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Trying to lose weight in a hurry? Most of us will cut out carbs like pasta, sugar and potatoes, but recent reports warn you should not be so hasty -- while the pasta and sugar can probably go, potatoes are actually a powerful weight loss tool.

Here's the thing: Most people assume potatoes will make them fat because they're typically regarded as having a high glycemic index. But according to a study by the British Journal of Nutrition, this is technically not true -- the GI of a potato depends on the type and how it's cooked. Plus, experts are quick to point out that potatoes aren't in the same carbohydrate league as sugary sweets and refined flour -- eating them will help you stay full longer than you would eating simple carbs like sugar.

Still not convinced that potatoes are for you? Here are some spud stats to keep in mind:

• Juice. Dilute it with water or add a few ice cubes (each cube generally holds an ounce) into flavored seltzer for a low-sugar treat. If you must serve juice, make it OJ -- at least you'll be boosting your little ones' folate, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A and E. And serve no more than four to six ounces of juice per day. Too much sugar and calories, so don't go overboard. There isn't anything your kiddos need in juice that they can't get from whole fruit.
• Pizza. Order pizza "easy on the cheese" and pick thin crust instead of thick (it will slash about 80 calories). Top slices with veggies, chicken or ham (better than pepperoni or sausage) and pass on extras, like stuffed crusts and breadsticks.
• Mac and Cheese. For boxed brands, use skim milk and reduce the margarine from four tablespoons to one (this will save 100 calories and 10 grams of fat per cup). When making your own, whip up a sauce of skim milk, margarine and flour and melt in shredded cheese. Boil whole wheat noodles for six grams of fiber per cup. Stir in broccoli bits and diced carrots.

For the skinny on bettering ice cream, cookies, chicken nuggets and French fries, take a stroll over here.

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Oh, how I once loved fries. I guess I still love them. I just don't eat them.

Fries are one food I gave up cold turkey when revamping my diet more than one year ago. Away they went with sweets, soda, alcohol, and red meat. Ditching these items worked well for me. I'm an all-or-nothing girl, you see. There's no in between. I can't just eat a few fries and be happy -- I have to eat and eat and eat. Bidding a fond farewell to my bad-habit foods was a good choice for me. For you? Maybe you don't need to be so extreme.

The folks at Prevention magazine say even guilty pleasures can be healthful. And according to one Gallup poll, half of American moms think French fries can be part of a well-balanced diet. Potatoes eaten with skin are packed with vitamin C, after all. They are also a great source of potassium and fiber. The key to eating them with good health in mind, though: You must buy them right and cook them right (hint: avoid the deep fryer). Here's what the Prevention people would do.

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When you're grabbing a meal on the run, most of us know better than to order our meal with fries. Why? They're loaded with fat and sodium, and will make a big caloric dent in our daily intake.

But when a sandwich isn't enough, what can we get to go with our fast food entree? Most places now offer sides of stuff like salad, fruit or other healthy fare. And at Wendy's, you can even enjoy potatoes without having to order them deep-fried and covered in salt -- you can order a baked potato on the side.

But are baked potatoes a healthier option than fries? One would think so, based on the fact that they're cooked in the oven instead of the deep fryer. But what baked potatoes lack in deep-fried goodness, they make up for with add-ons like sour cream, bacon bits, butter and cheese. Still, how bad can it be? You tell me.

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Let's face it. French fries are America's favourite side dish. And they continue to be widely popular despite soaring obesity rates -- few people order a side salad instead of fries. Perhaps it's that people believe they're not too high in calories. Perhaps it's that people think that potatoes count as a vegetable, even if they're deep fried. But whatever it is, they're not going out of style any time soon.

I for one never order fries -- I always go for the side salad. But I'm one of the few in my social circle. So I decided to look into the nutritional info on fries. Are they relatively low-cal compared to the burgers and pizza out there, or are they a diet disaster? What do you think?

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Hamburgers and french fries are a staple of the American landscape. The combination tastes good and can be found virtually anywhere in the country, from home kitchens to restaurants to street carts.

But with that food love comes a plethora of calories, fat and other nastiness that may taste good, but isn't really all that good for you. Many nutrition-conscious hamburger fans have turned to non-meat alternatives (which taste pretty good once you get past the mental block), but what about french fried potatoes?

