Love them or not, you can't argue that Jon and Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Plus 8 have captured the nation's attention. Not only are they parents of two sets of multiples -- twins Mady and Cara, plus sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Leah, Aaden, Collin, and Joel -- but they also manage to feed their kids a steady diet of nutritious, organic, homemade foods. That's no easy task.

Kate recently shared some of her tips with LilSugar, including her philosophy that, if you feed it (and don't offer any other options), eventually they will eat it. Aside from that, though, Kate has also teamed up with the Grains Foods Foundation to encourage people, but especially families, to return to the time-honored habit of brown-bagging it. "We've been brown-bagging for years," said Kate, "And I'm working with the Grains Foods Foundation to show other families how packing lunches can be an easy and fun way to save money and eat healthy."

With kids back in school, this is timely advice. At our school, the menu consists mainly of pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken nuggets -- all for $2.00 a pop. When I pack my daughter's lunch, she eats things like sandwiches on whole wheat, fruit, raw veggies, hummus, and leftovers like salmon and spaghetti. That's a lot better variety at a significantly lower cost. And brown-bagging isn't only for kids. Adults can avoid fast food temptation at lunch time by packing themselves a nutritious lunch at home in the morning, and families can save money by packing a cooler when on the road.

The only thing I disagree with is Kate's statement that when she feeds her kids snacks, it's usually a grain. Grains are good, especially when they're whole grains, but kids need plenty of fruits and veggies and high-quality protein sources too. I'd pick apples and peanut butter over pretzels any day.

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I've often wondered how stars of cooking shows stay slim. Well, how many of them stay slim, anyway -- Emeril not included. Most don't exactly cook the most low-cal meals, and I can't imaging that, after doing all the cooking, they don't indulge. But, if I indulged in those dishes every day, well ... let's just say I probably wouldn't be too qualified to write for this site!

As the host for Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi does just what I think most of us would do -- she puts on a few pounds. "I shoot for six weeks and gain 10 to 15 pounds. I spend the next month trying to get my health back."

Lakshmi knows just what to do to make that happen -- she lifts weights, walks a steep incline, takes spin classes and boxes three times a week. Still, this yo-yo dieting can't be good for her health, and I can't imagine the cycle is all that great on her emotional state, either. Who wants to have to drop 10 pounds or more every two or three months?

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The gals on The View told yesterday that all this election stuff is making them eat. Watching the news, the debates, all the political commentary swirling around in the air -- it's making them nervous, anxious, downright hungry.

Sherri Shepherd says she was shoveling down Ruffles potato chips the other night while watching election television. Elisabeth Hasselbeck reports she's been eating mindlessly. And Joy Behar is eating her anxiety away. While these women are surely revved up politically -- have you seen their on-air disputes? Poor Hasselback, not one co-host agrees with the girl's conservative perspectives -- yet hearing their take on election-inspired eating was news to me. It makes sense -- I mean, watching TV is a known to promote snacking -- but I don't find myself eating all that much more.

Tell us: Are you eating your way through this election season? Do you fear politics will make you fat? If so, try cutting down on calories with these gallery snacks.

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Here's a small diet tip from none other than mega popstar Beyonce: Skip the drive-thrus. The sensational singer was recently quoted as saying, "I love all the greasy stuff even though I know it's not good for me. I have to be very careful for months on end about what I eat. And then suddenly I will have a moment of weakness and have junk food. I just try and whiz straight past the drive-thrus now because it can be so dangerous."

Maybe too many visits to the drive-thru is the reason she resorted to the lemon juice diet a while ago? Regardless, this is good advice -- drive-thrus are way too convenient and way too unhealthy. Keeping your fast food indulgences to a minimum is an effective, easy and inexpensive way to keep the numbers on the scale down.

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Lisa Rinna obviously looks good. Shoot, her body looks phenomenal, regardless of how you feel about her plump lips or predilection for leopard print. And, while she certainly keeps that in mind as she plans her workouts, a hot body isn't necessarily her main goal -- rather, exercise helps her stay positive.

"That's why I work out so hard," says the hot mama, adding, "Because if you don't feel good about your body, you don't feel good about anything. I do whatever it takes so that I feel good -- not just how I look, but how I feel inside."

The way we look and the way we feel are often intertwined, at least in my experience. And if I had a body like Lisa Rinna, I think I'd be pretty darn happy! How about you?

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How to live healthfully is no mystery for CSI: Crime Scenes Investigation star Marg Helgenberger. Nope, the 49-year-old actress knows exactly what it takes to keep in fighting shape.

Helgenberger meditates every morning, does yoga twice a week, reads for relaxation, and eats lots of yogurt, fresh berries, fresh papaya, sliced turkey, salad, and cheeses. A typical Helgenberger menu goes like this: Smoothie made with yogurt, rice milk, and fresh fruit, followed by a lunch featuring tuna or turkey sandwich or a salad topped with protein, and then fish or chicken with veggies and salad for dinner.

Guilty pleasures? Yep, she's got some. She loves chocolate chip cookies, Girl Scout thin mint cookies, fried chicken with macaroni and cheese, and a good steak now and then. It's all about moderation and balance for this woman who has a very sensible approach to aging: "I certainly want to look the best I possibly can," she says. "But I keep coming back to this theory that you have to work with what you've got and grow older gracefully."

What are your guilty pleasures? More important, though -- what are your secrets for keeping fit for the long haul?

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Dancing is definitely one hot exercise trend. Just check out the following Dancing with the Stars celebrities who get to tango, twist, and transform their bodies this season.


Actress Sienna Miller won't be parading around on stage with this crew but dancing is what she says keeps her petite frame long and lean. High-energy dance workouts at Studio Soma in West Hollywood keep her on the move. She especially likes the Cardio Boogie class -- a session designed for non-dancers, with a mix of hip-hop, disco, belly dancing and more. It's all prep for an upcoming movie role.

You might not be headed for the TV dance stage or a movie role, but dancing could be just the thing you need to tighten, firm, and shape from head to toe.

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