Everyone falls off the healthy-eating wagon from time to time. And that's OK. Life happens -- and so does chocolate cake. But when unhealthy eating becomes less of an occasional slip and more of a habit, it's time to take action. The good news is, even the worst eating patterns aren't hard habits to break:

• Late-night eating. Technically speaking, a calorie is a calorie is a calorie no matter when you eat it. But, more often than not, late-night snacking isn't really about hunger. Instead, it's just a habit to reach for the chips when your favorite show is on. If this sounds familiar, try eating dinner a half-hour later than usual. Also, go for a walk before or after dinner to help control your appetite. Then, during your down time, keep your hands busy working on a craft or doing a crossword. If you're feeling snacky, just wait out the craving for a while and see if you're still feeling hungry.
  
• Sweet tooth. Is your sweet tooth out of control? There's nothing wrong with having a small treat from time to time, but for many people, one small treat leads to a craving for a second treat (or third, or fourth). You can end up with a lot of calories and very few nutrients. When you've got a sugar craving, try soothing it with a sweet -- but healthful -- replacement such as dried fruit or some homemade trail mix. Check out Bethany's "Walking the Walk" to see how she nipped her sugar habit in the bud.

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I think we've all heard the diet advice "everything in moderation." It makes sense, but it's not without its flaws.

For one, what is moderate? A single scoop of ice cream, or a single bowl of ice cream? One small cheeseburger or the super-double deluxe? The word moderate is vague and, for those who are at odds with their love of food, it can create problems. Sure, you can follow the serving sizes but, let's face it, the serving sizes on our favorite treats are often pretty puny.

Another caveat with the advice is that it's easier to follow with some foods than it is with others. Take the latest post on Glamour's Margarita Shapes Up blog, for example. The author was doing fine with a moderate serving of oatmeal each morning. But when she helped herself to a serving of her favorite cereal, she soon found herself going back for seconds and then thirds. The author's solution was dump the box of cereal in the garbage.

I've struggled with the everything in moderation mantra, too. However, I don't think deprivation is the key to sustainable weight loss. To attain a healthy weight -- and, more importantly, maintain it -- you have to learn to choose nutritious foods, keep portion sizes in control, and save treats for rare occasions.

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Two tips for a more healthy diet: Plan ahead. And eat dinner at the table. It's that simple, according to RealAge.

Most people have no idea what to serve up for dinner until the very last minute. That's dangerous, the perfect opportunity for a spin through the drive-thru or a frozen meal thrown in the microwave. Planning ahead is key. Think about what you're going to eat and shop ahead of time. You'll be more likely to include fruits, veggies and other healthy fare in the mix if you do.

As for eating at the table, it's good for you too. It'll help you slow down, enjoy your food and cut a few calories too.

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When you hear about people who are health nuts, you might imagine them choking down bitter-tasting leaves and weird juicer concoctions they can barely stomach. And this image might be actually true.

Recent surveys out of Britain show that most health-conscious people regularly eat foods they hate because they're good for them. In fact, one-third eat at least one thing they hate each week.

People, it doesn't have to be this way. There are literally thousands of foods out there that are good for you. Life is too short to to be gulping down what you can't stand, so do yourself a favour and find something equally nutritious that you actually like.

I'm curious to know ...

(via Calorie Lab)

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Food, all by itself, may not directly cause diabetes, but what you eat can up your risk of developing the disease.

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I can remember when the speed limit was 55. Even back then, though I drove a pokey 4-cylinder Chevette, it seemed slow. We're accustomed to doing everything fast -- driving, working, running errands; everything is a race for time.

When it comes to eating, you're better off taking your time. Not only will eating slower give your brain time to get the message that your stomach is full, it also helps you enjoy your food more.

Shape Magazine recommends counting to 10 between bites. It gives you a chance to appreciate the aroma and sight of your food. Then chew slowly and enjoy the flavor fully. When you retrain yourself to enjoy food -- instead of shoveling it down as if the first one finished wins a blue ribbon -- you won't grow bored of healthy fare.

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Have you been caught in the recent cold blast that's sweeping the nation? It's pretty bitter where I live, and considering I work from home, I have to make efforts to get outside and fight the doldrums. Divine Caroline has some healthful ways to beat the winter blues. Here are the top three tips:

• Exercise. When you're feeling down, you may be tempted to just plop on the couch and stare at the TV. But that's the last thing you should do. Exercise helps to energize you, release stress, and it elevates your mood.
• Eat right. Healthy eating habits can boost your mood. Include plenty of complex carbs (whole grains, fruits, vegetables) in your diet for a long-lasting energy boost; and avoid refined and processed foods, which can cause your blood sugar to spike and drop and can sap your energy.
• Step outside. I know it's cold outside, but a little daylight will do you a world of good. Bundle up and go for a short walk. Even simply opening the blinds and letting the sunlight in your living room or office can help, too.

Check out the full article on Divine Caroline for more healthful ways to beat the winter blues.

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Most of us have come to accept that diets don't work. So it's only natural, then, that the next big trend in dieting is ... to not diet at all. But intentionally not dieting is, in a sense, a different sort of diet. Confused yet? There is a method to this madness -- I'll explain.

Esther Blum, author of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous and nutritionist to celebs like SJP and Teri Hatcher is the one spearheading this non-diet diet. She thinks you should ditch the detoxes, the gimmicks, the so-called quick fixes and just. start. living. The first step is accepting your body -- flaws, curves and all. The second is eating what you want, as long as it's fresh, natural and wholesome (yes, this even includes butter.) The third is signing up for exercise that you actually like. You can read more here.

