As a teen star, Reed Alexander’s life is a balancing act. Several years ago, as he juggled career commitments and school, he lost sight of how to eat right, became overweight, and as a result, was exhausted and lethargic. Unable to find any recipes suited to a teenager’s tastes, he rolled up his sleeves and set to work in his kitchen, developing healthy versions of the foods he loves. Along the way, he became a dedicated cook, sharing his culinary discoveries with his fans and friends on his first Web site, KewlBites.com — the namesake behind the ensuing KEWLBITES cookbook.

Since then, Alexander has gained a cultlike following of both teen cooks and their parents,  creating 100 slimmed down, kid-tested, mother-approved alternatives for the foods teens love. Throughout the book, he shares the tips, tricks, and methods he used to strip his favorite dishes of their unhealthy ingredients and replace them with flavorful, nourishing ones. He also offers up advice on how to make a shopping list, navigate the grocery store, and choose the freshest ingredients possible.