Gretchen describes opportunity costs as When a resource (like time or money) is scarce, taking advantage of one opportunity means forgoing another opportunity. And by this definition, we are talking about deciding between two good options.
So when you are using your resources to be more mindful of your eating, it is costing you the luxury of eating however and whatever you want without a care in the world. Both of these eating styles have their merit and have their place in life.
The question then rounds back to discernment. Discernment is being able to make a judgement about what it is you really want. Sometimes, all I want is to sit on the couch, veg and eat something extremely salty -- yum! But if I was doing that night after night, that would no longer be discernment, it would just be a calorically expensive habit.
On the other hand, my mom complains that all the "good food/bad food" labelling and dissection that goes on, has taken much of the joy out of eating the foods she grew up on since now she knows that the lard, bacon grease, and highly refined sugar (used in some of the best dishes I have ever eaten) are not "good" for her. So, hyper-mindfulness can also be a problem.
So all of that being said, what it comes back down to (as with so many other things -- perhaps it is even the eternal quest of life?) is balance. Balancing the needs of the moment with the needs of a lifetime. Balancing rest, ease and peace with the action necessary to create a life full of health and happiness. Being able to take the long view and still see what's right in front of you.
Eating is just one example in a life choke full of examples of things needing balance.
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