Dr. Susan’s Fit and Fun Family Action Plan: 301 Things You Can Do Today by Dr. Susan Bartell
Sourcebooks, Inc. - September 1, 2009
Ages: Parents
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I had a chance to speak to the ebullient Dr. Susan Bartell about her latest book and I was convinced that she not only knows her stuff, but really has the right approach to instilling lifelong lessons for making fitness a permanent part of family life. The advice is sound and grounded, eschewing fads for lifelong sensible solutions to eating right and exercising.

The information in the book is presented in well-organized and very digestible bites so parents can quickly track down specific, age-appropriate information for their kids.  The best part about the book is that Dr. Susan uses real situations to provide guidance for parents.  I read with vigor the section about the child who races through a meal, only to say she’s hungry 5 minutes after the dishes are cleaned up.

Everything from teaching kids about portions to making it easy to fit exercise into a busy schedule. For example, keeping a Frisbee in the car and taking the route that goes by the park make it easy to have an impromptu romp to have fun and get bodies moving.

Word of caution to parents: you actually have to set a good example by exercising and eating right, too! You’ll need to tune up, too, in order to keep up with your fit and fun family!

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Open Me Up by DK Publishing 
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN (September 21, 2009)
Cautions: Lots of body parts

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Once a DK Publishing book enters my home, it never leaves. The photography, text and illustrations are incredible and make all of my family members, regardless of age, want to cuddle up with a book about anatomy. That’s a most impressive feat. This book has accurate information about the body but also interjects humor and a dose of gross just to keep the readers interested.

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Strength for Life: The Fitness Plan for the Rest of Your Life by Shawn Phillips
Ballantine Books - 2008
Ages - Adults
Cautions - None (but consult doctor before starting any programs!)
Resources: Downloadable free exercise trackers - http://www.mystrengthforlife.com/trackers.php

Kiwi Magazine Review:
On any given week, at least 5-6 nutrition, fitness, diet, lifestyle or exercise lands on my doorstep. I see celebrities on competing diet programs losing (and gaining weight). In short, if we all stepped back and looked at the sheer number of books, DVDs, programs and shows which tell us how to lose weight, it really is so overwhelming that it is no small wonder we are large as a nation. Each time I read a book, I have that feeling that the author is going to promise ‘this one is going to be the ticket to a) losing weight b) getting in shape c) magically transforming with as little effort as possible.’ Sound familiar?

You may know the book Body for Life by Bill Phillips, who is this author’s brother. The intro to this book is really authentic and specific: why can’t many of us sustain, maintain or even gain fitness?

This book is sensible, reasonable and offers no quick fixes or guarantees. It is a book that promotes strength-training exercises, but not in the mindless motions of just counting reps or monitoring amount of weight lifted. I can see taking this book in doses, trying small steps to accomplish specific goals and revisiting the advice frequently. The online tools are really helpful, and there is no fee to be a part of the community (which I really like). I felt very motivated and optimistic when I read this book, instead of that ‘here we go again’ mentality.

I just signed up for a cruise in August and I’m willing to try this book out.  I will not be a size 2 by then, but I know that this book only promises a smart approach to focusing on fitness, rather than promising a smaller dress size by cabbage, carbs or cardio alone!

From the author:
How Will Focus Change Your Life

Perhaps more than any other factor, it is the mastery of your focus-which precedes the mastery of your energy-that separates the average performers from the peak performers in life. The freedom to place your focused attention where you want it, when you want it, offers a competitive advantage in a world where the average attention span is measured in seconds, not minutes.

The result is an entirely new training experience that is at once more effective, refreshing, and engaging. And while for many men and women the superior effectiveness and excellent results is satisfaction enough, the real surprise inside is F.I.T.’s impact not just on the body but on your inner stateemotionally uplifting, strengthening your awareness and presence as well as bolstering your overall well-being. As you will see, F.I.T.’s deeply enjoyable flow state will transform not only your training but the rest of your life.

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Eating for Autism: The 10-Step Nutrition Plan to Help Treat Your Child’s Autism, Asperger’s, or ADHD by Elizabeth Strickland
Da Capo, 2009
Cautions - None
Guide for parents

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Although we had this book vetted by parents of autistic children, we strongly feel that this book could be beneficial to all parents. This book stresses the importance of good eating habits, a ‘clean’ diet free of trigger foods and making food that the whole family will enjoy. The author is a registered dietician specializing in autism spectrum disorders, and she presents the information in a simple, understandable and well-organized book, accessible to all parents.

What your child eats has a major impact on his brain and body function. Eating for Autism is the first book to explain how an autism, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS, or ADHD condition can effectively be treated through diet. Eating for Autism presents a realistic 10-step plan to change your child’s diet, starting with essential foods and supplements and moving to more advanced therapies like the Gluten-Free Casein-Free diet. Parents who have followed Strickland’s revolutionary plan have reported great improvements in their child’s condition, from his mood, sleeping patterns, learning abilities, and behavior to his response to other treatment approaches. Complete with 75 balanced, kid-friendly recipes, and advice on overcoming sensory and feeding skill problems, Eating for Autism is an essential resource to help a child reach his full potential.

