Everywoman's Book of Nutrition

Arlene Gryfe is a Toronto-based professional nutritionist and home
economist.

Jane Hope and Elizabeth Bright-See, well-known Canadian nutritionists, jointly write a weekly syndicated newspaper column on nutrition. From the questions submitted by readers, they recognized a need for a nutrition book specifically directed to the requirements of women. With the exception of information on pregnancy and lactation, very little had been published for this half of the population.

Since women have different needs at different periods of their life cycles, chapters have been written accordingly, with specific emphasis on needs during teenage years, pregnancy, lactation, and the older woman. Life style also affects one’s nutritional needs, and attention is given to drugs, stress, alcohol, smoking, fitness, and dental care. Information is also included on woman’s changing role — e.g., how to cope with participation in the labour force, or with increased complexities in the marketplace, and yet maintain a healthy nutritional state for one’s family and self.

The style of writing is easy to read and factually correct without preaching. The emphasis is not on what a person must stop doing, but rather on positive action to achieve desired results. Every situation is followed by an “Eating Strategy,” which gives easy-to-follow, sensible advice, reasons for such suggestions, and sometimes even recipes.

There is a good deal of repetition of facts, but this is not a point of criticism. Each chapter is written as a complete unit. The book is designed to be used as a reference source for information about a particular condition or situation; it is not necessarily meant to be read straight through. For example, weight control is frequently discussed, since it is important at all stages of life.

At last, there is a book written specifically for Canadian women, making frequent references to Canada’s Food Guide, Canadian standards, and Canadian situations. However, the authors (or was it the publisher?) chose to incorporate the American spelling of many words.

The cover illustration by Michael Van Elsen Design Inc. is of that most nutritional of all images, a rosy apple with a bite out of it. This idea is effectively varied to suit all the chapter headings, and it highlights the “Eating Strategy” sections, as well.

The book is an excellent addition to any person’s library.