If You Do One Thing This Month...Write Down Your Shopping List

It's an easy way to boost your diet willpower.

A grocery list may seem like overkill when you're just making a quick run to the supermarket, but relying on your memory may put your waistline at risk. Shoppers who neglect to jot down what they plan to buy are more likely to choose high-calorie impulse foods- like chips and cookies-than those who have written reminders, according to a new study from New York University. "The brainpower you use trying to remember what to buy takes away from the mental strength needed to resist temptation," says Yuval Rottenstreich, Ph.D., the study's lead author. The best way to avoid tossing treats into your cart? Keep a running list throughout the week, read it over before you leave the house, and stick to it when you're roaming the aisles. Making one up on the way to the store won't cut it; if you don't have time for a running list, take fi ve minutes to write one down before you head out. That way, you won't be drawn to that box of double-fudge brownies that's on super sale.