Carbohydrate-Addicted Kids: Help Your Child or Teen Break Free of Junk Food and Sugar Cravings - For Life!

Does your child crave cookies, ice cream, candy, and sodas? He or she may be suffering from carbohydrate addiction: "a compelling hunger, craving or desire for carbohydrate-rich foods; an escalating, recurring need or drive for starches, snack foods, junk food, sweets." In Carbohydrate Addicted Kids, Richard and Rachael Heller, authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, have developed a program specifically for children and teens to free them from their dependence on carbohydrates and improve their attitude, weight, learning, and self-esteem. Rachael Keller's own moving story--enduring ridicule and loneliness because of her weight, and topping 300 pounds by age 17--draws the reader in. Not until age 36 did she discover that her dieting (including sugar-filled meal-replacement drinks and juice fasts) only made her crave sweets more, and that limiting her carbohydrate intake made the cravings disappear. She dropped 165 pounds by eating high-protein breakfasts and lunches, salads and vegetables, and balanced dinners.

The Kellers explain how to figure out if your child is addicted to carbohydrates, and, if so, what type (locust, rabbit, bear, sponge, or fruit bat). Since one size doesn't fit all, they present two different programs--"Step-by-Step" and "Jump-Start"--each with many variations. Recipes are included. --Joan Price