All too often mention of a healthy diet or health food bring to mind words such as boring, tasteless, deprivation, bland and other negatives. This is unfortunate, and the fault lies partially with the health food and diet industry, which of course is working in its own interests.  It often seems that a new diet or weight loss regimen (are we in boot camp here?) blossoms several times a year, in addition to unproven supplements advertising that you can eat all you want and lose weight.  Ridiculous!  High protein, high fiber, no carrots or bananas, meat-free, yin and yang, bread-free, blood-type diets, so-called "healthy" diet supplement drinks in place of one or two meals - - the list is endless.

Take a good look at people in infomercials and ads who have lost large amounts of weight on some special diet of supplements and denial of good food. They often look distinctly unwell - something about the eyes or the circles under them, and the color of the complexion.  I used to think that "look" was from sagging skin; however it appears too often in young people with no sag and moderate but fast weight loss.   Is it a sign of damage to the health?  

That certainly doesn't suggest that being overweight is healthy;  of course it isn't.  But neither is yo-yo dieting, or extreme dieting without eating lots of healthy food.  Dr. Weil advises that, basically, the only way to go is eat less, exercise more, and substitute lower-calorie foods for high-calorie ones.  (Easier said than done.)

If we weren't confused enough already, about the time we think we know what foods are best for us or will cure or prevent certain diseases, the scientific community reverses itself or falls to squabbling. 

Read Sneaky Kitchen's personal Ten Commandments for Dieting. 

For more information, see "Dietary Guidelines for Americans", published by the US Department of Agriculture and and US Department of Health and Human Services.  And most of all, enjoy your food!