Any mother worth her salt is going to be looking for ways to best nourish her family, and that includes the precious little ones still in the womb. There are many opinions out there on what’s best for you and yours , but Nina Planck’s new book, Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby’s First Foods
is by far is the one that I’ve agreed with the most! Her advice in invaluable and her own life experience is both fun, amusing, and touching. This book was written after her first was in the toddler stage and when she was pregnant with twins (whom she carried to full term, had a VBAC delivery with both of them, and who are now being nursed and loved at home).
Many of you will know Nina from her first book, Real Food: What to Eat and Why. There she outlines what “real food” really is and what it’s not. I loved her book for standing up for real (that is, nourishing) foods, and her insightful discussion of recent research. I love the mix of examining research and appreciating real food. She brings a lot to the table (pun intended!).
Her new book brings that same mix of appreciation for traditional foods for fertility, pregnancy, post-partum and feeding your toddler and backing up her claims with research, logic, and humor. She also makes it personal by weaving her own story throughout the book. I think that a book on healthy food could be quite boring, but I have read through this book now one and a half times, and both times I’ve become engrossed! The blend of her story with the research and tips keep me reading all the way through.
Rather than simply sharing what nutrients are important, she shares what foods go along with those nutrients. For example, men need vitamin E, zinc, vitamin c, iron, folate, among other nutrients for good fertility. Women need the same, plus others. She shares what whole foods will give you these nutrients. Because she has some handy charts in the book, listing needed nutrients and foods, I have found it easy to flip to a section and find the info I need (for my next pregnancy, I will probably photocopy some of these charts to keep within easy access).
Most of all, what I appreciate about this book is that she somehow manages to share a lot of information without seeming condemning or overwhelming you. Truthfully, our bodies need a lot of different nutrients just to survive, let alone make a baby! So looking at all of the nutrient needs can seem like a steep order. But she gives such simple, yet clear guidelines that it does seem doable after all. That is a feat in itself!
Just one last note, I recommended her first book to a dear friend, who ended up loving the book. However as a conservative Christian, she was a little nervous about the evolutionary view point that appeared here and there. I think the wonderful thing is that those of us with different viewpoints can still agree on what to eat! You will find a lot of helpful information here, even if you don’t see eye to eye on the origin of Man.
There are a lot of really meaty quotes that I could share with you about how toxins are bad for you and your baby, why certain foods are vital to your health, and so on, but I wanted to share just one quote to show her practical advice as well.
“Slow down and take the long view. You have forty weeks to eat well. It’s better not to think about daily consumption of any nutrient or any food. The fabulous, abundant banquet of good foods in pregnancy books including this one, is just a notion, a list of options to encourage you. No matter what they say, you simply do not need to eat all of these foods every day, and you’ll be miserable if you try. ”
This is the kind of book, filled with practical and reassuring advice along with the meaty information you need to nourish yourself that all of us need! She challenges you to eat well, shares research frankly, but does so without piling excessive worry on you. If you are considering getting pregnant or are, I definitely recommend you get this book! I think that it will be invaluable to any pregnant woman.
And today, we will be giving away two, autographed copies of Real Food for Mother and baby. I am so excited!
To enter, all you need to do, is click on the link below to check out Nina’s site and then come back here to leave a comment saying why you would like a copy of this book. For a second entry, follow Nina on twitter (you will find her twitter link on her site) and then come back here and let me know that you are.
I am thrilled to say that Nina just signed on to be a sponsor with Real Food Media! Like all of the giveaways done with my sponsors I will be receiving a small compensation for hosting this giveaway.
Contest Rules
This contest will end Tuesday, November 17th at 11:59 PM PST. The winner will be chosen via random.org, and will be announced on November 19th. The lucky winner will have 48 hours to contact me with his or her full name, address, and phone number. You must live within the United States to enter this contest.
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Erin
such good info. for myself and then to pass on to others! thanks for the give-away!
Michelle Rover
I am following Nina on Twitter : )
Mike
I would enjoy as copy of this book, as would my wife! Eating real food is freeing in so many ways. We loved her first book. Thank you!
