Blog Posts by DietsInReview

By Margaret Badore - DietsInReview.com

The McRib sandwich from McDonald's is a strange product of the food science world: mystery pork ground and molded to look like fake ribs, served on a starchy white bun and drenched in sauce. The restaurant must recognize the absurdity of this, as they created the "Boneless Pig Farmers Association of America" spoof. Now, they're running a campaign encouraging customers to enter a video with a "legendary" creation story of the McRib sandwich. Any food that needs a creation story... well... that speaks for itself. The winner will receive $10,000 dollars and a trip to Germany. The fact that McDonald's is making fun of the nebulous origins of its food is borderline offensive to anyone who would like there to be more transparency in our food chain and supply.

So, without imagining where the McRib came from, we'll tell you where it actually comes from. It starts at an enormous factory farm. There's a giant shed with a floor covered in feces, where tens

Brooke Randolph, LMHC - DietsInReview.com

Drunkorexia is a new term for me, although unfortunately this isn't the first time I have heard of the phenomenon. Drunkorexia is a term being used to describe a pattern of behavior where young men and women, mostly college students, restrict their food intake to 'save calories' for alcoholic binge drinking. Such choices are fairly widespread, with up to 30 percent of college-aged youth skipping meals to save calories for alcoholic beverages. Drunkorexia does affect both men and women.

Gaining weight and the infamous freshman fifteen is the concern that leads to calorie budgeting and bargaining. The focus seems to be on remaining thin and being able to party; health and nutrition do not seem to enter the equation at all.

Drunkorexia is a concerning trend for the health, safety, and workplace preparation of America's youth. Such choices directly impede any educational goals of these students. Without proper nutrition, one will

By Brandi Koskie - Senior Editor for DietsInReview.com

The onslaught of candy, calories and sugar is in full swing as men, women and children start dipping their hands into the trick-or-treat reserves. On a holiday so focused on candy, everyone's got to indulge... a little. But we're a culture that doesn't "get" moderation and fully participates in the splurge. Kids aren't the only ones prey to the Halloween sugar high, we adults are just as guilty of taking one too many trips to the candy bucket.

So what to do? Get a handle on that whole practicing moderation thing. Maybe even hand out candy alternatives or healthier treats (we love these Scarrots, holiday-themed baby carrots). Your neighbors, however, are stockpiling chocolate, suckers and candy corn to send home with your kids.

Let your kids rake in as much candy as possible. Then, spend a chilly fall day inside doing science experiments... with candy! We've gathered a few of our favorite candy experiments from around the web to

By Maris Callahan - DietsInReview.com

Halloween may mark the beginning of a festive, holiday season but it also marks the beginning of the time of year when most people are prone to gaining weight. While recent reports have suggested that the average person gains 7 to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are ways that you can prevent holiday pounds from creeping up on you, beginning with Halloween.

Whether you have young trick-or-treaters or a habit of sampling from the candy bowl in between doorbell rings, it's not unusual to eat more sugar, fat and calories than average on October 31. To avoid piling on excess poundage this year, follow some of our favorite tips that will help you stay slim and trim through the New Year.

Don't keep junk food in the house
If Halloween leaves you with an excessive amount of candy - and therefore, calories - every year, make smart decisions this time and buy less candy than you think you need. If you overestimate the volume of

By Carmen Staicer - Chief Mom at DietsInReview.com

This year a new holiday debuts on October 16. Tomorrow is the first International Fitness Day! Join people worldwide celebrating a day committed to health and fitness and philanthropic giving to help end the obesity epidemic. International Fitness Day was created to promote people getting up, out and exercising a minimum of 30 minutes, with any kind of activity they choose, and eating healthful fare.

The idea of International Fit Day started with a mom, Dina Skulte of Fit for Kids Sake, concerned about the childhood obesity epidemic and ready to do something about it. A movement for movement sounds like a great place to start!

"If America is serious about fixing this growing problem, it's up to us. It's up to the parents of America's youth to become accountable for the health of our children, says Skulte. "We need to be our children's role models, even when it comes to what we put in our mouths and how we treat our bodies."

If you

By Maris Callahan - DietsInReview.com

Halloween can be a scary night if you're watching your diet. With October 31 right around the corner, it's important to plan ahead if you want to indulge in tricks and treats without sacrificing your waistline.

"You can avoid Halloween bloat without resorting to handing out raisins or pencils," Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., a NYC-based nutritionist and author of The F-Factor Diet told Men's Fitness. "Jelly beans or Skittles are low-cal, as far as candy goes, and a Tootsie roll pop will last you the longest for only 60 calories."

To indulge in Halloween candy in moderation, be sure that you're getting the most bang for your Halloween buck with some of these simple candy swaps and substitutions.

SPLURGE: Caramel Peanut Apples might have all your favorite fall flavors, but they also have 300 calories apiece - the same amount as three tablespoons of butter. To burn it off, you'd need to rake leaves for an hour.

INSTEAD: Slice a whole,

By Jennipher Walters - DietsInReview.com

It's a no-brainer that sleep is important. There's nothing like a good night's rest to make you feel rejuvenated, energetic and ready for your day. Not to mention that research has shown that a lack of sleep increases the risk of diabetes, obesity and injuries. Now there's a new study out furthering the cause for getting a solid 6-8 hours of sleep a night. According to the October 5 issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, not getting enough sleep may inhibit fat loss in dieters.

In the study, dieters were divided into two groups: those who got about 8 hours of sleep and those who only got about 5 hours of sleep. While both groups lost the same amount of weight on a calorie-controlled diet, the amount of fat they lost was dependent on how much sleep they had. The group who got a full night's sleep had weight loss that consisted of 50 percent or more from fat, while the reduced sleep group had only one-fourth of their weight loss from

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com Senior Editor

Three years ago I left my corporate, grey-walled cubicle for my comfortable and self-decorated home office. I work my 9-5 (plus) at home and it's something you'd have a hard time convincing me to give up. Not only do I get to throw caution to the wind when it comes to dress code (and sometimes the happy hour policy), but I also get more time to actually live my life. I could go on and on about what I find to be the benefits of a work-at-home job, but the one I get most excited about is my health.

I eat most of my meals at home these days. With an office and kitchen just steps apart, there's no reason to dedicate a line in my budget to co-worker lunches at greasy downtown pubs, or feel like rush-hour is jeopardizing my breakfast plans. That's why I'm sharing my "work-at-home diet." If you plan your meals ahead for the week and make sure there are plenty of nutritious snacks readily available (since you can't depend on that vending