I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat? ~*BOOK...

The wonderful reference/ cookbook/ nutrition guide I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat?, written by Hope Ricciotti, M.D. and Vincent Connelly, is a fantastic resource that I am glad to have discovered through a Gather review. If you are planning to become pregnant, are currently pregnant, or are post-partum, this book will be a touchstone to learn best how to feed your body and give it the best nutrition that will ultimately benefit your baby.

The text is organized into two sections: Your Diet--Your Pregnancy, and Recipes--Eating for Two. In the first section, readers will discover colorful, glossy pages and photography, as well as loads of tips about vitamins, minerals, weight gain, exercise, eating tips, and more. For each trimester, readers will find eating tips, common ailments, and observations concerning how your body is changing at this time. For example, in the second trimester, the authors explain that expectant mothers may experience hot flashes, mood swings, and constipation. What is beneficial about this reference book is how it addresses nutritional remedies for these ailments. Constipated? Add extra fiber, restrict caffeine, and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Mood swings? Adding some omega-3 fatty acids to your diet may help stabilize the shifting moods. Hot flashes? Dress in layers and make sure to stay hydrated.

Overall, the first section of the book gives practical advice about what your body truly needs during pregnancy. Here are some tips from the author:

To handle heartburn, eat smaller meals often, and not too close to bedtime

In the third trimester, take care of your iron needs because you will be depleted due to the baby's need for iron.

Fatigued? Try energizing meals that are rich in unrefined carbohydrates, such as brown rice and whole grain options.

Nausea? Ginger is a scientifically proven remedy for nausea and motion sickness. Use fresh or ground ginger in recipes, such as smoothies or meals, or suck on crystallized ginger for relief.

The second section of I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat? features sixty recipes that are designed to maximize nutritional value while tasting great. The co-author, Vincent Connelly, is a chef and the husband of Hope Ricciotti, MD. The two of them created a great resource that can help expectant or new mothers plan healthy meals without a hassle. There are recipes for cooked and quick breakfasts, light snacks/ meals, soups, salads, side dishes, speedy/ special suppers, and desserts & smoothies.

Towards the conclusion of the book, helpful nutrition charts serve as a quick reference so that you can see a particular food source (such as fats), foods that fit in that category (avocado, salmon, peanut butter), and serving sizes (1/2 fruit, 4oz, 2 TBSP). The book DOES feature tips for vegetarians throughout the first and second sections, and vegetarians can find even more tips in the nutrition charts, such as "Vegetarians should aim for four servings of protein a day." Meat, poultry, tofu, and fish--at 4oz--is one serving.

I used the "Pregnancy Superfoods" chart to restock my pantry--these are superfoods because they are loaded with nutrients that are beneficial for pregnancy:

    * asparagus
    * blueberries
    * cranberries
    * salmon
    * spinach
    * dark chocolate (YAY)
    * eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids
    * yogurt
    * silken tofu
    * pasteurized cheese

To learn more about my experience with this book & its usefulness as a reference, as well as the recipes I tried from the book, visit http://www.epinions.com/content_402111237764

I absolutely recomment this wonderful book for expecting & breastfeeding mothers. There is always something to learn about good nutrition and I appreciated that I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat? is so incredibly readable.