I suppose it would also hinge on your idea of what "real food" is. What I love about Atkins is that its focus brings you to REAL (ie., WHOLE) foods. Not processed wheat bread that has numerous additives and non-real foods. I'd rather make a "fake bread" that consists of real, whole foods, or a flax muffin, than eat something that is full of chemicals or triggers cravings - or does me harm (frankly, anything that Monsanto owns or endorses )