We all know that there are certain foods you should stay away from when dieting. The list usually goes something like this: All of your favorites. Okay, that's a little extreme, but there are foods that don't necessarily scream weight loss that are actually not so bad for you. For example, the three P's (pizza, potatoes and pasta) are usually the first to go on our list, but according to AOL Health, keeping them in your meal rotation won't destroy your diet.

Here's why: By ordering only half the cheese on a thin-crust pizza and piling on fiber-rich greens, such as broccoli and spinach, you can create a healthy dinner that isn't kryptonite to your diet. A medium-sized potato has 161 calories and no fat. It's packed with vitamins, minerals and has a high-fiber content to keep you satiated. One cup of spaghetti has 221 calories, which really isn't so bad. Toss in your favorite steamed vegetables, and you've got a perfect, nutrient-dense meal that won't sabotage your waistline.

Are you guilty of falling for a diet fad? Check out some of these crazy diets through the decades.

When I go to an Italian restaurant, I often pass on most people's favorite pasta dishes and opt for a piece of fish or grilled chicken and veggies. I know that Fettuccine Alfredo can be up to 800 calories! Although it is delicious, the calories, saturated fat and carbs are through the roof. In addition, there is barely any fiber in the dish. Rather than give into temptation, I make my own low-fat, low-carb Fettuccine Alfredo that is sure to satisfy even the biggest pasta lover.

I replace the pasta with Shirataki noodles, which have only 20 calories per serving (pasta is 120)! Instead of cream, butter and full-fat cheese, I use laughing cow light spreadable cheese, low-fat ricotta and Parmesan to add extra flavor and protein. In order to add fiber to the dish, I throw in some spinach, onion and mushrooms. Spinach is high in calcium, which helps prevent osteoporosis.

Try my delicious, guilt-free Fettuccine Alfredo that is low in calories and fat, but full of flavor.

We've mentioned a time or two that, often, the foods that seem to give you the most bang for your buck also give your waistline an extra bulge. Not only are lots of junk foods cheap, but when people are stressed, they don't generally turn to fruits and veggies. Nope, they want warm, gooey desserts, soft bread and carbs, carbs, carbs.

Domino's knows this, and they're catering to that demand with a new dish -- Bread Bowl Pasta. Starting at just $5.99, you can choose Pasta Primavera, Chicken Carbonara, Chicken Alfredo, Italian Sausage Marinara or Three-Cheese Mac n' Cheese served in a big, edible bowl of bread. Or, of course, you can build your own and add up to three meat or veggie toppings (including bacon, salami and Philly steak). If you feel like lightening things up a bit, you can order the pasta without the bread (and knock a dollar off the price in the process).

I'm not going to lie -- when I first saw these, I thought they looked like a heart attack on a plate (wait, do you eat bread bowls on plates?). I was sure the calorie count had to be around 1,500 -- I mean, it's creamy, cheesy, meaty pasta, surrounded by a bunch of bread! But, I was totally wrong.

Edit: Domino's later provided us an additional nutrition chart that verified my initial assumption -- these ARE as bad as you think. Find out more here.

Source

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

Eric Stoltz has one of those careers any actor would kill for. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Mask, Pulp Fiction ... the list goes on and on. He's currently on a tear, directing all sorts of hit primetime shows too, but this week we sat down to chat about his guest role on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. My opinion: Eric is really smart, relaxed and funny. He also happens to know the secret to losing weight -- you might be surprised by how simple it actually is!

Fitz: You're playing a serial killer on Death Row for a couple of weeks on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Any similarities between you and your character?

Eric: Fortunately, no. But it did get me interested in reading and learning more about serial killers. Although repellent, they're often very brilliant, bold and fearless people. Evil characters like that offer me a great opportunity to be creative.

Fitz: Does that mean you're really a super nice guy?

Source

Actor Eric Stoltz and I just had one of the most interesting and funniest conversations I've had in a long time. He's presently guest starring on ABC's hit show Grey's Anatomy as a Death Row serial killer. Charming. While interviewing my guests for Celebrity Fitzness Report, we always talk fitness, but we also talk about the projects each celebrity is working on at the moment.

So first Eric and I talk fitness. Eric is a guy who works out not because he's desperate to get big, he just really wants to be healthy and fit. He makes a habit of doing cardio and strength training on alternating days. Great! He's also a vegetarian who loves a healthy meal of pasta with eggplant and mushrooms.

Now to the serial killer/last meal part. I asked Eric what his favorite not-so-healthy food is, and he told me he loves pizza. So, going back to his role on Grey's Anatomy, I asked him if pizza is what he'd choose for his last meal.

Considered one of Hollywood's scary skinny elite, Victoria Beckham doesn't seem to have any trouble keeping the pounds off. Is it because she avoids carbs? The fashionista did admit that she doesn't eat Italy's national dish -- which is unfortunate seeing as she's moving to Milan this year.

Nope, that's not it at all -- she physically can't eat it, according to FemaleFirst.co.uk. "It's not that I avoid carbs, I'm allergic to pasta. It's like my kryptonite. I feel like I can't digest it properly and it makes me feel ill," she says.

