The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students: How Not to Gain 17 Pounds at College [Paperback]

J. Lucy Boyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2010

College students face a number of stigmas when they first leave home and start living on their own. From not having their parents nearby to help clean and answer questions to being responsible for their own cooking and cleaning, the move from High School to College can be a bit of shellshock for many teenagers. Nowhere is this more apparent than in their eating habits, where many college students experience a great deal of downward digression. A recent 2009 study, published in the Nutrition Journal, found that one in four freshman gain at least 5 percent of their body weight, an average of about 10 pounds, during their first semester. All of this can be avoided though with healthy cooking and an eye for good choices. This book was written to provide every college student just learning to cook for themselves with viable, affordable alternatives to pizza and ramen. Every college student will learn the basics of what it is they need to be focusing on in their diets after leaving home. Starting with a basic discussion and introduction of nutrition and what the body needs on a daily basis, you will learn additionally which foods and nutrients are best for improving your mental acuity as well as your sleep each night. You will learn the importance of fluids and proper nightly sleep to supplement your diet and will be given a list of different ailments and problems that might develop should these issues be ignored or overlooked. Health professionals and college life experts have been interviewed and have provided their insight into what foods and lifestyle changes can be made for college students to keep them as healthy as possible. You will learn the basics of the right ingredients, what you should always avoid and why the occasional meal out will not kill you. You will learn how to avoid gaining all that extra weight and finally some of the top recipes currently available for quick, healthy cooking and how you can use these, regardless of whether you are stuck in a dorm room or your parents basement. The key to healthy living for college students is in a good diet, and this book will provide everything you need to maintain that.

Editorial Reviews

Review

What have you had to eat today, Zach? I asked the pale young man seated on my exam table. He had come to see me for help with some stomach problems. He ran a hand through lank hair, considering. Um, well, I didn t have breakfast. Never do. No time. Let s see...I grabbed a soda after class and a bag of chips. Then for lunch, around three, I got a burger and some fries across the street. Sadly, this is a common story. Many college students just do not take good care of themselves. This is a very busy time in their lives; most of them enter college just out of high school. For the first time, they are living away from the comforts of home, away from homecooked meals. They are making new friends, stretching their independent wings, learning, and studying. Their highest priorities are often academic and social success, not what food they put in their bodies. As a result, their nutrition is likely to suffer. So what, you ask? They are young and resilient they will bounce back. It is true that students tend to be young and resilient, but nutrition does matter in the short and long run. Look at Zach. His stomach problems were directly related to his poor diet. I see too many patients like him. Digestive problems, anemia, obesity, and low energy; these problems, and many more, can be caused by unhealthy eating habits. College students are not stupid. If they were, they would not be in college. They know when they are not eating well I hear it from my patients all the time. But often, they do not know what to do about it. They never learned to cook back home. They are only allowed a microwave and a hot plate in their dorm. They think cooking takes too much time; it is easier to get fast food on the go. Shopping and cooking is expensive, and they are on a budget. These are all valid points or they were until The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition For College Students came along. If you are a student, this book is for you, whether you are a comfortable cook or have never even cracked an egg. If you are a beginner, you can learn right here. Author J. Lucy Boyd starts with the very basics of cooking, from what utensils you need in your kitchen, through the types of vegetables, to how to stir fry. She even walks you through your trip to the grocery store. Her recipes are simple and healthy, and she clearly understands what it means to be a student who is short on money and even shorter on time. If you already know the basics of cooking, this book still offers much for you. Boyd will help you expand your culinary horizons and broaden your skill set. Her upperclassmen chapters introduce more sophisticated forms of food preparation, while maintaining the ease of preparation using readily available ingredients that she establishes from the beginning. If you are a parent, or friend of a college student, this book will make a great gift. Mom, you can feel comfortable sending your kid off to college without those cozy cooking sessions you kept meaning to share. Uncle Bob, this is a more useful freshman gift than that fishing rod you were eyeing. Students will keep this book on a handy shelf, probably in the kitchen, and refer to it often. This book is not just about balanced nutrition. It is also about living a balanced life in college. The author understands that health is multifaceted, and she is clearly knowledgeable about other issues facing college students. She discusses sleep, exercise, alcohol use, and weight management. She offers advice about schedule planning, dignity and self worth, relationships, and more. Boyd s wisdom is warmly accessible, shared in a friendly, non-judgmental tone. I am thrilled to have this addition to my own bag of tricks to offer students in my practice and I cannot wait to give it to Zach. --Peggy Spencer, MD

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Group Inc. (February 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601383576
• ISBN-13: 978-1601383570
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,655,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J. Lucy Boyd is a nurse epidemiologist currently researching her fourth book. Competitive in nature, she was the valedictorian of her first nursing school and graduated summa cum laude from her second. Her current interests include Alzheimer's research and being an amateur chef. Lucy is an avid reader of non-fiction, although her shelves are peppered with mystery books as well.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book For College Students, November 30, 2011

By 

Billy Burgess (Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students: How Not to Gain 17 Pounds at College (Paperback)

Living on your own or going off to college can be a major challenge, especially with easy access to fast-food stops, potato chips, frozen pizza, soda, etc. With classes and a busy social life you may neglect yourself by eating the wrong foods. In The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students you'll learn the basic nutrition basics that you should eat every day, how to evaluate your new surrounds (Dorm Kitchen, College Cafeteria and Local Restaurants), and obtaining the correct basic supplies for your dorm/apartment kitchen (microwave oven, George Forman Grill, Crock-Pot slow cooker, Blender, Mixer, utensils, cookware, spices, cups, bowls, plates, etc.).

Chapter 6 takes you through the basic cooking terms of the instruments/appliances you use to cook with, along with a few simple dishes, like bacon, eggs, toast, etc. You'll also learn about freezing and storing foods. There are four separate chapters for each year in college (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior) giving simple but tasty recipes, like Grilled Cheese English Muffin, Crock-Pot Roast, Tacos, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and many other great recipes.

The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students is an interesting book for college students, giving great nutrition facts, recipes, tips on exercising, and to help you not to gain 17 pounds at college. The book can be a great gift for a college student or a soon-to-be college student.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great graduation gift, March 22, 2010

By 

Cynthia L. Mcallister "She who reads" (Greenville, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students: How Not to Gain 17 Pounds at College (Paperback)

The Complete Guide to Healthy Cooking and Nutrition for College Students
by J. Lucy Board, R.N., BSN

I absolutely love this book! The author does of wonderful job of presenting a comprehensive guide for
sending a student out into the world with a tool that they can refer to for many situations. There are
chapters for each school year: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. Gradually, the recipes increase
in difficulty. But recipes are just a small part of the book. The first chapter on the basic nutritional
needs includes things from protein, vitamins, grains, vegetables to foods on each section of the food
pyramid. The author discusses the basics such as selecting where to shop, the first trip to the grocery
store and obtaining supplies that will be needed on a regular basis.
Also, other issues related to school such as organization and stress management are also included, and
there is a discussion about how these factors affect food intake. There is a guide for eating out, exercise
needs, and sleep needs. The chapter Maintaining a healthy weight provides information that young
college students don't normally think about. Finally, there is a brief discussion on eating disorders: how
NOT to get one, and what to do if you think you may have one.
Very parsimonious without neglecting topics of importance. Yet not so overdone that the student won't
want to read it. I wish I had had this book when I went to college!
5 stars