Diet and Nutrition Sourcebook

Larsen (Fitness and Exercise Sourcebook) provides nutritional information for a variety of consumers, such as seniors, vegetarians, athletes, and those with certain medical conditions. The book is divided into sections covering healthy consumption, macro- and micronutrients, stages of life, lifestyle, weight control and other health and medical concerns, and additional resources. While some of the sections—in particular, "The Elements of Good Nutrition"—present exemplary information, the book is hampered by extremely broad generalizations (such as the caloric content of entire food types), debatable choices (such as listing baked-potato chips and vanilla wafers as "smart" snack choices), and sections that are overly technical. Much of the text is less reference than a series of discussions on subjects such as supplements, childhood obesity, and commercial beverages.