Corinne
The ideas in the book sound similar to my daughter-in-law’s way of living. I would love to give the book to her as they hope to have many children. Their 1st child and our 1st precious grandbaby Ezekiel was born 4 months ago, but lived only two days. What heartache we have all endured. It was a complete shock to everyone, including the doctor. Reports show he had an FOD (fatty oxidation disorder), probably one called MCAD. It is genetic, a recessive gene that my son and his wife happen to have and passed on to Ezekiel. There is a good chance that future children will have this also. It is treatable, as long as you know you have it. The info. in this book would be an encouragement and confidence booster for her, as treating an FOD is all about healthy, frequent eating of the appropriate kinds of foods for the individual diagnosis.
Honor Hawkins
Thank you for considering me!
I became a farmer’s market disciple about 2 years ago. Food became something uplifting and exciting for the first time in my whole life! And my health in the months that followed just bloomed.
I’m now 36 and 3 months pregnant with my first. And oh the irony, after my 2 years of clean and healthy eating, I’ve been living on saltines and white pasta for 3 months — at a time when I want more than ever to be healthy. It’s been a challenge. Those symptoms are fading, luckily, but I would love to have a copy of this book to help me get back to the nourishing habits I know would be best for baby and me. And if I can laugh a little along the way, well that would be fantastic. Thank you for telling us about this great resource!
Ashley Waring
I loved her book Real Food and would really like to hear what she has to say about healthy eating while pregnant. So much of what I’ve read elsewhere either recommends foods that I know are not healthy or seems to be written in a way that feeds worry and fear.
Michelle
I’ve had two miscarriages this year, and would like to read this book to see if there are things I can be eating that would help me carry another baby to term.
Stephanie Larsen
I would love to read this amazing book, I always felt we introduced solids too soon with my 4 yr old, who has multiple food allergies, and now I have a 11week old whom I’d like to do differently with.
THANKS!
Christina
I am expecting my third and would love to get some advice on how to eat differently this time around. Once I get past the nausea, that is.
Janice
I love her first book, and would love this book as my husband and I plan to have another child soon. Our first daughter has soy allergies which led us to traditional foods. I am also following Nina on twitter.
Thanks!
Susan Keister
This book has been on my Amazon wishlist, and I would love to win. She has an interesting site. We are hoping to be blessed with #2 soon, and I would love a comprehensive guide to eating like this.
Lydia
I would love a copy of this book for my daughters. Infertiliy seems to be te norm rather than the exception these days. I made so many mistakes in what I fed my children that it would be great for my daughters to have the right information so that they can hopefully have more healthy children.
Annie
I’ve never read her first book, and am fairly new to WAP eating. My first two children (and only children, currently) have not been able to nurse long as they were reacting to something, unidentified, in my milk. Extremely heartbreaking and frustrating, especially with the second as I thought I’d figured it out (eliminating all dairy and soy prior to the second’s birth) and this has led me to Nourishing Traditions and, Lord willing, healing my gut. It’s SUCH a difficult issue and a general MD would say I’m perfectly healthy, except I know I’m not. How can I be with having had two children not be able to nurse? Something’s not right in my body and I pray that by switching to real food my body can heal. I’d really like to read this book – thanks for having the giveaway!
Lauren
What a wonderful giveaway! I’m not pregnant (yet!) but love learning and preparing myself for future seasons of life, as well as sharing what I’m learning about health and nutrition with family and friends (some of whom have babies/are pregnant). Thanks!
Sarah
Yay! I enjoyed even reading the review, so I know I’d dive right into the book and love all the information in it. I have 2 little boys, ages 4 and 16 months, and hopefully another little one will be on the way next year at some point. We’ve always been an active, healthy family and over the past 4 years have become a very organic, health food conscious mom. My 4 year old already prides himself on being a good “healthy boy” eater. 🙂 My 16 month old, by contrast, is very picky, but I’m not giving up on him yet. So much to learn and I’m always up for it. Great site, great info, and thanks for sharing this book!
Brandy
I would LOVE to win a copy of this book. We’re fairly new to eating healthy and are very eager to learn as much as we can!! We hope to have many more children and I want to eat MUCH better next time than I did the previous two times.
