Review: Nutrition 101
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When I was first offered the opportunity to review Growing Healthy Home‘s Nutrition 101: Choose Life, I wasn’t especially excited. We’re not exactly a health conscience kind of family around here. I mean, we eat at fast food places at least once a week. What was I going to do with a healthy-eating cookbook?
I immediately realized that Nutrition 101 isn’t a cookbook. Yes, it has recipes. Yes, they’re healthy (and pretty tasty). But, Nutrition 101 isn’t a cookbook at all. It’s a complete, biblically-based health and nutrition curriculum for all ages. The 448-page, colorfully-illustrated, fact-filled book covers all these topics:
- The Brain and Nervous System
- The Digestive System
- The Respiratory, Olfactory, Auditory and Visual System
- The Muscular and Skeletal Systems
- The Cardiovascular and Immune Systems
- The Endocrine System & Emotions
Each of the six units in Nutrition 101 contains four chapters that look at how the body was designed by God, how it is intended to work and how proper nutrition (or improper nutrition) affects the performance of our minds and bodies. Each unit will help you and your family put into practice what you’re learning with:
- Discussion questions
- Activity suggestions for a variety of ages and abilities (which allows the curriculum to grow with your family so that you can use it year after year!)
- Additional resources for further study
- A “power recipe” for you to try
I’m looking forward to continuing with Nutrition 101 next school year because I think it will make the perfect resource for a high school health class, as well as a wonderful supplement to biology and home economics. I know we’ll be pulling the book out to explore the wonderful, high-quality illustrations, which are better than I’ve seen in most science books. I learned as much as the kids did in our first unit, the brain. I was fascinated learning which part of the brain controls which functions of the body. Even Brianna found it interesting, rather than dull, dry science facts. And, all the kids enjoyed the activity that had them trying to brush their teeth, eat and write with their non-dominant hand.
The huge appendix section in the back of the book is an incredible wealth of information in and of itself. It’s also the part, along with the recipes, that would make Nutrition 101 a great supplement to a home economics class. Some of the topics covered are:
- How to choose fresh produce (I took notes on that one — I had no idea how to choose many of the fruits and vegetables on the extensive list.)
- Kitchen safety
- Nutritional Recommended Daily Allowances for Men, Women and Children
- Fiber-rich Foods
- Baking with Whole Grains
Other appendix topics would be great to supplement a health class, such as:
- Reproductive Health
- Cancer
- Sleep
- Nail Health Care
- Asthma
- Labels and Household Toxins
One the most useful things about Nutrition 101 for me, as the teaching parent, was that it contained lesson plan suggestions. It was a just a simple suggestion about which parts of each chapter you might want to do for each day of the week, but that simple breakdown of the chapters and activities really made it easy to plan my week. I also really like that this curriculum has activity suggestions for elementary and secondary students, as well as suggestions for further study, so it’s something that whole family can enjoy together.
Nutrition 101: Choose Life, whose co-authors include two homeschool moms and a home ec teacher, is sold as a CD-ROM for $79.95, a printed book for $99.95, or a CD/book combo for $129.95. You might also want to take a look at the other products offered by Growing Healthy Homes.
I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Actual results may vary.
Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
I looked at this at the Southeast Homeschool Expo and was intrigued, but immediately moved on after seeing the price tag. I'll be interested to talk to you about this one.
Goodness, that's expensive! 😮
It sounds interesting ~ but I suspect I'd pass unless I could get a second hand copy somewhere.
(I know, it's detailed and has lesson plan suggestions and everything, but it just doesn't sound like something I'd be willing to spend that much money on, not for Home Ec… am I cheap? Prolly LOL ..it just seems expensive… )
We're using the Home Ec program from CLP this year 🙂
Yes, I was definitely blessed to receive this to review because the price tag would have been a deciding factor for me, as well. I think that's good feedback for the publishers, though, so thanks for mentioning it.
And, the truth is, I'd *much* rather have a printed book than an eBook, which drives the price up even more. *sigh*
I am very grateful that I've had the opportunity to review it, though, because it *is* going to make an excellent resource in the coming years. Who knows? We may even start eating healthier. 😉
I was completely hooked and ready to try this until I saw the cost of it.
Why is it that anything that has to do with nutrition and being healthy is so stinking expensive? And they wonder why America is getting fat.
Hi,
You have me howling as I read your blog. Weird, unsocialized homeschoolers just strikes me as so comical tonight.
o.k. I'm exhausted and there is homework to review.
But … I'll be back,
c
Even with the price tag this looks interesting. My 14 year old loves to cook and create in the kitchen, something like this might help count this as Home Ec., for both him and me. LOL. I'm not a terribly creative or healthy cook so it's difficult for me to guide him. Anyway, I'll be looking at this closely. Thanks for the review.
I think that's good feedback for the publishers, though, so thanks for mentioning it. ..
Yeah that's why I figured I'd go ahead and say what I thought about the cost ~ I debated for a few minutes, but figured it would be silly to not say anything…the publishers benefit from knowing what their target audience thinks. 🙂
It does sound awesome though ~ it's just the price that takes away from the appeal.
Wow — I was so bummed to see how much this costs at the end of the review. Sounds really interesting, and like it would be great to study, but we don't even spend that much on our math. LOL
Thanks for the detailed review though.
This sounds great! I'm going to have to take a look at it. Like everyone else has mentioned, though, the price is a bit high for our budget.
I have been debating on this item for months now, due to the cost. I just can't get past that. Even a 10-20% discount would help.
I happened to get this at a convention special of $99.95 for the printed book along with the cd version. I have to say that I love the book, the information inside, the pictures are beyond wonderful, accurate and detailed. I would not consider this as JUST a curriculum but as a REFERENCE book to be used for years to come.
I'm sure the cost of self pubishers is high compared to major curriculum companies.
I just went to the Nutrition 101 website and the Combo pack (book plus CD-ROM) is currently selling for $109.95. So the publishers listened!