Fueling the Teen Machine

Ellen Shanley, M.B.A., R.D., C.D.-N.
Colleen Thompson, M.S., R.D.

A guide for teens and adults that explores the strange and wonderful eating practices of teenagers–what to accept, what to modify slightly, and what may cause trauma in one or the other. A Non-Preachy Guide to Getting Teens on the Right Diet Track:

• Reasonable alternatives in a world of junk food and fries
• Straight info in easygoing context about nutritional needs of teen years
• Real recipes from real teens with food that is edible and meant to inspire others to try

Fueling the Teen Machine was created by two registered dieticians who felt teenagers were often lectured about eating, but were seldom given useful facts about food and nutrition. They set out to deliver sound information on everything from eating disorders, to evaluating diets, vegetarianism, and fast food.

The idea that teens didn't want, or couldn't handle, sound nutrition information, did not hold up for the authors in their experience with teens or in their clinical practice. Ellen Shanley and Colleen Thompson believed that teens were just as interested as anyone else in health and fitness and they proved it in programs that they created and ran in their community. Ultimately this led to contests in local newspapers that produced the recipes created by teens included in the book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - The Basics
Chapter 2 - Find Your Fuel
Chapter 3 - Vitamins and Minerals
Chapter 4 - Weight Management
Chapter 5 - Eating Disorders
Chapter 6 - Vegetarianism
Chapter 7 - Sports Nutrition
Chapter 8 - Funky Foods
Chapter 9 - Fast Facts on Fast Food
Chapter 10 - Meal Planning
Chapter 11 - Cook It!

Authors

Ellen Shanley, RD, CD-N, MBA, is a registered dietician and a faculty member in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut. She teaches courses in food system management and directs a program in dietetics. She lives in Glastonbury, CT and is the author of numerous articles and a cookbook for kids.

Colleen Thompson, MS, RD is also a registered dietician and manages the Team Nutrition Training Grant in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut. She lives in Wallingford, CT and teaches courses in nutrition at UConn. She co-authored the Kids Cookbook with Ellen Shanley.