Child-Nutrition Books

This book was well organized, easy to read and understand, and gave good basic information. The healthy eating solutions are easy to implement in daily life. I learned some new things and remembered some things I already knew.

This book give practical advice on how to have a healthy weight family. With children being overweight at an increasing number each year this book should be read by all parents and the techniques put into practice. School administrators need to read it as well so they can understand why school's need to have a physical education program.

I wasn't sure if I should get this book. I almost felt like I could write the book on healthy meals for my family. But, the price was right and I am always looking for a new tip. I'm about half way through the book and am really enjoying it. The advice is good and realistic. And, yes, I have learned a few new tips.

I wasn't really sure what I was getting when I ordered this book. The book is based on a new program being piloted now by Weight Watchers. The program, in limited areas now teaches parents on how to encourage a "Healthy Weight" home. What surprised me is how different this program is from the one designed by Weight Watchers for adults as part of their nationally available program. For one, they strongly discourage parents from placing all but the most obese of children on a diet and then only with the close supervision of a physician.

The book trains parents on the "5 Simple Rules."
1. Focus on wholesom, nutritious foods.
2. Include treats.
3. Aim to keep nonhomework screen time at two hours (or less) per day.
4. Try to be active an hour per day.
5. The Rules apply to everyone in the home.

While that should tell you all you need to know about the program there is so much more. My daughter 4, does not currently have a weight issue, however as an over obese person since childhood I watch her closely to attempt to prevent her from having the same weight issues I have. I was shocked to learn all of the things I am doing wrong. Everything from what snacks/treats I give her to forcing her to clean her plate, and at least a dozen other things.

One of the things I loved about this book it there was no encouragement to make drastic life altering adjustments to your life. In fact, the book encourages gentler simple steps your family can carry out. It doesn't tell you what order to complete the rules in, but to start with the ones you know you can do. The book offers real life concerns and solutions that even the most out of shape family can take to heart.

The book also discourages you from weighing your children more than when they are at the physician's office or even discussing weight in front of them. If anyone in your house struggles with their weight this book is a must have. I wish it had been available to my parents when I was young, I only hope I can learn enough from it to prevent the same mistakes in my children.

This is a great book to help families learn how to eat better and get healthier!
Lots of information and on suggestions on how to make it a family effort!
I totally recommend it!
One of the best books WW's has put out!

What a delightfully illustrated cookbook!! Just received it and can't wait to get started!! The illustrations are splendid as is the easy to read recipes!! Enjoy!

Looking for humor and beautiful pictures along with fun recipes? You have found it with this book.

Gary Goss wrote a cute little book about blue moon soup. It'll compicate the process of learning about the moon in grade school in science class but everything else about the book is cute!

If this were a picture book illustrating fairy tales or nursery rhymes, I could honestly give Blue Moon Soup five stars. Jane Dyer's illustrations have just that perfect, whimsical charm that makes such children's books unforgettable. Unfortunately, this is a cookbook that seemed to forget that its main objective is to provide a collection of soup recipes that the whole family will love.

The introduction hinted at such promising soups that were fun and simple to make that I really wanted to like BMS. In fact, the recipes did turned out to be simple; averaging about 11 ingredients each, including spices, and involving nothing more complicated than chopping vegetables, herbs etc. and throwing everything into a pot to simmer. Occasionally, you have to put something or another into a blender and puree. So far so good. The names and concepts of soup were even fun; Hot Diggity Dog soup (hot dogs), Polka Dot Soup (black beans), Abracadabra (Greek lemon-and-egg), Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater (obvious), and Believe It Or Not Soup (Ice Cream), to name a few examples. I will even go so far as to say that these soups generally are fresh, healthy alternatives to the canned varieties as they contain much less sodium and fat and are made from scratch. With all the chopping required I would limit kids' participation to just standing by and "helping" mom and dad by throwing ingredients into the pot, then stirring, but that could also be fun with a little imagination.