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The Accidental Vegan by Devra Gartenstein
Ten Speed Press, 2009
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Description:
Normally, my day starts with a cup of coffee and a banana, and I can’t even contemplate ‘real’ food until mid-afternoon. But, I picked up this cookbook at 7am and instantly started drooling for the delicious dishes in this simple cookbook. Don’t let the title deter you if you are not a vegan; summer is here with its bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables and Devra knows just how to put all of these ingredients together in a satisfying way. The book seems to have a decidedly Mediterranean slant, but ventures from basics (tomato soup) to Borscht and then, happily, into desserts. I tried several recipes and found them simple and completely non-threatening to my basic kitchen skills. Most recipes have only 5-7 ingredients with many kitchen staples, so dive right in.

Product Description
In the last decade, veganism has moved into the mainstream as home cooks seek out healthy, fresh, economical, and environmentally sustainable foods. Omnivorous author Devra Gartenstein’s pioneering classic vegan cookbook, first published in 2000, gets a timely make-over with 20 new recipes, simplified instructions and a focus on fresh and local ingredients. “The Accidental Vegan” includes appetizers, soups, mains, sides, and desserts inspired by Indian, Thai, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Italian cuisine. And with Devra’s special brand of simplified instructions and no-fuss ingredients, even accidental chefs will be able to whip up this healthy fare.

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Big Green Purse by Diane MacEachern

Avery, 2008

Recommended readers- Adults

Cautions:

Publisher’s description:

Whether readers want to start with small changes or are ready to devote the majority of their budget to green products, MacEachern offers concrete and immediate ways that women can take action and make a difference. Empowering and enlightening, Big Green Purse will become the “green shopping bible” for women everywhere who are asking, “What can I do?”

Kiwi Bookworm review:

There are many books on the shelves today with tips about reducing carbon footprints, but Diane MacEachern has managed to create the most comprehensive guide to all things green. Emphasizing that consumers, especially women, vote with their big green purse, she advocates making every purchase count to make a cleaner, greener world. From home base to the workplace, the author covers a lot of ground from identifying companies that recycle computer waste to planning a neighborhood plant swap.
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Understanding and Managing Your Child’s Food Allergies by Scott Sicherer

The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006

Recommended readers- Adults

Cautions-

Publisher’s description:

For children with food allergies, eating—one of the basic functions of life—can be a nightmare. Children who suffer or become dangerously ill after eating peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, wheat, or a host of other foods require constant vigilance from caring, concerned parents, teachers, and friends. In this empathetic and comprehensive guide, Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, a specialist in pediatric food allergies, gives parents the information they need to manage their children’s health and quality of life. He describes why children develop food allergy, the symptoms of food allergy (affecting the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the respiratory system), and the role of food allergy in behavioral problems and developmental disabilities. Parents will learn how to recognize emergency situations, how to get the most out of a visit with an allergist, what allergy test results mean, and how to protect their children—at home, at school, at summer camp, and in restaurants. Informative, compassionate, and practical, this guide will be indispensable forparents, physicians, school nurses, teachers, and everyone else who cares for children with food allergies.

KIWI Bookworm Review:

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Food Allergies for Dummies by Robert Wood

For Dummies, 2007

Recommended Readers- Adults

Cautions:

Publishers Description:

With Food Allergies for Dummies, you can feel safer about what you eat. This concise guide shows you how to identify and avoid food that triggers reactions. This guide covers how to care for a child with food allergies, such as getting involved with his/her school’s allergy policies, packing safe lunches, and empowering him/her to take responsibility for his allergy. You will also discover:

• The signs and symptoms of food allergies
• How to determine the severity of your allergy
• Ways to eat out and travel with allergies
• How to create your own avoidance diet
• Ways to enjoy your meal without allergic symptoms
• How to prevent food allergies from affecting your child
• The latest research being done to treat food allergies

Food Allergies for Dummies also provides an in-depth chapter on peanut allergy and how to spot traces of peanut in your food. With this book, you will feel safer and more comfortable while you eat.

KIWI Magazine Review:

When we were researching our article in the November/December 2008 issue of Kiwi Magazine, every expert mentioned Dr. Robert Wood as the right person to interview.  This book is excellent, easy to understand and a must-have for anyone with food allergies.  Dr. Wood has a severe peanut allergy and shares anecdotes about his own experiences with allergies.  

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Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete 50 Ways to Kick Butt on the Field, in the Pool, or at the Gym–No Matter What Your Size and Shape
by Jayne Williams
DeCapo Books, Jan 1, 2008
Recommended readers: Adults

Cautions: Author has a bit of a potty mouth but it adds humor

Description

Jayne Williams brings irreverent wit and a passion for movement to people who want a roadmap to real-life, functional fitness. Shape Up with the Slow Fat Triathlete is the antidote to fitness books that promise killer abs and deliver disappointment. A mediocre athlete with a lifelong weight problem, Williams struggles with her own fitness demons, including self-consciousness, injuries, and yo-yo dieting. Now, she puts fun back into working out with realistic advice, zany anecdotes, and essential observations. With stories from other “imperfect athletes,” Williams’s fifty audacious tips help aspiring athletes of all flavors to kick butt on the trail, in the pool, or at the gym.

Kiwi Magazine Review

You can wear spandex no matter your shape, age or wobbly bits.  And, like all of the other people in that overzealously sweaty aerobics class, you have a right to be there.  The first thing Jayne WIlliams tells you straight up is that exercise will improve your health and you will never look perfect. With that statement out of the way, you are free to exercise in any form you choose, in any outfit you choose at any time you choose.  It’s an uplifting, humorous, inspirational book to encourage us to eschew excuses and get out there and play!

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