Just be sure to specify that Induction is NOT the whole Atkins diet. Dr. Atkins used to make that statement over and over again, but what do most media reports say? Right, just meat, cheese, bacon and fat - all you want. Highly inaccurate.

The whole diet includes TWO WEEKS of Induction, weeks or months of increasing carb intake - but HIGHLY specific carbs - on On-Going Weight Loss, through Pre-Maintenance and then Maintenance FOR LIFE.

In the end, the Atkins Diet leads us to a way of daily eating that does not included many processed foods, few sugars other than fruit, and only some starches. If we eat this way on most days, then the occasional diversions for Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and other special occasions are not our way of eating and do little damage. This is one of the reasons for NOT staying on Induction for a long time: you have nothing to "go back to" after some carby eating has made you gain a couple of pounds.

So YES, if followed through all four phases, I believe Atkins IS the healthiest way of eating.