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Are you ready to fight the battle of the bulge? Arm yourself with these eight new research-backed diet solutions. One new find: Swapping dairy and the occasional steak for plant-based proteins like tofu can lead to weight loss and a lower "LDL" cholesterol (the bad kind). Learn more about this "Eco Atkins Diet" approach, plus seven other slim-down tools.

Kelley Coffman-Lee is a vegan, and she wants to world to know it. She's so proud of her healthy lifestyle, in fact, she recently ordered a vanity license plate professing her love for tofu.

The Colorado Department of Revenue turned it down. Why? Coffman-Lee requested the plate read, "ILVTOFU," a simple statement about her adoration of her favorite soy-based snack. Colorado authorities worried that other drivers might not get the vegetarian message. "We don't allow 'FU' because some people could read that as street language for sex," says Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch.

For her part, Coffman-Lee seems a little confused about why her local DMV would have something against tofu. "Tofu is a word, I haven't said anything bad. I think it's crazy they denied it," she tells KMGH-TV, Denver. "It's not a dirty, evil food. It's very wholesome."

We agree, Kelley, tofu is very wholesome. But then again, tofu really isn't the problem here.

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Wellness Chef Laurie Erickson demonstrates how to make both healthy and delicious fish tacos. You can use her recipe with tofu or chicken as well!

For more great cooking tips, fun fit tips, and innovative training videos visit SportsHealthExericse.org.

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Soy is slowly starting to get the attention it deserves in North America, and it's about time. Soy products have long been a staple in Eastern cultures.

Soy-based foods are beneficial to health as they've been linked to lowered cholesterol levels. In addition to their inherent benefits, soy products can also replace other foods -- such as meat and dairy -- which can contribute to higher cholesterol. Soy products can also promote bone health and have been linked to a lowered risk of certain cancers.

Are you still not sure if soy is for you? Healthcastle has 10 painless ways to incorporate more soy in your diet. Check out the gallery for some suggestions.

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Many vegetarians champion tofu for its meatless protein and versatility. They also eat quite a lot of it, and some sources are saying -- and have been saying for a while actually -- that no good can come of this.

Basically, because tofu is an unfermented soy product, there are chemicals left in the soy that are not only indigestible, but also rob your body of other nutrients. Phytates block mineral absorption and trypsin inhibitors block protein digestion.

In this video interview, Dr. Kaayla Daniel says she isn't so much worried about the people who eat a couple of chunks of tofu in miso soup and the like, but more the vegetarians who eat slabs of tofu daily as their main source of protein. She also says that eating tofu is still safer than ingesting soy protein isolate or hydrolyzed soy protein, ingredients found in many processed foods like veggie burgers.

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Who says you can't eat healthfully and still have a burger? Burgers are standard Memorial Day fare -- and treats throughout the summer. But, with some tasteful substitutions, you can have your burger and eat it too. Shape Magazine has a list of their five top burgers:

• Barbecued Tofu-Potato burgers have 351 calories and 6.6 grams of fat.
  
• Curried Pork Burgers with Mango Chutney have 364 calories and 6.9 grams of fat.
• Grilled Portobello burgers have 394 calories and 12.9 grams of fat.
• Spicy Wasabi Salmon burgers have 209 calories and 8 grams of fat.
• Tuna Burgers with Horseradish Mayo have 294 calories and 4.9 grams of fat.

You can also try modifying the traditional burger by using ground turkey instead of beef, opting for whole-grain buns, trying a veggie burger, loading up on veggies, and choosing healthy condiments.

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I recently wrote about how much protein we need to get each day to eat a nutritious diet. And while getting our protein fix isn't difficult for those of us who eat some sort of meat with most of our meals, it's a bit harder for someone who doesn't eat meat -- or dairy either. Vegan protein sounds like an oxymoron to some people, but it's really not. Fitsugar recently compiled a list of the top 5 vegan proteins:

• Tempeh: (like tofu but different -- read more here). There's 22 g of protein in 4 oz of tempeh.
  
• Tofu: It has 19.9 g of protein per 1/2 cup.
  
• Seitan: (a form of wheat gluten.) There's 19.9 g of protein for each 3oz.
  
• Soy Milk: (the plain variety). It has 11 g of protein for each cup.
  
• Edamame: Eat half a cup and you'll get 10 g of protein.
  
  

Any vegans out there want to share their main sources of protein?

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Soy products are a great way to incorporate lean protein into your diet, and you don't have to be vegetarian to appreciate the benefits. However, while many people are familiar with tofu, I get a lot of puzzled looks when I mention tempeh. While both are made from soybeans, they're as different as salmon and steak.

This chart breaks down the differences between tempeh and tofu, and basically it makes the conclusion that tempeh is less processed than tofu, contains more protein and fiber, and therefore is somewhat better for you. And, to be honest, I actually prefer the taste and texture of tempeh to tofu. However, if you're used to cooking with tofu, you can't just substitute tempeh instead.

