I'm always looking for new Calorie Bargains — books and food options — to help you live a healthier lifestyle. Here are my latest finds.

STRENGTH TRAINING ANATOMY BY FREDERIC DELAVIER (HUMAN KINETICS, 2005)

Why: Ever wonder why and how the exercises in the gym actually affect your body? Which muscles the movements actually work? There's a series of books on anatomy from the fitness experts at Human Kinetics. One of the more interesting of the series is this, which gives you an intimate look at strength training from the inside out. The book has more than 400 color illustrations that show the muscles used during each exercise and how they interact with the surrounding joints. According to Human Kinetics, "Like having an X-ray for each exercise, the information gives you a multilateral view of strength training not seen in any other resource." What a great book! Actually, all the books in the series are really great, especially Yoga Anatomy. You also can buy the book with a CD-ROM that includes 34 animations.

Health bonus: The book helps get you excited and motivated to get yourself into a gym and get fit.

What we liked best: The illustrations are amazing. Each chapter focuses on one of the major muscle groups, with a total of 115 exercises for arms, shoulders, chest, back, legs, buttocks and abdomen.

What we liked least: It doesn't do the exercise for you.

Price: $19.95 for the book, $34.95 for the book with CD.

Other offerings: "Bodybuilding Anatomy," "Women's Strength Training Anatomy," "Stretching Anatomy" and "Yoga Anatomy."

Where to buy: Barnes and Noble, other bookstores or online at www.humankinetics.com.

KELLOGG'S SPECIAL K BLISS BAR (ORANGE)

Why: The bar tastes very good and satisfies snack attacks.

Health bonus: It's portion controlled.

What we liked best: The taste.

What we liked least: The ingredients.

What it replaces: Candy bars.

Price: $3.49 per six-bar box.

Other offerings: Raspberry.

Where to buy: Supermarkets and Amazon.com.

Nutritional information: 90 calories, 2g fat (0 trans fat), 17g carbs (9g sugar), 1g protein, 70mg sodium.

YOU BAR

Why: This is a really great idea. You get to build your own energy bar. Pick the base, all the ingredients, and you get your very own personalized bar. The company is innovative and smart. We ordered a bar with almond butter, a few nuts, raisins and cherries. The bar was only 170 calories (which you also can control in your choice of ingredients) and it was delicious.

Health bonus: All-natural ingredients that you choose. If you have trouble choosing, you can select from their "Popular Bars."

What we liked best: The possibilities are endless, and the company guarantees the taste.

What we liked least: There are almost too many choices, and it's a bit pricey.

What it replaces: Energy bars with loads of ingredients you don't need or want.

Price: 12 bars for $40 ($3.33 a bar) plus shipping and handling.

Online: www.youbars.com

Ingredients: Pick from different categories including: base (such as dates or peanut butter or almond butter); protein powder (such as egg white protein or whey (milk) protein; nuts and seeds (such as walnuts or cashews); dried fruits and berries (such as raisins or sweetened dried cranberries); sweeteners (such as clover honey or organic molasses); seasoning (such as cocoa powder or ground cinnamon); grains (such as organic oat bran or granola); and infusions (such as vitamin infusion or protein infusion).

"SNEAKY CHEF: HOW TO CHEAT ON YOUR MAN (IN THE KITCHEN!): HIDING HEALTHY FOODS IN HEARTY MEALS ANY GUY WILL LOVE" BY MISSY CHASE LAPINE (RUNNING PRESS, APRIL 2008)

Why: It has fabulous recipes for "normal" foods that you'll love, such as Legal Donuts, Sinless Smoothies, Boosted Buffalo Wings Wrap and Charmin' Chicken Parm. Last year, the author helped parents of finicky eaters by showing them how to hide healthy food in the meals kids crave. This new book focuses on another undernourished group: men. These hearty meals successfully cloak ingredients that specifically target men's health issues: foods proven to help the heart, lower cholesterol, ensure a healthy prostate and other concerns. Now everyone in the family (kids and adults alike) can benefit from The Sneaky Chef's bag of tricks.

Health bonus: The notations under each recipe title give you clues as to the health benefits, such as "anti-oxidant boost," "low carb," "low sugar," "omega 3s," etc.

What we liked best: The style and practicality of the recipes.

What we liked least: No nutritional breakdowns (calories, etc.).

What it replaces: Traditional recipes for similar dishes.

Price: $19.95

Other offerings: "The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals" (Running Press, 2007).

Where to buy: Bookstores, including www.Barnesandnoble.com and www.Amazon.com.

Charles Stuart Platkin is a nutrition and public-health advocate, and author of "Breaking the FAT Pattern" (Plume, 2006). Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter at www.dietdetective.com.