How do energy-dense diets influence appetite and food preference? We sought to determine the impact of diet energy density on food intake and selection. We found that mice raised on standard diet, when provided with an alternative feed, consumed approximately the same amount of food across a spectrum of energy densities. However, mice raised on energy-dense diet were hypophagic for foods with inferior energy density as compared to their maintenance diet. Furthermore, while mice fed standard diet preferred energy-superior foods, mice fed energy-dense diet failed to discriminate on the basis of energy content. Dietary intervention (transition to standard diet) recouped both appetite and food preference in mice fed energy-dense diet. Interestingly, exercise failed to reverse hypophagia but succeeded in restoring preference. Our results suggest that food choice is normally informed by food energy content and energy-dense diets result in a devaluation of foods of lesser energy density.