Click through the gallery for some recipes including tempeh. If you have a favorite recipe of your own, be sure to leave a comment!

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When I went on a three-month trek around Thailand a few years ago, I assumed I would lose weight effortlessly because I wouldn't be filling up on my regular diet of carbs and convenience food. I'm not alone -- when it comes to food, we tend to assume that Asian cuisine is healthier than North American fare. After all, while our food tends to be high in fat, refined carbs and sugar and other processed ingredients, Asian food tends to be low in fat and high in veggies.

But how accurate are our assumptions about Asian cuisine? I'll tell you one thing -- I didn't lose weight on a diet of green curry with rice, pad thai and tom kha gai soup. In fact, I gained a couple. So I wonder ...

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Tofu sounds disgusting to many of you -- after all, do soybean curds sound scrumptious and tempting? To the majority of people used to standard western food cuisine, that answer is a standard no.

But, tofu should not be counted out just on looks, consistency and the name alone. There are ways to really make tofu tasty (in salads especially), and nothing like adding healthy spices and peppers in a kind of mixed bag of healthy foods can dress up tofu as well.

This recipe is one I'll be making after the new year, as it is a virtual feast of healthy foods with a rich Moroccan underpinning that sounds delicious. If you try it, sound off in comments below and let us know if you like it!

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When most people think of health foods, they often think of soy-based products like soy milk and tofu. But is soy really healthy? Did anybody check the facts before labelling soy as healthy? Dr. Mercola did and he has some pretty strong things to say about soy. Check out his thoughts on soy by clicking here and here.

Dr. Mercola wants everyone who thinks soy is healthy to check out The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food by Dr. Kaayla Daniel. In it, she reveals some startling things about soy. Like? It apparently impedes sexual maturation in boys and speeds it up in girls. It also supposedly can cause thyroid problems and endocrine disruption in adults. And if it's given to infants, it's hormonal effects can be irreversible.

Hm. These are some pretty strong allegations. What do you think?

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While I'm not a vegetarian, I don't eat much meat either so I'm always on the hunt for yummy veggie recipes that use healthy protein alternatives like tofu and Quinoa. I suspect there are other people like me out there, so I decided I had to share this yummy recipe that I found through SELF Magazine: Spicy Asian Eggplant with Tofu and Red Pepper. Check it out! I had it for dinner tonight.

I'm a habitual recipe-modifier, so of course I made some changes, name adding more vegetables -- including zucchini and green onions. And all the produce I used was picked up this past weekend at my local farmers market, so it was all really fresh. And I served it with a side of Quinoa.

What's your favourite veggie recipe?

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A tofu-producing company in San Francisco, Quong Hop & Co., has stated that it is recalling quite a few of its tofu products, many of which may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a food-borne disease that can affect kids, the elderly and others with weak immune systems.

At this time, no illnesses have been connected with the tofu products from the company, but the recall stands in place as a cautionary measure regardless.

The recall affects these Quong Hop & Co. products: the 30-ounce Soy Deli nigari tofu, the 12-ounce Soy Deli water packed tofu and the 16-ounce Quong Hop water packed tofu -- all with a date of September 23, 2007. Also, the recall was expanded after first being announced to include the 30-ounce Soy Deli nigari tofu coded Oct, 17, 2007, and the 12-ounce Soy Deli water packed tofu coded Oct. 9, 2007.

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Protein is an important part your diet, but protein can also be the most unhealthy part of your diet, particularly if your main protein sources include bacon double cheeseburgers. Mark's Daily Apple has put together this list of bad and good protein choices:

• Instead of hamburger meat, choose grass-fed beef
• Instead of frozen chicken, choose organic chicken
• Instead of farmed salmon, choose wild salmon
• Instead of fish sticks, choose tuna
• Instead of regular eggs, choose organic DHA-enhanced eggs
• Instead of regular yogurt, choose organic or Greek yogurt
• Instead of tofu, choose Tempeh
• Instead of regular beans, choose high-protein legumes and quinoa
  
• Instead of peanuts and peanut butter, choose almonds and almond butter

What do you think about these choices? I agree with most of them, but I still think that tofu, beans and natural peanut butter can be a good addition to your diet.

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Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard of Tofu, a Japanese soybean curd. It's a low-fat protein alternative, and guess what? It's not just for vegetarians. I for one eat it all the time.

But unless you've been cooking with tofu for a while, you might be at a loss for what to do with it. Here are some suggestions from Glee Magazine:

• Firm tofu is mostly used in stirfrys. I also use it ground beef substitute in recipes like pasta sauce, and when I'm craving fried chicken, I'll sometimes bread it with some spices and fry it. It's delicious!
• Soft tofu is good in soups and in dips
  
• Silken tofu has a custard-like texture and is a great dairy-free dessert alternative
• Baked Tofu is marinated with a variety of flavours and is great in sandwiches.
  

The thing to remember with Tofu is that it's very versatile -- it doesn't have much flavour so it it easily picks up other flavours.

How do you cook your tofu?

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