vention. Unfortunately, the quality of thefilm print IS poor, possibly due to the tran­scnption process.

PAMPHLETBuilding a Better Diet, USDA, 1979. FromFood and NutritIOn Service, USDA,Washington, DC 20250, 16 pp., programaid No. 1241, smgle copy free.

Brief and to the pomt, this artfully de­sIgned pamphlet presents clear descrip­tIons of the Five Food Groups and summa­rizes some facts about salt, fat, sugar, andsnacks m the diet. It lacks any mention ofalcohol. Although written for food stampusers, this excellent informational pIece ISuseful to all, ages 10 and older.

COMIC BOOKFood Comics, Rlfas, L., 1980. FromEducomlcs, Box 40246, San Francisco, CA94140, 34 pp., $1.25.

Stones on tOPICS such as agribusiness,megavitamins, pesticides, and sugar fill thiscomIC, half of it written for youth and theother half for adults. But many readers,especially chIldren, may be more confusedthan entertaIned or mformed by the au­thor's crusade "to publicize the dangerousconsequences" of the present food system.

MODELSFat Reduction in the Diet: A prescriptionfor weight control, Wedman, 8., 1981.From Nasco, 901 Janesville Ave., Ft.Atkmson, WI 53538, fat and food models,50 plastic cubes, teacher's guide, 7 pp., 5spirit masters, $59.95.

The highlight of this package is the5-pound blob, about 15" X 6", of "hu­man" fat. The remainmg plastic modelsrepresent foods with varying amounts offat: chIcken, fish, ground beef, bologna,

VOLUME 13 NUMBER4 1981

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

cheese, and peanut butter. Small yellowcubes, deSIgned to attach into rows, repre­sent grams of fat and might be used to dem­onstrate the amount of fat in these andother foods. Teachers of weight controlwill want to conSIder positive means of uti­lizing the fat model in partIcular so as toawaken patients to health nsks rather thanto dimmlsh what mIght already be a shakyself-image. The accompanying pnnt mate­rials are too general to be of much use.

AUDIOVISUALFoods for Health, University of CaliforniaCooperative Extension, 1980. From VisualMedia, UnIversity of CalIfornia, DaVIS, CA95616, 75 slides, audiocassette (inaudiblecues), 17 min., script, 16 pp., $37.03.

Slow and repetitIous, this self-mstruction­al program defines the Five Food Groupsand covers basic nutrients, foods, and serv­ings in each. It is appropriate for adult au­diences who have no background in nutri­tion.

POSITION PAPERThe Health Effects of Caffeine, Mosher,B.A., 1981. From American CounCIl onSCIence and Health, 1995 Broadway, NewYork, NY 10023, full report, 102 pp., $10;summary, 15 pp., $2.

Health professionals confronted withquestIOns and concerns about caffeme willfind this extensive report thorough and welldocumented. The ACSH concludes thatcaffeme consumption at the normalamount of less than 300 mg/day, or about3 cups of brewed coffee, is not a senoushealth threat; but at levels of 600 mg/day,it may cause health problems. The bulk ofthe report dIscusses central nervoussystem, cardiovascular, reproductive, andgenetic effects of caffeme. Additional sec­tions explore the possible relationship ofcaffeine and cancer and present informa­tion on consumptIOn, physiological ef-

fects, and regulatory optIons. The synopsispamphlet highlIghts the points of major in­terest to the public.

LEAFLETHealth Style-A self test, U.S. DHHS,1981. From NatIOnal Health InformationClearinghouse, Box 1133 (CN),Washington, DC 20013, 10 pp., free.

This SImple test enables people to Iden­tIfy aspects of their present lifestyle whichmay endanger their health. Nutrition IS I ofthe 6 briefly addressed tOPICS.

COOKBOOKI Can Do It! I Can Do It! Cookbook forpeople with very special needs, Cox, B.,1979. From K & H Publishing Co., 3300West Pacific Coast HIghway, Suite F,Newport Beach, CA 92663,63 pp., spiral­bound, $21.95.

ThIS food preparation gUIde fordevelopmentally dIsabled teens and adultscontains simple, low-cost recIpes for aboutI week of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.Unfortunately, nutrition receives minimalattentIOn. The author mcludes many con­venience items, and the Four FoodGroups, although mentIoned briefly, arenot used well as a menu planning gUIde.Small, step-by-step photos accompanyeach recipe but do not serve as complete m­struction. For success with this cookbookthe users must have motor coordmatIonand reading ability or must have access tosuperVIsion.

Stephame Turner, M.P.H. Candidate,School of PubliC Health, NutntlOn,Umverslty of Callforma, Berkeley, CA94720.

VIDEOCASSETTENutrition Puppets, 1980. From Audio-VI­sual Resource Center, 8 Research Park,Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, 1930-second public service announcements,2" Highband Quadraplex, $625; v."U-matic, $335; !/2" VHS or Betamax,$250; 2-day preVIew, $12.

Mother Hubbard and her dog, or in thIScase Grandma and Puddles, open the cup­board to learn about a vanety of food andnutritIon tOPICS such as snacks, lunch, junkfood, protem, and whole grams. Aftersmging and dancing food puppets do theiract In front of changing photo back­grounds, the cupboard closes and Grand­ma and Puddles reflect the essence of eachsegment in a clever punchline. Although

JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION 159