It seems like every pregnancy, diet and health book advocates the exact same diet. Is this a conspiracy? Has this diet even been tested on lab rats? What is the research behind these guidelines?

Let's review the books recommendations.

*Eat Lean Meats
*Eat lots of Grains
*Eat lots of fruits and veggies
* No Junk food - this is good advice except half the foods in the book, such as foods with processed flours, and soy are unhealthy (junk food). The author mistakenly says that artificial sweeteners are okay during pregnancy, which is completely false and misguided and also recommends sweeteners like fructose, which is artificial.

The book parrots advice from US governmental agencies, even quoting the USDA as if they know something about our health, which they usually do not.

Finally, we need healthy fats from whole foods to be healthy. Pregnant women get essential vitamins from healthy fats, that's why even this book recommends fish, and eggs for pregnancy. But they unfortunately go on to say saturated fats are unhealthy, this doesn't make sense since eggs and fish have saturated fats.

Indigenous groups across the planet, who had healthy babies, and uncomplicated births knew what to eat during pregnancy. Special foods included raw grassfed dairy, sea foods which included the organs, and fatty foods from the land and sea. Healthy people never had refined flour, or "organic" breakfast cereals or soy milk. By returning to a whole foods diet based upon generations of healthy people, rather than listening to mainstream, nonfactual and unscientific medical beliefs which we are to take on blind faith, we can reclaim our pregnancy health. Learn how to do it in Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (ages 0-6).

I love this book, but alot of the recipes call for things that aren't everyday household items.

If you have no clue about basic nutrition, this book is for you. If you are a healthy eater and a pretty well informed person, you don't really have to get this book unless you want confirmation that you're doing all the right things.

Sometimes in these times it's hard to make the time to eat properly for our growing baby. This book made it helpful to make sure I am eating the proper things....

I loved this book, it helped my break done the dos and donts for being a first timer. I am hungry all the time and it really helped me break down the good and bad calories. I have always struggled with eating healthy, and this did wonders for me.

I bought several books and this one was the most comprehensive.
Bought and recommended it for several friends.

I bought this book for my wife at her request. She has loved it and enjoyed the useful information about nutrition during pregnancy.

This is a recipe book, and that's it. Perfect if that's what you're looking for, but if you live in the real world and eat out from time to time there really are no good tips in here. Essentially what you get is, "cook for yourself" or "learn to punch your way out of a wet paper bag" (I choose the latter for hopefully obvious reasons). Thinking for yourself isn't overrated after all!

Purchased this book along with the "what to eat" publication as an early gift for a nervous mother-to-be. It was received with much appreciation by this first-time mommy who was seeking information in order to have a sucessful pregnancy and a healthy baby. A useful tool in gaining knowledge from one source rather searching thru many others. It's also something that can be appreciated as it is passed along to another mom-to-be.

I wish I would have had this during my first pregnancy. I had asked all of my health care professionals what I should eat and how I should take care of myself during that crucial time, but the standard reply was always, "Eat healthy and exercise." This book defines what eating healthy and taking care of yourself during pregnancy involves. It includes tips on weight gain, pre-pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, information on low carb and vegetarian diets as well as family-friendly recipes.

Buying 2 days of food using this cookbook cost over $90 in our local grocer. So while the recipes are good, we are using them in extreme moderation as many of the main ingredients are hard to come by and expensive.

I bought this book to help me get ready for getting pregnant. I looked at it like a 'diet' book for pregnancy to prepare my eating habits ahead of time. Lots of nutritional and medical info plus good recipes. Good Stuff!

Because drinking diet cola was a daily ritual my friend gave me a copy of a book called the T_r_u_t_h about C_a_f_f_e_i_n_e. I read that those who drink cola may experience a decrease in bone density -- a precursor to osteoporosis, it made me think twice. Carbonated sodas -- especially colas -- are highly acidic. There is a whole lot more in this book and I highly recommended it.

I don't appreciate a list of "forbidden fruit" that includes maple syrup, honey, chocolate syrup, candy, commercial salad dressings, cookies, etc. I think we all know to eat these things in moderation. As other reviewers state, a lot of what's in this book is common sense or is in other books that are more practical. Many of the recipes seem like more trouble than I am willing to put in, especially when I am tired and sick to my stomach.

The most helpful sections are on selection groups (what constitutes a protein serving, a bread serving, etc.) and the appendix which includes a lot of recommended nutrition information and short menu ideas.

