In fairness, Little Lady's edible toothpaste (Most toothpaste is inedible ? imagine that!) comes in two flavors: berry and bubble gum ... but that's not much of a choice. Surely Big Mint will soon shut down this renegade operation muscling in on their territory.

I want to see the same creativity go into toothpaste flavors as went into "Hot Fudge Sundae" Pop Tarts. Or the Plymouth Prowler retro dragster. Or those chocolate covered grasshopper jelly beans.

As I write this column from behind the wheel of my car ? in a parking lot, of course ? I see so many people pass by. Tall people. Short people. Thin people. Neat people. Sloppy people. Human people. Canine people. People carrying. People riding. People smiling. People frowning. If there are so many types of people, and my grocery store stocks 72 types of cereal and 37 types of crackers, doesn't it seem just a little spooky that none of the toothpaste manufacturers are willing to stand up to Big Mint?

Variety is the spice of life. Don't let Big Mint oppress you. Don't let the mint-enthusiast bullies stifle your democratic right to free taste.

There is no conclusive evidence that a handful of pumpkin-pie-flavored jelly beans will derail your diet more than three tubes of "fresh and minty" toothpaste. So enjoy your multicultural jelly beans ... even if you are on a diet.

The author is David Leonhardt, The Happy Guy, author of The Get Happy Workbook at http://TheHappyGuy.com/happiness-workbook.html and publisher of Your Daily Dose of Happiness at http://TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html . This article is also viewable at http://TheHappyGuy.com/jelly-beans-or-toothpaste.html .