The Athlete’s Kitchen

Copyright: Nancy Clark, MS, RD  December 2005 

Nutrition Books for New Year’s Resolutions 

Each New Year brings nutrition resolutions. Common among those resolutions are promises to eat less junk food, enjoy more fruits and vegetables, drink less coffee, lose weight.... I’m sure you know your list! To help implement your resolutions (or those of your friends and family members), I recommend the following books, most of which are written by nutrition experts: registered dietitians (RD).

     Most of these titles are available at www.ncescatalog.com or www.gurze.com -- two websites that specialize in reputable food, nutrition and diet books. (If the book is not at one of those sites, you’ll find it on amazon.com.)

 Changing for Good by James Prochaska.
When you know what you should eat,  but just don’t do it, Changing For Good can help you understand why you get stuck—and how to move forward. The author is respected for his research on the process of how people change their behaviors--be it eating better, losing weight, drinking less alcohol, stopping smoking, or exercising regularly.  

Thin for Life, Second Edition  by Anne Fletcher RD
Who can better help you lose weight than people who have done it successfully? Fletcher interviewed weight loss masters and compiled the information to offer hope and “thinspiration” to dieters who struggle with losing either 5 or 50 pounds. You, too, can learn how to lose weight and keep it off! 

Sober for Good: New Solutions for Drinking Problems--Advice From Those Who Have Succeeded   by Anne Fletcher RD
If you are ready to stop drinking but need help taking the first steps, Sober for Good shares the wisdom of former problem-drinkers who are now grateful for their new lives.

 Your Diet is Driving Me Crazy: When Food Conflicts Get in the Way of Your Love Life by Cynthia Sass RD
The stress of living with a dieting spouse can take its toll. This book addresses interpersonal food issues, such as “If only you’d eat meat, honey, we could enjoy the same meals...”  or  “You act like a food cop who monitors every morsel I eat...” The entertaining style helps couples laugh about differing food styles and replace conflict with peace. 

The Rules of “Normal” Eating by Karen Koenig
If you have ever wondered “Why can’t I just eat normally?”, this book will teach you how to get off the on-a-diet, off-a-diet roller coaster that monopolizes many athletes’ lives. In a light hearted style, Koenig talks about how to peacefully manage food, life, emotions, stress and weight.  

Nutrient Timing: The Future of Sports Nutrition by John Ivy and Robert Portman
Written by two respected exercise physiologists, this book is perfect for athletes who are serious about weight training and want to take their sports diet to the next level. You’ll learn the importance of what and when to eat to optimize muscles. Scientific but understandable. 

Sports Nutrition: A Practice Manual for Professionals by Marie Dunford RD, Editor
Published by the American Dietetic Association and written for sports dietitians and health professionals, this 547 page tome is a comprehensive resource for serious athletes who want in-depth information about fueling to enhance performance. Covers all aspects of sports nutrition. 

Nancy Clark’s Food Guide for Marathoners

Cyclist’s Food Guide: Fueling for the Distance  by Nancy Clark RD
If you are a novice cyclist or runner who is venturing into the world of endurance exercise (such as the AIDS ride or a Team In Training marathon program), these books can help you enjoy the process with energy to spare. You’ll learn how to eat for the long haul--and, if desired, lose body fat along the way. Perfect gifts for training groups;  bulk discounts are available at www.nancyclarkrd.com.

 The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food and Nutrition Guide by Roberta Duyff RD
If you want 656 pages of clear-cut food facts and eating advice, this nutrition bible is a good bet! This reputable resource separates fads from facts and answers questions from apples to zucchini, allergies to vegetarian diets. 

Mom’s Guide to Meal  Makeovers by Liz Weiss RD and Janice Bissex RD
Written by dietitian-moms (and recipe-tested by their children), this family-friendly cookbook offers abundant ways to enjoyably sneak health into your kids’ tummies. The companion website, www.mealmakeovermoms.com  offers more tips, recipes and support as well as a email newsletter. 

Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family by Ellyn Satter RD
Your Child’s Weight: Helping without Harming
Ellyn Satter RD is the expert on child feeding–and how to end the family food-feuds over eat-your-peas, no-dessert-until-you-eat-your-dinner, and other such controversial topics. If you find yourself struggling to manage your children’s food intake and weight, these books are for you!  

The College Student’s Guide to Eating Well on Campus by Ann Litt RD
Litt’s how-to food guide can help student athletes navigate campus food and consume adequate protein despite being vegetarian, fuel properly for sports even when traveling, and survive exams with energy to spare. It’s the perfect going-away gift for new college students.  

The Dietitian’s Cancer Story by Diana Dyer RD
Even seemingly healthy athletes get cancer, and this book is a god-send when faced with a cancer diagnosis. Written by a three-time cancer survivor, Diana knows her stuff when it comes to managing food during and after cancer treatment. This truly helpful guide offers the how-to information cancer patients need to eat well enough to fight the cancer, get back on their feet, and enjoy an optimal recovery diet.  

Sports dietitian Nancy Clark RD counsels both casual exercisers and competitive athletes in her successful private practice at Healthworks (617-383-6100), the premier fitness center  in Chestnut Hill, MA. You can purchase her best-selling Sports Nutrition Guidebook, as well as her Cyclist’s Food Guide and Food Guide for Marathoners at www.nancyclarkrd.com and www.sportsnutritionworkshop.com