Sugar Busters! for Kids
At first glance,Sugar Busters for Kidslooks like a no-no. Aren't we supposed to encourage healthy eating but avoid putting our children on diets? However, if you can bring yourself to look past the hype, what you'll find here is actually a fairly sensible family eating plan that aims to improve overall health with the same changes recommended by your own family doctor: more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and less animal fat and sugar, no matter what form that sugar takes.The program revolves around the glycemic index of food, which is defined as "a measure of how carbohydrates differ in their ability to elevate blood sugars and insulin levels after they are digested." Foods with low glycemic indexes like whole wheat, black beans, milk, and cherries are encouraged, while rice noodles, corn flakes, and potatoes have high numbers and should be avoided.Much of the book is devoted to scary statistics about the health of children worldwide. Busy parents might be wise to skip these chapters and focus on the practical matters of how to change their family's daily habits. The basic plan offers plenty of good guidelines along with meal-planning ideas, suggestions for portion control, "phasing in" new foods, and making exercise a fun family activity.Most of us have heard that more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains improve overall health. If your family needs more specific guidelines to follow through on dietary changes,Sugar Busters for Kidsmay be just the ticket.--Jill Lightner