cover image Dr. Lendon Smith's Diet Plan for Teenagers

Dr. Lendon Smith's Diet Plan for Teenagers

Lendon H. Smith. McGraw-Hill Companies, $16.95 (313pp) ISBN 978-0-07-058700-7

As a teen, Smith was a mess: he suffered from mood swings, bad breath, dandruff, nosebleeds, acne, sweaty palms, smelly feet, fat thighs and buttocks. These conditions can be alleviated by diet, he learned, and this book (written in a first-person voice, despite the double authorship) aims to put adolescents in control of their bodies. Smith (Feed Your Kids Right, Feed Yourself Right, etc., who has 35 years of medical practice, eight other books and an Emmy Award under his belt, puts forth the basics of good nutrition and six diet plans (for quick weight loss and weight gain, controlling acne and allergies, as well as programs directed at athletes and busy teens). Shulman (The Vegetarian Feastp contributes simple recipes that will introduce teens to healthful cooking and entertaining. Smith, who is chatty, humorous and soothing, addresses portions of the book to parentsan unnecessary intrusion that may turn off younger readers. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; Preferred Choice Bookplan and Meredith Book Club selections; author tour. (12-up)