Remember when diet meant what you eat and not what you avoid eating?

I am a big believer in not dieting.  The modern idea of a diet is restricting one crucial element of the nutrition spectrum, or worse yet, restricting all but one crucial element.  Diet used to mean everything that you consume and while it doesn't have a strong hook like Atkins or South Beach, it does allow for a definition of health that is broader than just losing five pounds.

Everyone in my generation was taught the food pyramid in school.  And while dietitians and food scientists are continuing to revise the system with good reason, the core idea is solid.  In reality, what you put in your body comes down to common sense and moderation.

I came across this clip from an episode of "Good Eats" that really drove this point home.  You have to think about what you eat if you want to eat well, but you can eat and that food can have flavor.  Thank you Alton for one more of your many insights.

In other news, I just learned that "Good Eats" wrapped up its long and glorious run last summer.  I will miss you and I look forward to what comes next.  I now must rely solely on my other food science favorite, America's Test Kitchen.

Remember to eat well and eat right.
Gambe!