Sugar Busters! for Kids [Hardcover]

Morrison C. Bethea (Author), Sam S. Andrews (Author), Luis A. Balart (Author), H. Leighton Steward (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sugar Busters! | Publication Date: August 21, 2001

It's become an epidemic: More than six million American kids are overweight--that's one in five children. Now the authors of the bestselling diet phenomenon Sugar Busters!® have given us a plan specifically designed to keep our children fit and healthy.

Ice cream, candy bars, sugar-frosted cereals, potato chips, soft drinks. From coast to coast America is flooded with fast food and sweets--and our children are the sugar tide's first victims. Kids learn harmful eating habits from a society that loves snacking and sitting in front of the TV, fat-laden foods and little exercise. The sobering fact is: overweight children are susceptible to the same health problems as overweight adults--including heart disease and diabetes--and the longer a weight problem goes unchecked, the more serious the consequences for a child as he or she matures into adulthood.

Yet millions of adults have discovered that by lowering their carbohydrate and sugar intake, they can shed the pounds they failed to lose on other diet plans. Now it's time to help our children lose weight and feel better the Sugar Busters!® way. Remember: sugar spikes the production of insulin, which, in large amounts, keeps a child's weight from dropping off, no matter how strictly he or she diets and exercises. Based on sound nutritional principles, Sugar Busters!® for Kids is a revolutionary program that shows us how to eliminate sugar from a child's daily menu through easy-to-follow recipes and healthy meal plans . . . all without making kids feel deprived.

With Sugar Busters!® for Kids you will
• Determine whether your child is overweight with the Body Mass Index test
• Learn how to help your child diet with useful parental involvement tips
• Discover which foods to serve at what time of day for optimal health
• Rate the glycemic levels of various foods with a handy glycemic index
• Understand the myths of calories, fats, cholesterol, and weight gain
• Motivate your children with the charming Rhymes for Kids section

With colorful and fun illustrations by Walt Handelsman, Sugar Busters!® for Kids is a great book for adults and kids to learn from and enjoy together. The simple to start 14-day Meal Plan will set children on the right track to a lifetime of healthy eating. And as a special incentive, kids who send in a two-week diet journal get a great Sugar Busters!® Club Certificate.

If your child is overweight or is beginning to display eating habits that concern you, Sugar Busters!® for Kids will be an essential tool for you and your family. This book is every parent's little helper in the battle to ensure that your children are healthy and fit--for life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At first glance, Sugar Busters for Kids looks 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 Kids may be just the ticket. --Jill Lightner

From Publishers Weekly

The authors (of the bestselling Sugar Busters!) point out that childhood obesity has doubled in the past decade, and if this trend continues, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes will become serious health concerns for many of these youngsters. To reverse this trend, the authors promote a diet based on the consumption of low-glycemic carbohydrates (chart provided), lean meats, high-fiber vegetables, whole grains and fruits. The "terrible three" snacking staples soda, french fries, and candy are prohibited, and three servings of whole grains a day are recommended. The authors advise introducing new foods slowly but persistently. In one study, they note, it took 10 tries before kids would nibble on a new item. Noting that many parents aren't aware (or are unwilling to accept) that their children are overweight, the authors provide the formula for determining body mass index (BMI). Along with the straightforward, rather prosaic discussion of healthful eating, the book presents a variety of kid-friendly recipes, ranging from whole-wheat pizza to tofu shakes. The book includes a behavior modification chart to help children switch off sugar (activities or stickers, not food, are offered as rewards). This useful resource is sure to help parents entice kids who turn sour at the very thought of giving up sweets.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (August 21, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345445716
• ISBN-13: 978-0345445711
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Healthier Living Plan for Kids, August 23, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sugar Busters! for Kids (Hardcover)

This book will be most appealing to adults who have had success with the Sugar Busters! approach to weight control through reducing the amount of high glycemic foods (ones that raise insulin levels and thus slow down the metabolism) that they eat. Now, you will know how to integrate this approach for the whole family!

If you have not yet discovered the Sugar Busters! approach, it is well worth your time. As the authors (three M.D.'s and a former Fortune 500 CEO) point out, many diseases are related to overweight and obesity (such as Type 2 diabetes which is caused by insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases). Two terrible things are happening now. First, childhood overweight and obesity are growing rapidly as a percentage of the population around the world. Second, what were once adult diseases related to overweight and obesity are showing up in children. The authors point out that these trends are closely associated with the rise in the use of refined sugar. These trends run in families, suggesting both genetic (homone related) and environmental causes.

As to changing, the book is filled with directions for how to shop, menus (along with acceptable substitutes), and recipes (on the spicy side to appeal to the adults too). You can also use the recipes in any of the other Sugar Busters! series books. The recipes are almost all simple to prepare. Most include ingredients available at most food stores. There also seemed to be an attempt to keep the cost reasonable. I do think that households with younger kids will probably use fewer seasonings (but remember that no-sugar ketchup!).

There is a separate section with rhymes for kids at the back, which illustrates some of the key concepts. You can use this like a standard children's book for those in the 3-6 age range. My only criticism about the back is that the letter to kids uses gasoline for a car as the analogy to the need to eat better. Prior to the age of driving, I doubt if that analogy will work

One of the best parts of the book is that it keeps it as simple as possible. The authors also emphasize making better choices rather than treating this like a diet. They also point out that there are few long-term studies of the effects of diet on youngsters, but they have used the few that are available. For example, a low glycemic breakfast reduces what youngsters eat in calories for lunch. They also discuss how to introduce new foods (assume it will take at least 10 efforts before acceptance occurs, so be patient and persistent!). The menus are adjusted separately for the 6-8 and 9-12 year old groups. Over 12, they can use the adult Sugar Busters!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for entire family, October 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Sugar Busters! for Kids (Hardcover)

We just loved this book. We have been followers of the Sugar Busters concept for over five years and have never been healthier. Since reading the original Sugar Busters book, we have been concerned about all the sugar and processed carbohydrates that children eat these days. This book has really allowed us the share the benefits we have received with our children. The book is informative and easy to read and the illustrations are great, but one of our favorite things about the book is the recipes which, I might add, are not just for children. They are great for the whole family.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding and using the Sugar Busters concept better!, February 24, 2002

By 

Norman L. Antrainer (Covington LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sugar Busters! for Kids (Hardcover)

Since reading this book I've had solid sucess in weight loss and am eating healtheir and feeling better. The book Sugar Busters for Kids did accomplish several key elements in my personal weight loss program.

This book helped me greatly to understand the "why" of my life long struggle with weight and obesity. It has given me a tool in the understanding of "how" certain foods affect my wieght loss. And it has provided me with the "what" to eat and feel good at the same time.

The Glycemic Index Tables provided an easy and useful referance to the everyday control of my diet and food intake. Dr. Andrews and team have made the concept easier to understand and workable.

The recipes work, and I love the use of Creole seasoning to put flavor into some of the dishes.

My daughter who is a sophmore in college also uses the info found in this book very helpful.

This book should be included in every dieters libray, know matter what the age.