Should You Eat the Same Thing Every Day?

I tend to eat the same thing every day throughout the week, for several reasons. First, for convenience. I have devised a daily 6 meal plan based on my caloric needs and macronutrient splits. If I change something, it means I have to go back to the drawing table (TheDailyPlate) and recalculate everything. That's a lot of work.

Secondly, I am a creature of habit, and when it comes to food, I rarely get sick of anything. If an eating plan works, I stick to it and don’t crave variation.

Lastly, I don’t enjoy cooking. I have zero patience. My 6 Monday-through-Friday meals are easy enough: Protein (eggs, chicken, beef, fish, and whey) veggies, oatmeal, etc.

However, I am more flexible when it comes to the weekends because my schedule isn't as rigid in terms of gym and work. On Saturdays, for example, I allow myself to eat whatever it is I am craving, whether it be a bowl of All Bran cereal or Top Ramen noodles.

But is eating the same thing every day a good thing? Mehdi, the author and founder of StrongLifts.com, agrees.

"The more variety you build into your diet, the less you stick to it. Eating the same every day is more effective. It also teaches you food is fuel in the first place, not pleasure," he writes in his post How to Lose Fat Fast. "Select several healthy and balanced meals you like. Eat them every day. Change the meals when you get bored of them. Not fun, but effective. Think results."

Mehdi also adheres to a 90/10 or 80/20 rule: He eats clean 6 for days, but allows for 2-3 junk meals on Sunday.