Are you looking for a detailed study of nutrition that engages young children and appeals to the kinesthetic learner? Nutrition 101 is a hands-on nutrition education program that brings nutrition into the kitchen and gets kids applying their knowledge through food preparation. Nutrition 101 is a book that has over 400 pages of Bible-based health, nutrition, biology, and anatomy instruction.

Nutrition 101 contains six units made up of four chapters each. Unit topics include The Brain and Nervous System; The Digestive System; The Respiratory, Olfactory, Auditory and Visual Systems; The Skeletal and Muscular Systems; The Cardiovascular and Immune Systems; and the Endocrine System and Emotions. Each unit takes approximately four weeks as each chapter is designed to be completed over one week's time. Even your youngest kids can get in on the fun by simply adapting and adjusting the material to suit the ages of the children you are teaching. This is pretty easily done. I adapted a few units for my younger children and had no problems doing so. Each chapter includes the chapter reading material, discussion questions, activities, additional resources to expand on possible interests that develop in the study, and recipes. In the additional resources section of each chapter you will find a bunch of internet links to expand your study if you choose to do so. Nutrition 101 also contains extra recipes, a glossary and an appendix containing loads of extra educational charts and information.

Nutrition 101 has a unit study approach that makes it very flexible. The start of each chapter includes a corresponding memory verse. The Christian approach was very appealing to me. The freedom to add extra resources according to my kid's interests is a huge benefit to me. I also like the ease of adjusting the material for a younger crowd. The recipes are delicious and nutritious. My daughter loves learning in the kitchen and applying each new concept by creating a yummy snack. My kids all love guacamole now and don't squirm so much over veggies.

The recipes are nutritious and yummy, but some of the ingredients are costly or a little challenging to find in my town. For example, Blue Agave Nectar isn't easy to find in standard grocery stores. Also, Walnut or Hazelnut oils might be more nutritious, but have you looked at the cost of those bottles? They just won't ever fit into my budget. This book costs $99.95 and is also available in a CD-Rom version. It's a little steep, but still fair considering all of the instruction this book provides. I'll be able to use this book for years, expanding the depth of each lesson as my children age. I think that alone makes it worth the cost.

If you are looking for a highly adaptable nutrition curriculum that has a Christian world-view and loads of educational benefit, consider giving Nutrition 101 a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

Product Review by Heather Randall, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January, 2010