Although we did not do any whole class work with this book, Eating Right was a definite hit in my classroom! In these times of confusing and conflicting information regarding health and nutrition, students were delighted to get their hands on a book that covers so much of the important information in such a simple way. It seemed to be just what many students, both male and female, had been seeking.

Part of the appeal of this little handbook is its manageable size and weight. It is a light, compact 95 page soft cover reference that many students were happy to carry home and back. The simple cover - bright cherries on a buff background - is eye-catching, yet uncomplicated and adult. The layout is attractive with lots of white space, large, bold headings, and several easy to interpret charts and tables. There are some graphics that are both charming and informative, without being childish or cumbersome. These are real eye-catchers, and help learners find the information they are seeking.

The chapters have titles that clearly identify what they are about: Nutrients, Getting Good Nutrition, Life Stages and Nutrition, Planning and Preparing, Shopping, Handling Food, Eating Out and Weight Control. As well, there is a preface that begins, "Information is power" and an introduction that opens with, "Most people like to eat." Learners said the "catchy" writing made them keep reading. The introduction presents some life stories of people who want to improve their diets and the conclusion suggests the realistic, healthy changes made by those people. A particularly appreciated feature of the book is the Glossary, which explains forty-four words such as anemia, cholesterol, fiber and saturated fat.

My only criticism of this useful resource is that in the "To find out more" information boxes the telephone numbers are American. A worthwhile project would be to have students find out the best local source of information for each of these topics and insert the appropriate address or phone number. These boxes cover such topics as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, shopping smart and nutrition.

An interesting note is that many who chose the book did so because they felt a need for information. After reading it, several said they felt better because they found out that they already knew more than they thought they did!