Start Fresh!: Your Complete Guide to Midlifestyle Food and Fitness.

Janet Collins is a freelance writer in Sechelt, British Columbia.

Everyone can improve their general health and fitness by adopting a healthy lifestyle. However, many in midlife find it especially hard to break bad habits. Former Olympians Doug and Diane Clement, who are themselves striding through their middle years, have developed a step-by-step guide to help get older readers back on track.

The book opens with a guide to assessing your current level of health—both physical and dietary. It moves on to outline a plan for eating right and preparing healthy meals. There are also tips for adopting a realistic fitness plan.

The walk/run fitness plan requires no fancy, expensive equipment—just running shoes, a water bottle, and a stopwatch. A power walk program is thoughtfully included for those wishing to forego the running portion of the routine. Charts showing how long various activities (walking, swimming, cycling, skiing, etc.) need to be sustained in order to burn 600 calories are helpful for those preferring other forms of exercise. Strength training routines (some of which require weight machines) are also included.

The food portion of the guide spends little time chastising readers for their wayward habits. Rather, it stresses the positive aspects of maintaining a balanced diet. Menu suggestions are provided for everything from daily meals and snacks to suggestions for entertaining at home or dining out. Even fast food options are included.

The bulk of the book is devoted to recipes that incorporate chef Diane Clement’s nutrition principles. Each recipe includes a nutritional breakdown and tips for enhancing the health benefits of any given dish.

That fact that this book is endorsed by the likes of Rick Hansen with a forward by Pat Quinn underscores the value of the content. Bonus: the Clements’ enthusiasm for the subject of achieving and maintaining good health is infectious.