Going on a diet tends to have negative connotations. Diets are confining and tortuous, you'll be hungry all the time, and you'll have to eat tasteless stuff like celery and puffed rice. More than that, you'll be imprisoned by the almighty diet, unable to indulge in anything but what Lord Diet dictates.

We want to eat anything we want whenever we want it!

However, a well-thought-out eating plan pays off in many ways.

To paraphrase the late Janis Joplin, freedom really isn't free. In nutritional terms, it costs a lot in what it extracts from our health.

Just like a budget saves you money and a calendar finds more time in your schedule, a confirmed diet spices up your dining experience.

Structure sets us free and human beings need structure. Children thrive on it and even our pets need routines. Let's look at the benefits of a written, structured plan for eating.

1. You won't have to decide what to eat or hear those dreaded words: "What's for dinner?" You'll know what's for dinner and you won't be racking your brain while staring at empty cupboards trying to whip something up with what's on the shelves.

2. Free your mind for other things. If you're not obsessing over what you're going to eat, you can think about other things that are more important and certainly more uplifting.

3. Save money at the grocery store. Stock up on sales, curb impulse buying, and get out of the store faster.

4. You'll have less guilt. You're more likely to stay on track with your weight loss goals with a defined diet, then you can allow yourself a treat every so often--without the guilt!

5. Get the nutrition you need. Haphazard eating usually doesn't involve healthy choices. Plan for protein, vitamins, and minerals with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

6. Limit calories. If you want to consume 1,200 calories per day, you're more likely to do so if you've planned a 1,200-calorie meal ahead of time. Spur-of-the moment choices almost always mean higher calories.

7. Get energized for exercising. Healthy eating means you'll feel better and motivated to take a walk, run on the treadmill, or workout with a video.

8. Eat a variety of foods. Scheduling a wide variety of foods when you plan in advance is much easier than trying to be creative at the last minute.

9. You can eat in a relaxed atmosphere at home. Simply following a plan and getting out the ingredients gives you much less stress than going to a noisy restaurant or a crowded drive-through.

10. Elevate your style of eating. Decide to dine instead of chow down. Serve your meals on real plates or china instead of plastic take-out containers or leftover pizza boxes. Invite friends over for a meal you've planned and enjoy stimulating conversation.

Take some time to plan a healthy diet. Set up a menu and a grocery list. Don't forget the snacks! Follow your plan and see if you can derive even more than weight loss.