Where BMS lost me was in the flavor. Every recipe I tried needed heavy doctoring to attain a flavor discernable enough to justify going to the bother of making these soups from scratch. Possibly, too, I am used to commercial soups that are thick and hearty, leaving the BMS soups seeming runny and diluted by comparison. The chili recipe, claiming to be AbsolutelyThe Best, was even erroneous in its recommended cooking times by a few hours (dried kidney beans are NOT fit to eat after only being soaked overnight and cooked for a mere 30 minutes). The You Can't Elope soup was a simple mixture of pureed melons, half-and-half, juice, wine and vanilla that proved to be so bland that I found myself wishing I had simply eaten the sun-ripened melon in the first place. And do we really need a "recipe" for what every kid achieves instinctively anyway by mashing ice cream in the bowl until it's creamy and half-melted?

The lone standout recipe among the seven that I sampled in this book was the pumpkin soup, which was a welcome change of pace for pumpkin purees and nicely smooth, neither watery nor artificially thick. Even the spices were right on target.

I imagine that I will eventually try some others in this book, and so perhaps keep it on my shelf for awhile longer. IMHO, Blue Moon Soup is a nice choice for people avidly watching their salt intake who love homemade soups.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

I originally check this book out of a library only to find that I would like to make ALL of the recipes. The ingredients in the recipes are items you have on your shelf. They don't strive to reduce fat or salt but instead strive to be healthy tasty soups. We save money by having one soup meal a week and I am thrilled to add this book to my cookbook shelf.

I am the mother of two children and I found Wolke's book to be a great book, with the information presented in systematic, but clearly understandable way. It is filled with practical ideas to on how to implement long term dietary habits for the whole family.

I really like the fact that Wolke discusses a healthy eating plan and is able to explain her reasoning from a professional point of view as well via personal reflections and anecdotes.

Her comments on the eating habits of school camps, children's sports and school food alone are worth the read.

This books educates the parent and explains how to convey knowledge to children in ways they will grasp, which is ultimately what we want as parents. We hope that children will understand and value healthy eating, so they no longer have to swing from one extreme to the other.

The seven steps tie everything together in a concrete way and Wolke keeps her style warm, encouraging, yet uncompromising all the way through.

This is no fad to follow, it is a flexible, professionally crafted plan that will encourage and empower parents to implement life long healthy eating, exercising and communication around these issues. If all families could follow a basic plan such as FitKid7 from the start, they would be taking positive steps in navigating such issues as eat

If you are new to the world of nutrition/lifestyle and you seriously want to get your kids' health issues straightened out, then Fitkid7 is a good place to start. Sirkka Wolke offers information and advice on nutrition in combination with lifestyle suggestions specifically aimed and kids and families. Wolke combines her knowledge and enthusiasm in a conversational writing style which will most appeal to those who find textbook approaches to nutrition daunting.

Personally, while reading the book I felt encouraged to tidy up my own eating habits. Inevitably my kids benefitted from my choice to change my diet! However, though Wolke is passionate about her subject, I found the overuse of exclamation marks irritating. I also found myself wishing Wolke had sited more research when making claims. In any case, if you are fervently searching for help in getting your kids to make better diet and fitness choices, Fitkid7 might be for you.

Let me preface this review by stating that I do not have children. However, I was one (weren't we all?), and I did babysit for many, many years. Take my opinion about "FitKid7: 7 Simple Steps for a Fit & Healthy Child" as you will with this knowledge. A how-to book of any sort requires two basic things. First, it must be written so that the reader, any reader, can understand it. Second, it must have clear directions and advice to follow. Given these criteria, does Sirkka Wolke's book qualify as a great investment of your money?

The book is divided into three basic parts. The first part lays out the steps to take. The 7 basic steps are easy to understand, because Wolke writes in an approachable, conversational tone. Frankly, her advice isn't all that new. The only truly new thing I saw was the idea that you should not keep anything that isn't healthy in your house. The rest, ranging from water as your primary liquid to a positive attitude, is very common in discussions of good health.

My biggest complaint in this first part is that there are a lot of how-to directions and advice that seem missing. I think many of these steps would be easy to put into place at the beginning of your family from the moment you get married or paired up or buy a house, and certainly before you have children. However, I can see many people buying this book who have older kids or teenagers, and I think much more practical advice is called for, such as how you convince your spouse or partner to get on board and how you deal with the stronger peer pressures and school access at the junior high and high school level.

