Why GLP-1 Made Me Love Food More—Not Less

From beetroot pasta to backyard salsa, this wasn’t about eating less. It was about finally tasting more.

I want to tell you about two people on a GLP-1.

First, there’s me.

I’ve been on a maintenance dose—7.5 mg of Zepbound—for a while now. And recently, I went to an incredible Michelin-star restaurant. Now, at one point during that meal, I said something that surprised even me.

The beetroot pasta was one of the best dishes I had ever tasted.

Now, let’s pause there—because this matters.

I don’t like beets.

In fact, I’ve always said I hate beets.

And yet, there I was, enjoying beetroot pasta.

So what changed?

Well, not my opinion of beets.

But absolutely my appreciation of flavor.

Then, Something Unexpected Happened

During that same trip to Italy, I had one remarkable meal after another. For example, I ate at Ristorante Aroma, right next to the Colosseum. Then, I found a small, unforgettable place tucked away in Venice.

Now, let me be clear—this is not a humble brag.

Yes, the restaurants were fantastic. Yes, the trip was memorable.

However, I’ve been to Europe before.

And yet, this time was different.

Because this time, I didn’t just eat the food.

Instead, I tasted it.

Moreover, I slowed down.

In addition, I noticed the precision.

And perhaps most importantly, I appreciated the flavors.

Before, I think I liked good food.

Now, I actually understand it.

But Then There’s My Friend

On the other hand, there’s my friend.

He’s also on a GLP-1. In fact, he weighs a bit less than I do. However, he told me something that stopped me in my tracks.

“I don’t enjoy food anymore.”

Now, that’s not discipline.

And it’s certainly not success.

Instead, that’s anhedonia.

In his case, the dose was too high. As a result, appetite didn’t just quiet down—it disappeared. Furthermore, dehydration crept in. And on top of that, nutrition slipped just a bit.

Consequently, food wasn’t enjoyable anymore.

It was just… there.

So, we made a small adjustment.

We lowered the dose.

Now yes, that can feel frightening. Naturally, people worry:

“If I lower it, I’ll gain the weight back.”

However, that didn’t happen.

Instead, what came back was enjoyment.

And Then There’s the Protein Bar Problem

Now, let’s shift gears—because this is where things get interesting.

Every now and then, you need a snack. That’s normal. That’s life.

However, when it comes to protein bars, I have to be honest.

Most of them don’t taste like food.

Instead, they taste like wet sawdust. Or, perhaps more accurately, dry particle board with a chocolate label slapped on it.

Yes, they try. They add peanut butter flavor. They add cocoa.

But still, the texture is off. The taste is off. And ultimately, your brain knows it.

Now, to be fair, I do like some Aloha bars. They’re better than most.

But even then…

Recently, I skipped the bar.

Instead, I had something entirely different:

Tocino.

A few bites.

That’s all.

And yet, those few bites delivered something protein bars rarely do:

Flavor.

Real flavor.

Not engineered. Not simulated. Not “chocolate-adjacent.”

Actual spices. Actual cooking. Actual food.

And, frankly, it was fantastic.

Meanwhile… the $32 Steak Snack

Of course, I also tried one of those dried carnivore steak sn