Pasta is my kryptonite too. I have this unfortunate condition in which I eat tons of it because I love it, and then my hips get wider and I can't fit into my jeans. Oh, wait. That's not really an allergy I guess.

What's your kryptonite?

Source

You can have your pasta and eat it too. Potatoes and rice included. Not only will these items not weigh you down, they might help you shed a few pounds.

New evidence, cited in Woman's Day magazine (December 2, 2008), suggests that when you cook and cool starchy goods like pasta, potatoes and rice, a substance called resistant starch forms. Also found in bananas, lentils, beans, and whole grains, your body can't digest the stuff. It acts like fiber, you see, so eating it helps you feel full. It also helps your body burn stored fat before turning it to carbohydrates for fuel.

Get your fill -- vegetarian chili, bean salads and cold potato, pasta and rice salads are all good picks.

Source

Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis knows her way around a kitchen -- especially when she's cooking up one of her tempting Italian dishes. But how does she stay as slim as she is when she's eating pasta and other not-so-light foods?

De Laurentiis says: "Food is not the enemy." In fact, she readily admits that she's addicted to chocolate and doesn't think she could give it up. De Laurentiis swears by portion control and says, "It's not food; it's how much you eat." De Laurentiis enjoys pastas and other heavier foods in small portions and makes sure she eats more greens than carbs.

De Laurentiis also believes in enjoying food. She says good quality ingredients enhance your enjoyment, and she recommends buying ingredients that are in season for maximum flavor.

Source

Make the most of your pasta -- here's a quick tip on how to up the nutritional value of your favourite noodles:

Source

Love the rich, flavourful, fresh cuisine of Greece and Italy? Eat up! Not only is the Mediterranean diet effective and recommended by medical professionals, but a recent study shows that it protects against all major chronic diseases, according to this article from the Daily Mail.

That's a pretty bold claim, but it seems to be legit. Researchers in the UK analyzed data from 12 different studies worldwide that took place over time periods of up to 18 years and found that those who followed a Mediterranean diet closely had a significantly longer lifespan and a lower risk of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and heart disease.

The Mediterranean diet is high in nuts, fish, whole grains, healthy fats, fresh fruits and veggies and even red wine in moderation. To find out how you can incorporate it into your diet, click here.

Source

Steamed zucchini and summer squash coins is probably my very favorite side dish. I also enjoy dicing zucchini and adding it to marinara sauce for whole-wheat spaghetti. So I'm sure I would love this healthy alternative to pasta.

Using a vegetable peeler, you'll slice zucchini into long, thin strips. Cook the strips in a bit of olive oil, adding a small amount of salt and pepper to taste. You can enjoy the zucchini as is, or top it with marinara sauce and some grated Parmesan for a pasta-like treat. Filling enough for a main course, this is a recipe that packs a lot of flavor and nutrition while being very low in calories.

Want some more ideas for zucchini recipes? Debra has the scoop on 10 tasty recipes.

Source

Yes, I've heard: white carbs are out, so you can't eat pasta. Well, that's not necessarily true. There are lots of good whole grain pasta options: whole wheat, quinoa, brown rice.

Our fave? Brown rice, as the taste and texture most resemble semolina pasta, especially if you use Trader Joe's brand or Tinkyada. So cook some up and toss with this wonderful recipe of curry sauce, spinach and scallops.

We always use whole fat organic yogurt, so we substituted that for the low fat, and I simply opened up a can of organic diced tomatoes instead of the fresh ones -- how's that for lazy? But healthy, nonetheless!

Source

Beans are good for us. Martha's post about beans, the magical fruit tells us this, and the high-fiber protein powerhouse can make even the staunchest carnivores feel satisfied after a vegetarian meal that includes beans.

But did you know that eating vegetarian will actually save you money? That's a big consideration right now, with the penny-pinching hitting nearly everyone in some way.

Start with this well-rounded recipe from Epicurious, Pappardelle with Bean Bolognese Sauce, and convert your meat-lovers! With three kinds of beans, tomatoes, butternut squash, and fresh rosemary, you won't be lacking for flavor.

Source

One recent story that's been populating my google reader several times over is the recent comparison of diets. In short, low-carb diets were found to be the most successful, followed by the Mediterranean diet, with low-fat diets in last place.

But don't be so quick to trash all your bread and pasta. Low-carb diets aren't all their cracked up to be. I'm Not Obsessed recently revealed one very big problem with low-carb plans: Not enough fiber, leading to digestive issues, particularly constipation. As someone with IBS (read: regular digestive issues) I would stay away from this kind of diet, and I'm not expert but maybe you should too.

The key, if you ask me, is balance. Low-carb diets can help you slim down, but don't take it to an extreme. Make sure you're still getting a bit of healthy, whole grain fiber in your diet. You know, to keep things moving.

Source

Each week, we'll be naming a Super Food and offering unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Growing up, my mother always told me whole wheat bread was better than white bread. She could never explain exactly why--it was just one of those things that was. And now, the benefits of whole grains aren't just touted by mothers. Doctors, researchers, nutritionists -- everyone who has a say in the world of healthy living is speaking out about how important whole grains are to your diet.

Source