In the second part of the book, Wolke looks at several factors that contribute to unhealthy behavior and eating patterns. Much of this is social, from the role of business to the pressure to succeed and passive entertainment. Again, there are several factors that are not deeply enough addressed, such as the American idea that dinner or supper should be the biggest meal of the day. Outside of the social factors, Wolke only pays brief attention to biology, and I'm not talking genes that make you fat. What about the fact that fats and sugars taste good to us? She mentions repeatedly the idea that our bodies can easily think we are starving, but how do you counter that long-standing biology in a world where we do not need to move as much and food production is incredible?

Of course, there are no easy answers for these issues, but I remember that my old private nutritionist looked at my ethnic background when she came up with a food plan for me. She considered not just my environment but my genetic background, and in her wise words she doubted I'd ever look like a supermodel because I came from "strong peasant stock," where big, strong women were a plus. Wolke focuses on health, not weight, though she does raise the weight issue a few times. I was very happy that she did not promote those height/weight/age charts that are generic. I also was very glad that she emphasized that stress and mental health are just as important or more important than the shape and size of your body.

The third part of Wolke's book looks at the various measures you can take to make these changes. Again, I think more could be said here, and the general advice consists of things I've heard and read repeatedly. She does list a few references for her advice, but more would also please the scholar in me. Of course, you can learn all you want but you have to make the actions match the information. As a person who has slowly added more fiber and leaner meats to her adult family's diet, let me tell you that it can be emotionally draining to stay the course in the face of opposition. Yes, even adults can be picky eaters, and I'm no exception.

The book ends with several sections that offer further information, such as an ideal shopping list, recipes, meal ideas, and resources you can use. I think the resources and bibliography need to be much longer. I also want to know where Wolke received her degrees in nutrition and whom/how she consults? I think knowing that would add more authority to her words.

"FitKid7" is a simple, fast read with good steps to take to help your children become more health-conscious and active people. It is really too short, though, at just over 100 pages, to give a lot of strong practical suggestions. Perhaps Wolke hopes you will consult with your own health care professional, but I would have liked more ideas for making this all work. The book is a good first step, but it won't answer all your questions.

Sirkka Wolke, drawing on her extensive expertise, addresses a growing health crisis in the world concerning our children in a forthright way that underscores the importance of raising healthy, fit kids and outlines how to execute this easily. Although many adults attempt to get fit themselves, they tend to ignore their kids. This book accomplishes what the author set out to do--to make us take notice of what we are feeding our children for the sake of their future. This should be a standard read for all parents and those who work with children.

...Teacher, mother of 2....

No, plus my kids enjoyed the many ways on eating healthy from this book. We all want our children to be fit and healthy, but the current invasion of fast food, sugary snacks, and oversize portions are creating an epidemic of overweight, inactive, and unhealthy kids. The powerful influences of the fast-food industry, omnipresent junk food advertising, and the vicious cycle of TV, computer games, and Internet addictions only make our children more susceptible to a sedentary lifestyle and a lifetime of bad habits and obesity. Dedicated mom and Nutritional Consultant Sirkka Wolke says it's time to say good-bye to sugarcoated cereals, artificially colored cheese puffs, oceans of sugary soft drinks, nutritionally deficient school lunches, and fast-food super meals!

This book is not a diet which will make the transition even better for not only for yourself but for your child. In "FitKid 7" she shows you how to create a healthy, balanced lifestyle for your kids and how to make the transition from dairy-, fat-, sugar-, and chemical-laden foods to the vibrant, natural, nourishing foods we were all meant to eat.

You'll find general dietary guidelines for healthy eating for active kids, as well as tips on pre- and post-exercise nutrition, staying hydrated while exercising, and healthy snacks. This book offers a proven plan to help parents and kids alike learn to eat healthier and feel better, it features:

The Fitkid 7 Steps
Why is it happening?
The Tools We need
Harmful Foo Additives List
Great Ideas for Meals and Snacks
List of Extra Tips

Fit and Healthy foods does equal Healthy Children. "FitKid 7" provides the essential information on creating a lifetime of nutritional eating habits for your children. Highly recommended to those who care.