Ever thought of cooking those thinly sliced potatoes in the oven instead of in the deep fryer? Try this: coat a little aluminum foil with some olive oil, line up those potato sticks doused with garlic powder and paprika (for color) and there you have it -- great tasting french fries that are baked without trans fat oils and without all that soaked-in deep fried oil taste. They'll taste more like potatoes than oil and are healthy as well.

[Thanks, P. Smith]

Are you a picky eater? I would say no because I'm always willing to try new dishes, but I try to avoid cauliflower, onions and mayonaise whenever I can -- they're the quirky foods that I dislike, and I think everyone has one or two of these. But I know some really picky people -- one of my friends will only order chicken fingers and fries at a restaurant.

Anthropologist Jane Kauer took an extensive look at picky eaters these days, and based on her findings, one third of people are unusually picky, few are extremely, and the rest of the population is only mildly picky. But there are a few things that almost every person likes. Want to know what they are?

• Fried chicken
• French fries
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

So, to sum up, the only really widely accepted foods are junk foods. It's unfortunate that no veggies or fruits made the list. I for one avoid the above items almost all the time -- what about you?

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Few can deny that Eva Mendes is incredibly gorgeous and many would give their left arm to look like her. And unfortunately, she's one of those people, those stunning celebrities with perfect bodies who annoyingly insist that they eat junk food all the time -- and it's all down to good genes that keep them from getting fat. Here's what Eva has to say about her favourite indulgence:


Mmmmm, tacos and french fries and milkshakes. Sounds delicious ... and deadly to us normal people. Whether you believe that she actually eats that or not, it's frustrating for those of us who just have to look at a piece of cake to gain weight. But it must be nice to be her, right?

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Fitsugar asked the following question in a recent poll: What can't you give up when dieting? The choices are: Ice Cream, Chocolate, Pizza, French Fries, Soda, Donuts or Other. Me? I wanted to pick 3, Ice cream, chocolate and pizza to be exact. But that's not an option -- you can only pick one. Maybe I should just pick one to indulge in and eliminate the rest until the extra 15 lbs I've been carrying comes off? Is that the solution I've been waiting for?

This poll made me think -- most people who are overweight say they're willing to do anything to lose weight. Oh, except give up this. And that. And there's no way that they can work out that much with their crazy schedule. I have a friend who has been trying to shed weight unsuccessfully for years and she's desperate, but she steadfastly refuses to give up french fries. And chicken nuggets. And Chinese food. And slurpees. Losing weight shouldn't be about deprivation, but it also should involve some sort of healthy change, and if we're unwilling to give up at least some of our bad habits, we're never going to lose weight. And what are we holding on to anyway? It's just food -- surely our health is more important?

What will you give up? What will you hold on to no matter what?

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Anyone who has the slightest interest in keeping themselves healthy knows that -- even if you enjoy the occasional Big Mac -- McDonald's food is awful for you. But just how bad is it?

In the above video, Morgan Spurlock, creator of the famous documentary, Supersize Me (in which he ate McDonald's three meals a day, every day for a month), demonstrates that Big Macs and French Fries don't decompose. It makes me wonder, is it really food?

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I'll admit it; I used to love McDonald's. I don't eat there anymore, but I still have fond memories of their cheeseburgers. mmmm. The days of fast-food meals may be over for me, but that doesn't mean I have to live without cheeseburgers. Read this article on fast food favorites. It has tips on re-creating your favorite quickie meal at home, and it even has a long list of recipes. For instance, to re-create fried chicken, it recommends coating skinless chicken in low-fat buttermilk with seasoned bread crumbs, then baking it. I can attest to this -- I have done it many time and it is great. Also on the list: French fries, pizza, biscuits and many more yummy concoctions.

What are your tricks for making fast-food favorites at home?

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My friend told me that french fries were her favorite vegetable. I thought she was joking; She wasn't. I asked her if she knew that they were really bad for her. She said she did, but that they were made of potatoes so there must be something good in them, and that made eating them okay. If you guessed that she struggles with losing weight, you'd be right.

I was reminded of this conversation when I came across this short article on America's favorite side dish. French fries are typically fried in trans fats, and I believe that you can eat all the broccoli and brussel sprouts you want, but that's not going to change the fact that trans fats are terrible for your body and nothing you can do makes them okay for consumption.

My friend hasn't taken the anti-french fry information to heart. Will you?

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