Think Dinner-ent
We all know the image: Steve Jobs, the visionary behind Apple, standing on stage in his signature uniform—a black mock turtleneck, blue jeans, and New Balance sneakers.
He didn't wear that outfit because he lacked fashion sense. He wore it because he was a genius at resource management. Jobs famously realized that the human brain has a finite amount of decision-making energy every day. By wearing the exact same thing every morning, he eliminated one trivial choice from his life. He automated his wardrobe so he could save his "Decision Fuel" for the things that actually mattered, like reinventing the smartphone.
This concept is called removing Decision Fatigue.
And while I’m not inventing the next iPhone, I have applied this exact "black turtleneck" philosophy to my diet.
As someone managing mental health, personal stress, and a demanding job in compliance, my brain's "RAM" is precious real estate. Adopting a One Meal a Day (OMAD) lifestyle didn't just fix my waistline; it has helped to cure my decision fatigue and freed up my brain to actually function.
The "Expensive" Cost of "What's for Dinner?"
For a neurotypical person, deciding what to eat might seem trivial. For someone with ADHD (specifically the inattentive type I have), it can be paralyzing. This is known as Executive Dysfunction.
Every decision comes with a "cognitive tax."
7:00 AM: What do I have for breakfast? Do we have eggs? Is the milk spoiled? Should I just grab a bagel? (Tax paid).
12:00 PM: I'm hungry. Where should I go? The deli? The salad place? Did I pack a lunch? (Tax paid).
3:00 PM: I'm crashing. Vending machine or coffee? (Tax paid).
6:00 PM: The dreaded question: "What's for dinner?"
By the time I got home from work, my "Decision Fuel" tank was empty. I had nothing left. This is why, for years, I defaulted to the path of least resistance: ordering pizza or hitting a drive-thru. I wasn't hungry for junk food; I was hungry for relief from making choices.
I was spending all my mental RAM on food logistics, leaving nothing for my hobbies, my writing, or my mental health.
The OMAD Upgrade: Automating the System
My 22:2 clean keto schedule is the ultimate automation script for my life. It removes the variables.
1. The Morning Automation (No Breakfast) I wake up. I don't wonder what to eat. I drink black coffee. I drink water.
Decision Cost: Zero.
Result: I start my work day with a full battery.
2. The Mid-Day Automation (No Lunch) When noon rolls around, my colleagues are scrolling through UberEats or waiting in line for a sandwich. I am going for a walk, or taking a break to read, or simply getting away from my desk..
Decision Cost: Zero.
Result: I avoid the post-lunch "food coma" entirely. My focus remains sharp through the afternoon compliance meetings.
3. The Evening Automation (The Template)
When I get home, I eat. But even here, I don't start from scratch. As I outlined in my
Is it Steak Salad night?
Is it Stir-Fry night?
Is it Taco Bowl night?
I grab the ingredients from my
The Payoff: Freeing Up "RAM"
The result of this "Steve Jobs" approach to eating is that I have reclaimed a massive amount of mental bandwidth.
That energy is now deployed where I want it:
Creative Work: I have the focus to write this blog.
Game Mastery: I have the creative juice to build complex worlds and encounters for my Thursday night TTRPG group.
Resilience: When a real crisis hits (and they do), I have the emotional reserve to handle it because I haven't wasted my willpower on resisting a donut in the breakroom.
The Takeaway
People look at OMAD and see restriction. They see a prison.
I see freedom.
By restricting my eating window, I have liberated my mind. I don't worry about food anymore. I don't obsess over snacks. I don't negotiate with myself about lunch.
I put on my "black turtleneck" (coffee), I get to work, and when the time comes, I eat like a king. It’s the ultimate life hack for a busy, distracted brain.
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