THE PALM BEACH LONG-LIFE DIET

A passable diet for over 50s--buried under pretentious glop about the beautiful people of Palm Beach. Barice puts forth sound nutritional principles, geared to special needs of older adults: weight-control through measured caloric intake, combined with exercise; but a regimen high in nutrients like calcium (women especially), and low in salts and fats. This advice is incorporated into a 21-day program designed for rapid initial weight loss, followed by gradual readjustment of eating habits to maintain ideal weight and health. Menus and recipes feature some expensive ingredients (shrimp, veal), but are generally appetizing. To get to the points, however, readers will have to put up with the likes of: ""Palm Beachers have learned how to stay lean and sleek while indulging in candle-lit patio dinners, elegant lawn parties on the intracoastal, hors d'oeuvres on the yacht, and champagne and strawberries at the polo matches."" Natow and Heslin's Nutrition for the Prime of Your Life (1983) offers better advice ungarnished.