good” versus “want more”
I’ve written on the difference in sensation between something tasting good versus making you feel like you want more of it (see “Want to eat more†and “tastes good†aren’t the same feeling). I also spoke about them as a podcast guest in Tastes Good versus Want More, explored in depth.
The difference, briefly: when you bite into a fruit you love, say an apple, it tastes good and you want more. Yet rarely do I eat two apples in a row. The second apple tastes as good as the first, but the sensation of wanting more decreases.
By contrast, when I bite into a potato chip, it tastes good and I want more. But a few chips in, the feeling of their tasting good goes away, whereas I still want more.
Our culture is developing more want more because it’s profitable and moving away from tastes good. It’s close to the difference between craving and satisfaction.
I’ve been developing a list of contrasting examples of the two sensations. I recommend familiarizing yourself with each to keep your life from becoming passive and draining. And to keep organizations more interested in their profits than your well-being from influencing you.
Examples
| Want More | Tastes Good |
| Junk food and engineered food | Fruits and vegetables |
| Flying everywhere | Exploring where you are |
| Fast fashion | Buying less |
| Opioids and addictive drugs | Community |
| Sugar, salt, fat | Nuanced, rich, complex flavors |
| Daily news | Reflection |
| Gamification | Sidchas |
| Take-out | Home cooking |
| Packaged food | Farmers markets and CSAs |
| TV | Exercise or community |
| Drama | Realistic representations of people and relationships |
| Gambling | Active hobbies |
| Shopping | Hobbies |
| Video games | Hobbies and sports |
I oversimplified, since some video games probably contain lots of tastes good.
Results
What results from tastes good activities versus want more ones?
| Tastes good results | Want more results |
| Happiness | Craving |
| Calm | Addiction |
| Friendship | Transaction |
| Fulfillment | Chasing your tail |
| Independence and teamwork | Dependence |
| Self-determination | Being a pet or tool |
| Self-awareness | Sleepwalking |
| Growth | Stagnation |
| Fitness | Obesity |
| Being healthy | Chasing health or following health claims |
| Less stuff | More waste |
| Supporting others | Focusing on yourself |
Identifying the different sensations can transform your life.
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