I'm a big fan of Ms. Ely's book, Saving Dinner, so I was very excited to find her study guide for kids. However, I was disappointed to open the box and find only 32 one-sided pages, loose with no binding at all. Of these, only 21 pages are worksheets and parent guides--the rest are a food diary! It's cleverly designed and kid-friendly, but not worth $8.95! In addition, the information is heavily weighted toward identifying carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Good info for kids, but I was hoping to steer my picky eater toward fruits and veggies and there was little information on the their benefits.

This unit study is written in a way kids can understand nutrition and WANT to eat healthy foods. You must have the Healthy Foods Cookbook to go along with it. Mom (or teacher) goes over the info in the cookbook and the children have short work pages in the Unit Study to fill in. Leanne Ely writes in such a humerous style, it makes the study fun!

My 12 yr-old son really enjoyed the study. He is now reading labels, asking questions, and drinking more water!

The parent pages are very helpful. I enjoyed the websites and books that Leanne recommends, along with the idea of the kids creating their own cookbook. The study is very-well planned and easy to implement.

This has been a great tool in helping my kids understand why they should not eat junk! Highly recommended.

A healthy study unit for my kids with recipes they will eat. I am glad I came across this.

As a 7th grader this book really helped understand a little more about the black death, small pox and AIDS. It doesnt go into much detail, but gives you a general feel.

I read this book when I was in the sixth grade. While I read it for fun, it was also useful later in the year for school. Being an avid disease book reader, this is one of the best. It could have gone in to a tiny bit more detail on the the symptoms, but then again some people can't handle that much anyway.

We read this book in class and it is an excellent source of information as well as interesting, and offers all points of view on each "plague" as well as the facts. Covers a lot on the little known parts, and victims of AIDS, and a short kind of Bio on Ryan White.

This book was fun to read and it was really easy to get a book report out of.

The publisher says that this book is appropriate for grade 6-12. I disagree. While I feel the book is well written and informative - I strongly suggest that educators think twice before putting the book in an elementary school library.
Perhaps have it available in case an advanced 6th grader has a need for detailed information regarding the topics.
My 9 year old - 4th grade son brought the book home from school yesterday. While AIDS is an important subject for him to learn about - I do not feel that the details of specific high-risk sexual contact needs to be available to him at his age.
I feel the book would be more appropriate for grades 9-12.

This book was hard to follow. It does have some good points.

I ordered and read the adult version of this book. Within one week I ordered and read this book knowing that in I would find the answers to my daughter's diet problems. She has been following the program for only 5 days and has already experienced a dramatic drop in cravings. Her behavior and attention has never been better. She has also lost a pound already. I turned to this program as a solution for my weight but have found so much more. Never before had I been relieved of my obsession for sweets and breads. This program did just that for both of us! If you think you may need it you probably do. Just read the book. It explains it all. Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss this further.

(...) this is the best diet I have ever been on. After only one night I lost 5 pounds and it isn't hard to follow. I reccomend this book to everybody.

I was surprised at the different plan laid out for kids. It definitely is a lot easier for them to follow and slowly work into than the more serious, but successful, plan for adults in their other books. Even if your child is borderline overweight and you just want to know how to fix them better snacks, etc. than this has some great info.

I love this diet plan so much! As a carb addicted teen it's helped me to lose weight and feel better. I've lost 10 pounds already on this diet. The plan is so easy to follow and I don't get junk food cravings any more. I would reccomend this book to anyone who has struggled with weight and food cravings.

I find it amazing that these young parents seem to be ahead of their time. Their research and persistence led them to recognize autism as an autoimmune disorder resulting from environmental toxins, food chemicals, and medical and genetic circumstances. Autism has become a childhood epidemic and should register as everyone's concern. I do not understand why there is not more attention to researching the causes, and treatment. I commend these parents, and others like them, for advancing understanding and discussion about the causes and treatments. Their story is compelling, and the book is written in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. It is informative and I think the lessons learned by these parents, and the treatment plan they developed for their son, will be beneficial to other parents, and people who are concerned about good health.