Got this book by mistake. It is OK but there is nothing in it that you don't get at the ante netal classes. Would reccomend what to expect when your expecting instead.

I expected this book to talk more about nutrition than "What to expect when you are expecting". But it says the same thing. This book didn't suit my needs at all because it asks a pregnant woman, who can barely remember to turn the oven off when she's finished, to cook gormet meals. I was an excellent cook pre-pregnancy, and these meal plans and suggestions would have been difficult, time-consuming, and costly even then! If anyone CAN indeed cook like a gormet cheif when pregnant and has the dough to spend on it, by all means, this book is for you.

I expected this book to talk more about nutrition than "What to expect when you are expecting". But it says the same thing. This book didn't suit my needs at all because it asks a pregnant woman, who can barely remember to turn the oven off when she's finished, to cook gormet meals. I was an excellent cook pre-pregnancy, and these meal plans and suggestions would have been difficult, time-consuming, and costly even then! If anyone CAN indeed cook like a gormet cheif when pregnant and has the dough to spend on it, by all means, this book is for you.

I really liked the What to Eat when You're Expecting (an older edition of this book). This new edition has more recipes than the old book (and few, if any, repeats). I prefer the format of the old book for the nitty-gritty nutrition info.

I really liked the What to Eat when You're Expecting (an older edition of this book). This new edition has more recipes than the old book (and few, if any, repeats). I prefer the format of the old book for the nitty-gritty nutrition info.

I took this book out of the library, but decided to buy it because I wanted to own the recipes. There is a great variety of recipes for all meals of the day and snacks. Most of the recipes are lower fat and sugar and higher fiber and protein versions of your favs. They don't elimate the bad things, but they do limit it and work in more whole grains and veggies then I normally do in my cooking.

As for the other reviewers comment about the grapes on page 82 - I can see how she got confused, but they actually say: "...;a slice of whole wheat bread, an ounce of cheddar cheese, and a half cup of grapes equals 200 calories." They are talking about how to get the most variety of vitamins in your snacks.

Many who buy this book may find the info rather simplistic, which it is. Eat a variety of highly nutritious foods. But, buy it for the recipes.

I took this book out of the library, but decided to buy it because I wanted to own the recipes. There is a great variety of recipes for all meals of the day and snacks. Most of the recipes are lower fat and sugar and higher fiber and protein versions of your favs. They don't elimate the bad things, but they do limit it and work in more whole grains and veggies then I normally do in my cooking.

As for the other reviewers comment about the grapes on page 82 - I can see how she got confused, but they actually say: "...;a slice of whole wheat bread, an ounce of cheddar cheese, and a half cup of grapes equals 200 calories." They are talking about how to get the most variety of vitamins in your snacks.

Many who buy this book may find the info rather simplistic, which it is. Eat a variety of highly nutritious foods. But, buy it for the recipes.

After tossing the predecessor to this book in the garbage, I was a bit hesitant to fork over the cash for this new edition. I'm a bit ambivalent about my investment. It is a kindler, gentler version, though not as friendly as the Dr. William Sears series of books, which I highly reccommend for all things baby and family. (I wish they had a book on pregnancy nutrition . . . sigh)

I'm giving it only three stars because I feel the information could have been presented in a more organized fashion--looking up specific subjects had me digging through 4-5 differnt chapters. And there was no appendices or a bibliography. I also found an error, which while small, makes me question how well they checked their facts. Now I feel the need to verify all the information independantly, which, after spending $12.95 plus tax I find vexing. Page 82 claims that a half a cup of grapes contains 200 calories! Look it up yourself, but I'm pretty darn sure that 1 whole cup has only 60-100 calories. Hopefully pregnant women everywhere won't give up grapes! Lowfat frozen yogurt has only 120-130 calories per half cup, so this must be wrong. I'll be keeping my eye out for more mistakes.

Sadly, this is the only book out there (that I could find) on pregnancy and nutrition, and although I'm not pleased with it entirely, it is better than "What to Eat When You're Expecting" and the recipes look edible. Go ahead buy it, check your facts and please, please, any gifted writer/dieticians out there--Start Writing!

This book has great info. and great recipes. I have made a few and My family really likes them. I'm greatful for a book that has info and recipes that are easy to use.

This book has great info. and great recipes. I have made a few and My family really likes them. I'm greatful for a book that has info and recipes that are easy to use.