Sounds fun ... but does it work? Considering that Blum herself is teeny tiny, just like the celebs who endorse her book, I'd say it probably has some merit. Your thoughts?

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Does Scarlett Johansson get her gorgeous curves from her love of food? We know Kristen Stewart's Twilight character has a thing for vampires -- is her real life love for food? Or how about Keira Knightley? She's always been super-thin, but maybe she finds a place to stash all of the calories. Or did the long and lean Gossip Girl, Blake Lively, confess her affection for food?

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So many things we do are by habit. When you brush your teeth in the morning, you're probably thinking more about the plans you have for the day than you are about brushing your teeth. The same goes for eating. Meals and snacks are such a day-to-day routine that -- even if you're dieting -- the act of eating can become somewhat mindless.

Being mindful of eating habits is important for all of us, but especially important when you're trying to lose weight. I just watched a Ruby rerun where she was upset after gaining weight during her vacation. She thought she had done really well with her nutrition plan. Then she sat down with her nutritionist and realized that the "protein bars" she was snacking on were really high in calories. What Ruby experienced is easy for all of us to do; we can trick ourselves into thinking we're doing great, when really we're falling short of our nutrition goals.

Oprah.com has some great tips on how to eat mindfully:

• Buy in bulk. In these tough economic times, it makes good sense to buy certain items in bulk. But be sure to measure out pretzels or other snacks; don't eat out of the bag because you might eat more than you planned.
• Eating with people. Believe it or not, the more people you dine out with, the more you're likely to eat. It has more to do with the amount of time you spend at the table. Avoid the bread basket and divide your meal in half -- one half to eat at the restaurant and the other to take home. Be sure to eat slowly and enjoy your meal.
  

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My son likes many healthful snacks. Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, almost any variety of fruit, cheese sticks and sunflower seeds are his favorites. But if given the choice between any of his favorite healthful snacks and his least favorite type of junk food, he'll pick the junk food every time.

I adopted my son when he was 10 years old, so many of his eating habits were already formed. With time and determination, he's learned to enjoy home-cooked meals (he only liked frozen foods when he first moved in) and understands a lot more about nutrition. But the junk food addiction has remained a problem.

I've tried instituting other rules, such as having healthful "anytime foods" that he can snack on whenever he likes and in any quantity he desires. The treat foods were left for desserts and small treats each day. It's a good idea in theory, but it led to my son trying to sneak those foods up to his room. When they became hands-off foods, they were more desirable than ever.

Recently, I wrote about how late night eating is no worse for your waistline than eating at any other time of day. That's true, and I'm glad that myth about late-night eating has finally been put to bed. However, eating at night isn't without a caveat.

For many people, eating late at night consists of snacking on popcorn, chips or other treats. If these treats are in moderation, that's not such a bad thing. But late-night eating often equals mindless eating, and that's never a good thing. Just think about it -- you're watching the latest episode of Lost and munching on chips straight from the bag. Before you know it, half the bag is gone and you don't even know how it happened.

Just because you have a green light to eat late at night doesn't mean you can eat mindlessly. Opt for healthier snacks such as cut veggies and hummus and always measure out your snacks so you don't eat more than you intend.

Today I chatted with Donny Osmond. That almost feels silly to say. Not that he's silly, but because he's been a part of my life for about as long as Santa Claus has. Fortunately, I like him even more now than I did a few hours ago. Donny has spent his entire career in the spotlight, and at 51 years of age, he looks just about as great as he ever has.

He's performing in Vegas right now and hosting a new show on ABC called Rediscovered, airing December 22 at 9 PM ET, which sounds pretty fun. Rediscovered gives adults who unsuccessfully auditioned to be a Mouseketeer 20 years ago a second chance at stardom and a $50,000 prize. Donny and Marie were sold on the concept and are enjoying the opportunity to see these "regular people" shine on stage. Read on to learn more about the show, how Donny stays fit, and whether or not he's going to take his shot at Dancing With the Stars!

Fitz: So you're back on prime-time television. What drew you to Rediscovered?

Donny: Marie and I just loved the concept. It's been amazing to see these regular people dragged out of their normal lives and put back on the stage. The show is fun, the audiences have been really receptive and the contestants have proven to be terrific.

Fitz: Since the contestants haven't been performing for a living, are any of them disastrously horrible?

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The holiday season is in full swing, which means that you need to keep a sharp eye out for holiday diet traps.

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Obesity is a risk factor for so many conditions. Subsequently, fat has become almost synonymous with unhealthy. In addition, we live in a society that trains us to believe that thin not only equals healthy, it also equals attractive. Daily Mail has an interesting article where two men -- one who is overweight and one who is thin -- are thoroughly checked out by a doctor to see who is actually healthier.

Surprisingly, the overweight man is healthier on almost every count. His blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, lung function and liver function all fall within healthy ranges. The thin man, however, didn't fare so well. While his lung function is good, both his cholesterol and blood pressure are high. In addition, his liver function and blood sugar are approaching unhealthy ranges.

Weight is not the only difference between these two men -- they lead different lifestyles and those lifestyles have an effect on their health. The overweight man exercises regularly, eats healthfully and doesn't drink. The thinner man doesn't exercise, pays little attention to what he eats, smokes and drinks quite a bit.

Weight is an important measure of health and we should all strive to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. But, while this article is far from a scientific study, it does show that a healthy lifestyle -- including good nutrition and lots of exercise -- has a bigger impact on our health than anything else.

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