cover image Gordito Doesn't Mean Healthy: What Every Latina Mother Needs to Know to Raise Fit, Happy, Healthy Kids

Gordito Doesn't Mean Healthy: What Every Latina Mother Needs to Know to Raise Fit, Happy, Healthy Kids

Claudia Gonzalez, Lourdes Alcaniz, . . Berkley, $13 (295pp) ISBN 978-0-425-20770-3

In Latino culture, one of the nicest things you can say to a mother about her child is, "Oh, que lindo gordito , what a cute, chubby baby, so strong and healthy!" But a gordito child is likely to suffer diseases that will affect him or her for life: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Nutritionist González and health reporter Alcañiz—mommies both—offer this timely book explaining why it's imperative that Latino children eat properly, and how the Latino diet (and its flavors and ingredients) can be incorporated into a healthy menu. Cultural, genetic and social factors all play a role in children's health; the authors interestingly note that the longer a Latino child has lived in the U.S., the more likely he or she will be overweight, since traditional Latino diets (consumed by recent immigrants) aren't necessarily unhealthy, but "eating American" (which those who've lived here longer do) often is. The "Latino-Hispanic Food Guide Pyramid" includes traditional foods like jicama, papayas, corn tortillas and avocado; while a section on Latina mothers and breastfeeding debunks myths. Menu suggestions for newborns to 19-year-olds and a section on eating disorders complete this essential guide. (Apr.)