Blog Posts by DietsInReview

By Carmen Staicer - Chief Mom at DietsInReview.com

Sleeping under the stars, cooking on a fire, taking in the beauty of the great outdoors - what's not to love about camping? Camping is the quintessential family- and budget-friendly activity; both inexpensive and offering plenty of quality time together. While supplies like a tent, sleeping bag, and flash light are obvious, what will you eat? It doesn't take long to realize being outdoors works up a tremendous appetite, but most of the traditional camping foods aren't healthy enough to give you the fuel you need, especially perennial favorites like hot dogs, hamburgers, and gooey S'mores. So, is there a way to enjoy a traditional camping trip without resorting to those quick-fix food staples?

No different than any other time, one of the main secrets to eating healthy on a camping trip is planning. It's much easier to grab a pack of hot dogs and some buns and leave town, but a little bit of thinking ahead will help you avoid resorting

By Theresa DeLay - DietsInReview.com

It's the newest "it" food of the moment - Inca peanuts. Thanks to a recent endorsement by Dr. Oz, plugging these as a new super food, everyone wants to know more about these little nuts. Also called sacha inchi nuts, they are cultivated in the Andes Mountains of Peru. They've been enjoyed for centuries by the Incas and are making their debut here in the states as the must-have health food of the summer.

Historians believe that the sacha inchi plant (which produces the seeds known as Inca peanuts) has been used by the natives of Peru for more than 3,000 years. The seeds are shelled and eaten in a number of ways: raw, roasted, topped with sugar, or as an oil in traditional Peruvian recipes. It's even been used as a cosmetic facial cream in some areas.

For those of us living far from the Andes, Inca peanuts remain elusive. It can be hard to find them and the high cost for ordering can be a deterrent. Your best chance for finding them is in specialty

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

With some parts of the country experiencing record-early 100 degree days this week, there can be no doubt that summer is just around the corner. Even closer is the unofficial start of summer - Memorial Day.

You've probably already dusted off the grill and made a few dinners on your patio, but that practice will likely increase exponentially once the first major holiday of summer hits in just three weeks. If your plan is to grill up as many burgers as possible to honor this U.S. holiday, there are a few things you should know to ensure you're serving up the healthiest meal possible.

When grilling your favorite burger recipe, keep it delicious and lean by following these simple steps:

Choose a lean cut of meat: 90% or higher ground beef (organic if possible), chicken breasts, or lean ground turkey (white meat only). Even consider a vegetarian option - a large portobello mushroom cap.

Choose a wholesome bun: Nature's Own makes a delicious whole wheat

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

Who doesn't love the crisp, sweet and fresh-tasting produce that is available during the spring and summer? It makes healthy eating even more enticing! When you've spent months bundled up during the winter eating heavy comfort foods, eating the first picks of the spring harvest can be quite refreshing. These fruits and vegetables are, of course, best when fresh, and at their peak.
This year, consider eating the freshest produce possible, by eating seasonally and locally. The benefits are numerous: supports local farmers and thus the local economy, it reduces your carbon footprint by limiting the miles traveled from farm to plate, and the flavor is incomparable.

You can eat seasonally and locally in a number of ways:

• Try container gardening if you're in an urban area. You can build a small garden in your suburban backyard or terrace, and grow family favorites.
• Visit your local farmers market, where you'll not only find fresh produce

By Margaret Badore - DietsInReview.com

When it comes to the royal wedding, even the smallest bit of speculation can quickly become perceived as fact. That's exactly what has happened with the rumors swirling around Kate Middleton's pre-wedding diet, launching a little-known French weight-loss plan into the media spotlight of the English-speaking world.

It all started back in November, when Kate's mum, Carole Middleton, was said to have some weight-loss success with the Dukan Diet. The U.K.'s Daily Mail reported that mother-of-the-bride Carole Middleton lost four pounds in just four days during the diet's first phase. However, there have been no new reports whether Carole has continued to follow the demanding diet plan.

Speculation surrounding Kate's weight loss began last month, when she started appearing thinner than usual. At a public appearance in Northern Ireland, one well-wisher implored the future princess "not to lose any more weight." The Associated Press reported that Kate

By Kelly Turner, ACE Certified Personal Trainer - DietsInReview.com

As a personal trainer, it can be frustrating to see someone walk the treadmill for over an hour while at the gym. Equally frustrating can be seeing people on the treadmill with the incline raised all the way to 15 while holding on to the machine with a death grip. Either way, just because the display on the treadmill says you're burning a certain amount of calories doesn't mean that's your actual burn. If you are hanging on like cliffhanger Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, you aren't working nearly as hard as the treadmill thinks you are. If that's the case, cut the calories burned total in half.
The treadmill seems simple enough, but like everything else in the gym, there's a right and wrong way to use it. Sure, you can just hop on and walk - or run, if you feel up for it. However, just racking up time on the treadmill isn't going to get the job done. You have to make every minute count. Why waste your time and

By Brandi Koskie and Jenn Walters - DietsInReview.com

When you do find yourself in front of that backlit menu at a fast-food restaurant, ease the calorie burden, and maybe even the post-meal guilt, by making the healthiest choice possible. It's so easy to default to the number-one-with-cheese-and-fries and call it a day, but it probably isn't the best thing for you. If you really are watching what you eat, we want to point you in the right direction.

We've scoured fast food restaurant menus to find the healthiest offerings they have. In some cases, like Subway, the list could have been endless. In other cases, like Burger King, we did our best to suggest something. Our criteria was pretty simple, based on recommendations from dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield: Each meal couldn't exceed 500 calories and 500 milligrams of sodium.

Here are the results our team gathered.
(To see more options than what we've listed, click on each restaurant's name.)

McDonald's

Order the hamburger and a

By Heather Ashare - Yoga Expert for DietsInReview.com

Spring has sprung and the beachwear in your closet has started to rustle for some fresh air. Who doesn't love the dawn of summer, but let's be honest: Months of sweaters, cold-weather comfort food and unused gym memberships makes us all a little timid about baring our tummies.

Getting a toned tummy by the first day of summer does not have to involve stress, thousands of crunches, or endless meals made of plain chicken breasts. Instead, focus the next three months on your yoga practice for a fit, bikini-ready body by summer.

We're going to tell you exactly how to do it!

Start today. If you aren't already enrolled in a yoga class, either at a studio or gym, research classes and instructors in your area. If the class experience doesn't suit you, consider a yoga DVD you can do at home. Bryan Kests' Power Yoga Complete Collection is a challenging and comprehensive option.

Know your moves. One of the many benefits of yoga is the