Not only did I read Dylan's story, but had the honor to meet Cristen, Joe and Dylan. I am honored to call them friends. Having two children of my own and parents with chronic and continued health problems I read this book and to my amazement the knowledge behind it was amazing. I have adopted a healthy approach to feeding my family and purchase some of the supplements recommended by Cristen and Joe from Mother Necessities.com and my family is healthier. We thank our healthy living to Cristen, Joe and Dylan and look forward to a rewarding life with good and healthy friends and family. This book is AMAZING!

I normally don't write book reviews, yet I found this book the most informative resource I know I will refer to it often, there is even a recipe section! I was astounded to read the experiences of this family and related very much with the experiences (sadly so). However, this book has the potential to change the lives of our children, written in laymans terms and clear examples of how nutrition and healthful and natural environment and living can bring recovery and complete health. This is a must read book by anyone, yet especially parents of children with autism, ADD, ADHD and MCS.

I have two 'healthy' children, but Dylan's Story was recommended to me by a colleague who has a teenage daugther with autism. As I listen intently to his stories and pain with raising a child with autism it became evident to me that our medical field needs to investigate more. As a society we should monitor what is approved by the FDA for our children's consumption. Reading Dylan's story made me stop and realize that as a society, dual parents working and raising children, we tend to lean to the easiest and quickest way to put dinner on the table not realizing what we are feeding our children. Not to mention the millions of dollars in advertising for these foods and services that are clearly not healthy choices. We preach to our children not to smoke, drink or do drugs, but we allow our children to each foods that could potentially harm them in other ways. This is not a slam against only fast food, but the FDA approval process for food that is available in our grocery stores. I would recommend this book to any parent who is concerned about what foods their children are eating and truly believe in healthy choices.

I also want to comment that both Cristen and Joe have done something truly wonderful for their son and I hope others read this book and consider what other options are available to you to feed your family.
Easy reading. Sad, but inspirational at the same time.

I've never done a review before, but I felt I needed to for this one. I am the mother of an autistic child. This book is not about autism. It is about allergies. If your child does not suffer any gastro-intenstinal difficulties or allergies, it is not for you. I am not a professional, but I live the life and have done plenty of reading on the subject of autism. I have serious doubts as to whether the child who is the subject of this book was truly autistic to begin with. He had some symptoms, yes, but I have to wonder if all of his "symptoms" were caused by his numerous allergic reactions to so many things.

I do not doubt the difficulties these parents went through with their child. It must have been very difficult for them to see their child in such pain. I can understand their severe bitterness towards the medical field. And I am so happy for them that their child is getting along fine in a regular kindergarten class and is now a typical kid. But they don't seem to understand that allergies and autism are separate. Many children with true autism, like mine, have no allergies. He didn't scream in pain everytime he ate. He didn't have bowel problems, ear infections or any of the other medical problems these people call part of their son's "autism." An official diagnosis of "autism" from a "professional" does not necessarily make it so. Mistakes can happen, and do, all too frequently.

So if you are a parent or loved one looking to help a child diagnosed with autism, be careful. There are so many books, services, medications, etc. that lure desperate families in on false hopes. For all the good intentions that I am sure this mother had, this book will not be helpful at all to the vast majority of families dealing with autism.

I have 3 sons and 2 have been diagnosed with ADHD, and put on Ritalin. I was told by the doctor that nothing worked except drugs. My bright boy went from being bright and inventive (loud, destructive, non-cooperative, etc) to a little robot that sat on the chair and did nothing, nothing at all. In distress I went back and the doctor said - I'll get used to it ... not likely. I took him off the ritalin, and we went looking for another answer, finally finding this book. After the first week, I went from having 3 sons with severe behaviour problem to having 3 normal little boys, who have food allergies. This book is my bible in the kitchen, and if you have a child with ADHD, then please, read this book. I wish I had found it 6 years ago, as it has given my boys back to me.

