Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation 4th Edition by Amy C. Brown is a best-selling food fundamentals text ideal for an undergraduate course that covers the basic elements of food preparation, food service, and food science. It is contemporary and comprehensive in coverage and introduces students to the variety of aspects associated with food preparation.
This edition thoroughly explores the science of food through core material on food selection and evaluation, food safety, and food chemistry. The various aspects of food service are covered: meal planning, basic food preparation, equipment, food preservation, and government regulations. The final sections of the text cover food preparation, classification, composition, selection, purchasing, and storage information for a range of traditional food items. A rich illustration and photo program and unique pedagogical features make the information easily understandable and interesting to students.
Table of Contents
PART I: FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION.
- 1. Food Selection
- 2. Food Evaluation.
- 3. Chemistry of Food Composition.
PART II: FOOD SERVICE.
- 4. Food Safety.
- 5. Food Preparation Basics.
- 6. Meal Management.
PART III: FOODS.
- 7. Meat.
- 8. Poultry.
- 9. Fish and Shellfish.
- 10. Milk.
- 11. Cheese.
- 12. Eggs.
- 13. Vegetables and Legumes.
- 14. Fruits.
- 15. Soups, Salads, and Gelatins.
- 16. Cereal Grains and Pastas.
- 17. Flours and Flour Mixtures.
- 18. Starches and Sauces.
- 19. Quick Breads.
- 20. Yeast Breads.
- 21. Sweeteners.
- 22. Fats and Oils.
- 23. Cakes and Cookies.
- 24. Pies and Pastries.
- 25. Candy.
- 26. Frozen Desserts.
- 27. Beverages.
PART IV: FOOD INDUSTRY.
- 28. Food Preservation.
- 29. Government Food Regulations.
- 30. Careers in Food and Nutrition.
Key Features - This text uniquely integrates nutrition, dietetics, food industry, and food service topics, giving students a full overview of the different dimensions of food principles. The food-specific chapters are organized to follow a typical syllabus centered on the major food groups.
- Chapter 29: Food Careers showcases the variety of career options students have in the food industry. Highlights include careers associated with food service management, food science, and nutrition.
- "Professional Profiles" sections also introduce students to careers in the food and nutrition fields. These profiles include interviews from real people in the field, sharing their work experiences.
- "Nutrient Content" sections supply specific data on the nutritional content of different foods.
- "Problems and Their Causes" tables identify common food preparation errors and explain how to avoid them.
- Sixteen-page, four-color insert displays detailed photographs of various foods covered throughout the text. The text also includes numerous photos and illustrations to provide a visual context to the concepts being presented.
- Food-related websites are included at the end of each chapter to help facilitate additional student research.
- An updated LAB MANUAL includes recipes and experiments appropriate for a food principles and food preparation course, covering all the major food categories in the text. It can be bundled with the text for a valuable discount.
New to This Edition
- Calorie Control feature explores the energy value of foods and emphasizes portion control--a topic of great interest to students both as individuals and as future food service professionals catering to weight-conscious clientele.
- Chapter 2: Food Evaluation responds to reviewers' requests to create a separate chapter on this topic. Instructors can choose to include this topic as part of the basic food course or as a part of an advanced food course.
- Chapter 4: Food Safety reorganized to provide an applied approach to food safety. The content is revised to teach students practical tips on preventing food-borne illness that follow food flow--purchasing, storage, preparation, cooking, holding, cooling, reheating, and sanitation. In addition, the content is enhanced with new figures.
- Expanded coverage of functional foods, specialized food products (e.g., gluten-free foods), and food industry innovations related to ingredients and processing.
- Thoroughly updated to include the latest research, examples, and techniques related to food principles.
About the Author
- Amy Christine Brown, PhD, RD received her PhD from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1986 in the field of Human Nutrition and Foods. She has been a college professor, and a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association, since 1986. Dr. Brown currently teaches at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the Department of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Her research interests are in the area of Complementary Medicine and Medical Nutrition Therapy. Some of the studies she has conducted include "Potentially Harmful Herbal Supplements," "Kava Beverage Consumption and their effect on liver function tests," and "The effectiveness of kukui nut oil in treating psoriasis." Selected previous research journal publications include: "The Hawaii Diet: Ad libitum high carbohydrate, low fat multi-cultural diet for the reduction of chronic disease risk factors: Obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia" (Hawaii Medical Journal), "Lupus Erythematosus and Nutrition: A Review." (Journal of Renal Nutrition), "Dietary survey of Hopi elementary school students." (Journal of the American Dietetic Association), "Serum cholesterol levels of nondiabetic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats." (Artery), "Infant feeding practices of migrant farm laborers in Northern Colorado." (Journal of the American Dietetic Association), "Body mass index and perceived weight status in young adults. (Journal of Community Health), "Dietary intake and body composition of Mike Pigg - 1988 Triathlete of the Year." (Clinical Sports Medicine), and numerous newspaper nutrition columns that spanned almost a decade. Dr. Brown's purpose for obtaining her doctoral degree and main professional goal was to become a writer.
Book Details
- Hardcover: 720 pages
- Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 4 edition (©2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0538734981
- ISBN-13: 978-0538734981
- Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 1.2 x 10.9 inches
List Price: $229.95