A couple of weeks ago, Texan chef Tim Love paid a visit to the 5@5 hot seat to explain why eating meat is rad and being vegetarian, well, isn't.

A firestorm of 1,500 comments later, we knew we had struck a chord and needed to make room for both sides of the story.

Jane Velez-Mitchell is the host of "ISSUES with Jane Velez-Mitchell," airing weeknights at 7 p.m. ET on HLN. As an outspoken vegan and animal rights advocate, she's here for a good old-fashioned omnivore-herbivore throw down - point-counterpoint style.

The bell's about to ring for round two. Let's get ready to rumble.

Five Reasons to Be a Vegetarian: Jane Velez-Mitchell
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The chill of fall is in the air, pour some beer in your glass. Germany's Oktoberfest isn't the only outlet for beer lovers this season.

Brothers and founders of BeerAdvocate, Jason and Todd Alström, urge you to check out five beer festivals across the United States over on CNN TRAVEL.

Editor's note: all week, CNN Newsroom, Rick's List and Eatocracy are teaming up to take a look the effects our dining choices have on our minds, bodies and wallets. Tune into CNN Newsroom daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET for on-air coverage and join in the discussion here on Eatocracy. ALL COVERAGE

Chef Colicchio spoke extensively with Eatocracy on the topic of school lunch reform. Read the FULL INTERVIEW and catch up on our school lunch coverage.

Office politics can be a messy business - especially when it comes to hardworking folks and a packed break room fridge.

CNN.com producer Jo Parker poses today's lunchtime poll question. (And would you stop swiping her soda, please?!?)

Editor's note: all week, CNN Newsroom, Rick's List and Eatocracy are teaming up to take a look the effects our dining choices have on our minds, bodies and wallets. Tune into CNN Newsroom daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET for on-air coverage and join in the discussion here on Eatocracy. ALL COVERAGE

Wondering what the heck HFCS actually IS and how it's made? WE EXPLAIN

Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• An Australian advertisement says giving junk food to a child is like giving them heroin. - mUmBRELLA

• The child nutrition bill, which affects 31 million children, will not be voted on before the House's autumn recess. - Obama Foodorama

• After consumers cried foul, an Oregon restaurant takes endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna off its menu. - Politics of the Plate

• McDonald's might drop its health insurance plan for nearly 30,000 employees. - Wall Street Journal

• Stephen Colbert is the new poster child of food politics. - Marion Nestle

Editor's note: all week, CNN Newsroom, Rick's List and Eatocracy are teaming up to take a look the effects our dining choices have on our minds, bodies and wallets. Tune into CNN Newsroom daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET for on-air coverage and join in the discussion here on Eatocracy. ALL COVERAGE

Wes Little is a CNN Editor/Producer based in Atlanta.

"They're turning over all the land which is what people do with machines, but you know, we do it with pigs," Jared Pickard tells me as a few small black pigs wander out of the woods on Fowler Farms outside Athens, Georgia. They are followed by a few larger red ones. They give me a sniff and move on.
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Editor's note: all week, CNN Newsroom, Rick's List and Eatocracy are teaming up to take a look the effects our dining choices have on our minds, bodies and wallets. Tune into CNN Newsroom daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET for on-air coverage and join in the discussion here on Eatocracy. ALL COVERAGE

Sara Leeder is a producer on The Cafferty File.

“Hi, honey. I’m home. What’s for dinner?”

Ok, maybe I don’t always say “honey,” but most nights when walking through the door at 7:30, I do ask what’s for dinner. My husband and I both work full-time jobs and we both take care of our toddler son, but my husband gets home from work a couple of hours earlier than I do. This means that if we’re going to eat a home-cooked meal, he will be the one slaving over the hot stove. As it turns out my husband is part of a growing group of men who are doing the cooking. Some of them are so into it, they’re called “gastrosexuals.”

When we started dating, I used to joke with my him that I was the only one who ever did any cooking. Well, not anymore. Two to three nights a week he’s the one sautéing, slicing and dicing. And he’s not half bad either.
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Editor's note: all week, CNN Newsroom, Rick's List and Eatocracy are teaming up to take a look the effects our dining choices have on our minds, bodies and wallets. Tune into CNN Newsroom daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET for on-air coverage and join in the discussion here on Eatocracy. ALL COVERAGE

We all know that healthier eating is beneficial to our well being. It makes us feel better, look better, be more productive and energetic and possibly help us live longer. Those are all dandy things, but sometimes that plate of nachos just looks waaaaaay too delicious to pass up.

So what's an eater to do?
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