You're Pregnant, Now What Do You Eat?

I recently received a review copy of the soon-to-be-published book I’m Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat? by Harvard Medical School assistant professor  Hope Riciotti, M.D and her chef husband Vincent Connelly (DK Publishing, June 2007, $16.95). This is the book I wish I had when I was pregnant the first time. And, quite truthfully, it’s probably a good book for reading the second or third time around, too.

Now What Do I Eat? is a delicious manual on how to select the best foods throughout your pregnancy, starting with the first trimester. The colorful pages and tasty recipes will make you want to drop everything and get into the kitchen to whip up a batch of dark chocolate-dried cherries scones. Dr. Riciotti outlines the nutritional requirements for a pregnant woman and advises on how to pack your diet with folate, Omega-3 fatty acids, calcium (and even a little salt) with easy to plan meals and snacks. Did you know that new research suggests that the risk for developing cardiovascular disease may be tied to the diet a baby consumes in the womb? Your lifetime work of getting your child to eat healthy has already started!

When I was pregnant I swore off all sorts of things friends said were bad for me: greek salads, goat cheese, deli meats, caffeine, and of course, alcohol. I’m not sure what I missed more, the greek salads or the white wine. This book is a terrific resource for moms-to-be because Dr. Riciotti spells out why certain foods are important to add into your diet and why it is best to omit others. Soft cheeses are actually OK, she says, as long as they are made with pasteurized milk.

For many of us, pregnancy is a time when we start living healthier. We try to do what’s best for our babies and our bodies. In this book, you will learn the “pregnancy superfoods” as well as some tips for managing those common pregnancy ailments such as morning sickness and heartburn. I was surprised to read that incorporating crystallized ginger into your diet for four consecutive days may be able to reduce nausea.

I found so many terrific recipes in this book that I am eager to try including beef in red wine (yes, the alcohol cooks off), herb and mustard crusted salmon, cucumbers with onion, mint, and feta, and chewy snack bars even my kids would enjoy!

All this food talk is making me hungry. Tell me, what’s your favorite pregnancy treat?

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