Going back to the basics in terms of eating habits sums up the book, From The High School Reunion Diet: Lose 20 Years in 30 Days, written by the renowned dermatologist and internist, Dr. David Colbert and his co-author, Terry Reed, a writer of screenplays, novels and a nutrition book.

The book claims that through its effective youth restoration strategy, persons cannot only lose weight but become healthier and young looking once again in just a matter of 30 days. Looking great and feeling wonderful about oneself prior to an event like a high school reunion is made possible by this diet program. It clarifies, however, that it is actually an outline on how to have a lifestyle shift to health rather than a diet per se.

This weight-loss plan explains how the food that is consumed shapes up health, weight and looks. And it champions locally whole or naturally grown food from production, harvesting to packaging, marketing and cooking that is free from chemicals, salt, sugar and preservatives as an antidote to obesity, aging and ailments. It identifies a list of the foods which are permissible under this program to bring back youthfulness, shapeliness and fitness in one's life.

The list of genuine foods includes green leafy vegetables; fruits which are limited to berries, apple, orange and grapefruit; nuts; lean meat; healthy fats; fish rich in Omega 3 like salmon and tuna; white eggs; and herbs and spices. As usual, lots of water is to be drunk. Tea and coffee are allowed in the diet. Nevertheless, it gives a leeway by authorizing least processed food such as steel-cut oats, tuna filled with water, and canned beans. It recognizes the value of supplements such as multivitamin with minerals, fish oil capsule, vitamins E and C, anti-oxidants and Omega 3s.

The first phase of the program, which is good for 2 weeks, is considered as level 1 consisting of 3 meals and 2 snacks. To illustrate, breakfast consists of egg white omelette and coffee; morning snack includes half cup plain yogurt, half teaspoon agave and half cup blueberries; lunch makes up of salad with goat cheese, walnuts, cherry tomatoes and vinaigrette; afternoon snacks comprises of celery sticks spread over with peanut butter or cottage cheese; and dinner contains salmon, roasted broccoli, green salad and sparkling water. This phase reduces weight from 5-10 pounds. The next phase follows, about 2 weeks or longer, which covers more fruits and whole grains are to be eaten, accompanied by wine drinking. It is said that this stage is almost the same with the U.S. government's food pyramid.

As can be observed remarkably, calories and exercise are not a component of this program. It emphasizes instead on the significance of transforming behaviour towards foods by having a complete 3 meals a day and 2 snacks, eating only those prescribed foods in their fresh or natural state, a diet that leans on more vegetables and fruits, remaining faithful on what is to be eaten, and using heaps of spices to get a variety of dishes as well as being a great source of anti-oxidants.

Based on the consensus of the scientific community, the book actually promotes a healthy lifestyle which when complied with, truly reduces weight problems that makes a person younger looking and trim as it gives more confidence and feeling of goodness within that radiates outside. But then, it falls short on the common measurement of a healthy lifestyle as it does not include, although it encourages to engage in, regular exercise, and to have adequate rest in its plan. There is a growing criticism in its hard stance on processed food and sugar because of lack of strong evidence that these provide toxins in the body facilitating and contributing much to aging. For some people, simply giving up totally on their sugar, salt and processed food intake is not as realistic as it is being promoted for it just cannot apply to them.

Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that this book gives an alternative way to the people to have different route of looking and feeling great. It is up to them to find out if the High School Reunion Diet works suitably to their taste or liking.