I have and 8 yo adhd odd son. I started removing dyes and additives from his diet at 5 years old because I NOTICED that it made a difference. This year I finally bought sue's book and you cannot believe the difference this has made in my sons life... Sues book explains it all... My son is sensitive to salacylates amines and additives. Everyday his behavior is rated by his teacher from 1-5. pre diet we were lucky to get a 3... now 3s are bad days. It can be hard but it is so worth it...
Mom in colorado

We are brought up to believe fruit is good for us and it is, but in moderation and some of us are more sensitive to food than we know. The diet outlined in this book is revolutionary but is also life changing! Food chemicals can and DO affect us, the added food chemicals are even worse than the natural ones.
The Feingold diet is the start of this revolution and Sue takes it even further, this doesn't totally disregard Feingold at all just improves on his ideas.

I had an ADHD son and a "failing" baby who possibly would not have survived who were both "cured" by this diet. I myself have shaken off my long term depression due to it also. We do not need any medications now.

Try the diet for a month before you trash the idea,... if you do not experience any changes then trash it but I would like to bet that the positive changes will change your mind.

For even easier reading and guidance, get hold of Failsafe Cookbook which is easier to refer back, and follows up this first book of Sue Dengate's. There is also a webpage (www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info) with heaps of information and also scientific study with proof on how added preservative in our bread can cause serious side affects in our childrens behaviour and illnesses.

My daughter was diagnosed ADHD at the age of 5 and put on ritalin and last year (2003) I found Sue's book, found lots of on my daughter in it so decided to take the plunge and tried the diet. My daughter went from being unhappy, rejected by her peers and academically lacking to a child who was happy, healthy, socially and academically capable and is still improving. For my daughter salicylates (which are in varying degrees in all fruit and vegetables were a killer, they prevented her from learning as her body could not tolerate them. Her teacher asked me what I had done to my daughter as she went from being distractive and disruptive in class to sitting in class and being part of the "core" of the class. It only took one week for her body to get rid of the offending salicylates (which were like poison to her body) and my angel appeared and she has now been able to be taken off ritalin.

Thank you Sue for your wonderful book, without which my daughter would have been on ritalin and still no better off.

This is is the first review I have ever felt compelled to write in response to the first review which claims that this book is "rubbish". Let me just say that my father found out about food intolerance from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney a few years before Sue wrote the book. Furthermore I have a sister who is studying neuroscience, another who studies medicine - we all support Sue Dengate and feel we are eating healthier food than we have ever done before.

Food intolerance is a relatively new area being studied and we are far from completely understanding how chemicals (food and other)affect the body. Sue Dengates book was the first piece of literature which gave me an insight into food intolerance and how it affected me. Years later I still am re-reading it. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A COPY!!!!

Growing up, though outside of the home I was thought to be an angel and was achieving exceptional grades (without studying mind you, which I have always regretted) - at home I was often a completely obnoxious, uncontrollable terror. The foods I was eating affected my health and mood (I often had a cold, had constant swings between adoring everyone and being depressed or angry - especially if I was asked to clean up etc). Rarely did a day go past where I did not get into trouble. We all thought it was normal behaviour - part of growing up. Imagine everyones relief when I started eating "friendly foods". In fact everyone noticed improvements - and mum's migranes are gone.

I can't begin to descibe the profound effect this book and finding out about food intolerance has had on my family's life. I am still learning how food effects me. This isn't a diet!! Everyone is affected by food differently and everyone has a different tolerance level to certain chemicals (refer to "Super Size Me").It is about finding out if and to what extent you are affected - allowing you to make informed decisions about what you put in your mouth - allowing you to lead the life you want to lead.

Once big problems like health and behaviour have disappeared there are subtle effects food has on your mood, concentration,sleep, balance etc These take longer to fix - and often you only notice the difference when you start eating the wrong foods again. I am one of the lucky ones to have been affected enough for the diet to have a notieable difference in my behaviour so these subtle benefits can give me the extra edge over my competition at university.

Sue, if you read this - I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!

I was looking for a serious guide to highschool athletes and their nutritional needs. Instead I got a cutesy feed your kid celery sticks type thing.

This book is great for parents and coaches, after commenting some details with other parents and my son's Basquetball coach, everyone asked for the name of the book. It is practical and simple, and you will find specific nutrition recommendations for different sports.

I have owned this book for 1 year and it is well worn. The concepts are easy to understand and make sense. I have loaned this to our swim coaches and the mom of our local High school football star. The recipes are easy to prepare and most important...taste good. I really like the section on Team Dinners...lots of great suggestions. Buy two right away because people borrow this little book all the time.

