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The differential
I have a few more tools for you. Another very important concept to understand as you balance your splurges and your savings is something I call the differential. I’ll be using this term frequently throughout the book, so let’s talk about it right now, and about what it means.
The differential is the difference between two choices, and whether or not that difference is worthwhile. Here’s an example. I love chili because of the flavors and textures: the chili powder, cumin, tomatoes, peppers, and beans. But there are a lot of kinds of chili out there — beef chili, turkey chili, veggie chili. To me, the differential between a fatty, beef-filled chili and turkey or veggie chili is nothing. I often can’t even tell the difference. So in the case of chili, it’s definitely worth it for me to make the lighter, healthier choice.
But here’s where the differential is big for me: give me a choice between a fatty New York strip steak topped with butter and a bland poached chicken breast. To me, that’s a huge differential. I love the fatty steak; I admit it. I get so much pleasure out of this food that it’s not worth it to me to choose the chicken breast. I saved elsewhere, when it didn’t matter so much, in order to get the full pleasure of the New York strip steak experience. That being said, I usually eat only a few bites. If I eat the skinless chicken breast, I’ll eat the whole thing and still be bored and longing for something more; by contrast, I can have a few amazing bites of the steak and be completely satisfied. I would rather have three delicious bites of fatty steak than four times as much boring chicken. This is a quality vs. quantity concept.
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Of course, choosing the more decadent option comes with a price. We aren’t living in an alternative reality where unlimited amounts of white sugar or beef fat have no impact on your waistline or health. As a natural foods chef, I know perfectly well that I should not be eating fatty steak every day, and when I do eat it, I shouldn’t eat very much of it. I know I should really limit how much I eat. So I have a few delicious bites. Then, I stop. Most of my meal will consist of other healthy foods I love, like salad and sautéed vegetables. I fill up on these first, but I also refuse to deny myself the pleasure of those bites of steak. 
March 12: TODAY’s Al Roker talks to Bethenny Frankel from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City” about her new book, “Naturally Thin.”
Your differential will probably be different from mine when you apply it to any given food. Maybe you hate the fatty steak and a nicely seasoned grilled piece of light fish or tofu is just as satisfying as, if not more satisfying than, fatty steak. That’s great. Make the healthier choice, and save your fat and calorie allowance for something that matters more to you, like creme brulee or french fries. In this book I am not going to tell you to eat whatever I eat, because I want you to understand, appreciate, and really get to know your own true preferences. This is balancing your account.
Excerpted from “Naturally Thin,” by Bethenny Frankel. Copyright (c) 2009. Reprinted with permission from Simon and Schuster.
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