“I cut out diet soda from my life over ten years ago. I came to the conclusion that I didn't need a dose of artificial ingredients on a daily basis, and I would be much better off drinking water and plant-based beverages, such as home-brewed iced tea, hot tea (herbal and regular) and coffee during the day. I don't believe there’s enough science today to indicate that the diet beverages are harmful, but I also don’t think there is any true benefit to including them. A few years ago I tried a diet soda on a plane — after not tasting one for several years — and I found that it tasted absolutely awful. So, I guess I haven’t been missing much!”

-Sharon Palmer, RDN, author of Plant-Powered for Life

“Would you give up a high-end product for a ‘wannabe’ product? It sounds healthier because it’s ‘plant-based,’ but this alternative to the real thing will make you run for the hills. Coconut ice cream's texture is inferior, it usually has lower protein content and the hype for using coconut oil is overrated. The worst part of this ice cream alternative is with EVERY bite you taste coconut. I love coconut, but not with every bite with my chocolate, strawberries, blueberries and other flavors. With coconut ice cream and regular ice cream having a similar caloric make-up, you must ask yourself ... do I cry in a bowl of bad tasting wannabe ice cream or relish in a good tasting high-end cow’s milk-based ice cream? The answer is clear, regular ice cream.”

-Jonathan Valdez, MBA, RDN, CDN, CSG, CCM, ACE-CPT Owner of Genki Nutrition and Media Spokesperson for New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“I won’t eat raw oysters on the half shell ... I don’t trust them to be safe. Plus, they are slimy and I don’t get to chew them, just swallow them. That’s no fun."

-Nancy Clark, M.S., R.D., Boston-area sports nutritionist and author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook

“You’ll never catch me eating a carnival corn dog — so creepy. I know wayyy too much about what’s lurking inside of fatty, processed hot dog meat: corn syrup, nitrates, fillers, fat and more fat. In fact, there’s very little protein. Place it on a wooden stick, cover it in refined cornmeal batter and fry it up in a vat of oil? No thanks!”

-Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., founder of Nourish Snacks and nutrition/health expert for NBC’s Today Show