This gets more use in our house than any other cookbook . It's very basic and simple. Common sense stuff. I'm not known for my cooking, but this book is easy for me to use and put out quality meals that taste good and that middle school kids will eat. My daughter and her athlete friends are on board (sometimes) with the concept of eating well to improve performance, and they use these recipes themselves. I actually made the granola and it's awesome.

Two kids, soccer and cross country, and problems keeping them fed enough during the fall athletic season. This book helps to identify the best bang-for-the-buck nutritious foods to keep them energized and performing. It details optimum schedules for the pregame/practice as well as post game/practice meals, snacks and hydration. The recipes are contrary to the typical American diet, and so what else is new? Now that they know what complex and simple carbs are and how they affect their levels of energy, at least they know the ice cream for post practice/game recovery isn't the best alternative. At least they are giving the bean dishes a try because they know that they are one of the best nutrient dense foods. The recipes are surprisingly good and I'm going to try more on my kids and expand their horizons.

A good book to use when you are trying to get 3000 calories/day into your children. The school lunch probably isn't going to cut it on game or meet days.

Even though I am a vegetarian and eat very healthy, I have felt a little lost about how to pass on the importance of healthy food to my daughter. People are always asking me how will I handle certain situations when she is no longer a baby and I do not control everything that goes into her body. For example, how to handle McDonald's birthday parties or school snacks without making her feel like the odd one in the bunch. This book gives great advice on how to handle these situations in a positive manner as well as how to make healthy eating a lifestyle for the entire family. I also love the recipes and knowing that I can still bake homemade desserts for my family, just without all the processed sugar and dairy. I have already tried some of the recipes and they have been a hit so far. Thank you Marilu - every parent should read this book!

This is a long needed and long expected book. For so many years we have been told that "kids do not grow up without meat" (meat meaning usually beaf). Now there is so much information about why we should not be eating meat, that it is unthinkable to be sticking to that old know-it-all statement. The truth is, the main problem with a meat-free diet, has always been how to make it attractive to the kids. Well, this book offers so many tasty, nutritious and inviting recipies that all toddlers will find food to their liking. Plus, with all the sound information Ms. Henner provides in her familiar style, all mums, caterers, nurseries, etc. will find encouragement to stay and help kids stay meat-free, active and healthy. Thank you Ms. Henner! A job well done!

I am a mom of three children with galactosemia. I bought this book because I know how Marilu Henner deplores milk and milk products. Although most of the book deals with how to get your kids healty I bought it for the recipes for my preschoolers. Many of the recipes calls for soy cheese or soy yogurt. Almost every varity of these "non dairy" soy products are made from caseinate. This IS a form of dairy. The recipes given aren't anything new. They are recipes you can find in your cookbooks already on your shelf. She just removes the meat and dairy products and substitutes them for soy. If you are wanting info on how to get your kids healthy buy the book. If you are wanting new ideas on what to feed your kids look elswhere. I already knew carrot sticks and celery were better for my kids than pop tarts. I didn't need to spend $20 to read it.

You will be so happy you bought this book if you have kids. It really educates you on the "junk" we are feeding our kids, and gives healthy alternatives that kids will still love. Not only does she give some good background on the healthy principles she believes in, she backs it with science.

We've made several of the snack recipes, and my kids and hubby have loved them. The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins were a real hit!!

It's a great investment in the health of your child. I'm going to buy copies for my friends and families with kids.

Yes, the recipes are easy - you can prepare much of this food with kids 10 and over. Plus it's kid-friendly food, not as gourmet as Marilu's other cookbooks. I also really liked all the info on development stages of children - for people who don't have time to research childhood development, it was great to have the info in one place, and to relate children's health to what they eat, and what they do (movement & activities).

As a comment on a previous reviewer's observation about soy substitutes for dairy products; I have found plenty of vegan non-dairy subs (no casein) - they are becoming more and more available as demand for them increases. Also, there are subs made from other products (rice, oat, almond, etc) that contain NO casein. Going completely dairy-free has cleared up allergies, acne, and weight problems at our house. It's worth my time to search out the right subs.