Although this book offers sound and practical advice from physicians, nutritionists, and researchers, I was disappointed with its 30-day menu plan because the recommended meals, their nutritional value notwithstanding, are for the most part rather unappealing when compared to equally healthful but better-tasting choices available elsewhere. When I plan my own weekly menus, health is of course a major consideration, but my first priority is always taste. Since I am unwilling to renounce the joys of eating well, I want dishes that satisfy my love of flavorful, exciting food. Therefore, while I find this book very useful for its nutritional guidelines, when it comes to menu choices I turn to cookbooks that contain recipes for dishes that are not only healthful but also taste great. Fortunately there are a number of such books available, two prime examples being "Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen" and "The Book of Yogurt," both by Sonia Uvezian. Interestingly, I discovered this author in an issue of Prevention Magazine dating from the late 1970s, which featured recipes from her now-classic "Cooking from the Caucasus," a work that was recommended by physicians from prestigious medical institutions. Her superb yogurt book taught me how to cut fat by substituting yogurt for cream cheese, sour cream, whipped cream, and even mayonnaise, thus allowing me to put otherwise rich dishes from appetizers to desserts back into my life, with the added benefits of better nutrition and, almost always, superior flavor.