Brandy
And I am following her on Twitter
Rachel
I went to her website and am following her on twitter. This book looks wonderful and I will be getting a copy whether it’s free and signed or I purchase it myself 🙂 My sister-in-law called just hours ago asking for advice on the best supplements and diet for conception and pregnancy. Needless to say, she’s been overwhelmed by her research. As a doula I’m constantly talking with friends and clients about diet, for themselves and their new babies. What a wonderful resource to share with them. Personally, I did the SAD baby cereal to purees route of first foods for my oldest child. A lot changed in a few short years and when it came time to begin feeding number two I gladly started with avocado, meat, veggies from our stew, etc.; whatever HE could pick up off his tray and feed himself. It’s wonderful to see Nina writing about the benefits of real food for infants.
Rayelle
I loved Ms. Planck’s first book, Real Food. It made eating traditional foods so logical to me. I still enjoy flipping through it every now and then! I have an 18 month old who gets pickier by the day and I would love some good common sense reading on the subject of feeding toddlers.
Joyce
I would love to win a copy of this book. I’ve had my eye on it for awhile now.
Kristi
I would love to win a copy of this book! I love Nina Planck and would definitely be able to use this book as well as share it with many friends. Thank you!
Tifany
I would love to have a copy of this book! As a mother of a three year old, I am looking forward to the day I get to carry and birth another healthy child. I would love to make sure I have covered all the bases to make my second pregnancy even better!! I am also a Nutritional Therapist and would love to read this so I can use it as a reference with clients.
Tifany
I am following Nina on Twitter too!
Rachel J.
I would love to read this book, I’m expecting to be expecting ANYTIME now 🙂 and would appreciate the combination of research and traditional wisdom that this author has found. Thank you for all your other posts as well, I’ve been a reader for a couple months now but haven’t commented yet even though I’m hooked. 🙂
Kristin
As an obstetrician, I think this would be an excellent resource for me and my patients.
Katie T.
We have made huge changes in our diet over the past year, since my daughter was born – now eating a whole foods and organic diet. I LOVED Nina’s first book. Now that we are planning for baby #2, I would love to win a copy of this book, but will buy it myself if not!
Erin
I would LOVE to read this book. I’ve been hoping one of my friends would get it so I could borrow it – It would be even better though, if I won it & was able to lend it to my friends! 😉
Lark
I’d love a copy of the book, for the simple reason that I had already planned to buy it at some point and am hoping to get pregnant with my first child in the near future. Money is tight right now, as it is for most people, so this would be a big help!
Kristi
I would love a copy of Nina Planck’s new book! I am already thinking about how to prepare my body for my next pregnancy (which may not be for another couple years) because I had such bad nausea and vomiting that I could barely eat anything the whole first trimester last time and lost a bunch of weight. If that happens again, at least I want to start with the most nourished body I can!!
Greta
I would love a copy of this book! I’m hoping to soon be pregnant with my second child, and hoping to avoid some issues from my first pregnancy. I think this book could definitely help with some of those issues!
Lorna
I would love to have this book! I wound up with a c-section this time around and my milk never came in. I’m concerned about my 6 month old’s diet of formula – she’s a totally different shape than my other kids who were breastfed – and I’d like to make it up to her now that she can start eating other things.
Jenny T.
Hello,
I checked out her website and would love to have this book! I am pregnant with baby #7! Thanks for considering me!
Donna Marie
I would love a copy of this book! I now am a proud mama to 8dc…the firsts being twins and the last being my first VBAC! I am looking to boost everyone’s diet and make my body stronger. I had such a hard time with my last 4 pregnancies but did so much better the last time as I was walking a great deal and following a nourishing traditions diet. What a difference! I want to keep this going and get deeper into the lifestyle and teach my dc to do the same. I don’t just want to be healthy..I want all of us to be exceedingly healthy and enjoy that gift together!!
Annabelle
Hi Kimi, the quote you highlighted really struck home, i think i’ve been trying to overdo it and soak flour, sprout grains and squeeze every seasonal vegetable in daily and have been feeling like we are doomed to a slow painful demise by various diseases because it’s not possible!
Unfortunately as I live in Hong Kong I can’t take part but I will probably buy a copy of this book from Amazon. Thanks for sharing.
Julia
Oh, I’ve been eying this book for so long now! I would LOVE it! I’m 16 weeks pregnant right now with #4, and trying my hardest to eat a nourishing diet (having just started down the NT path about 6 months ago as it is!), and I know this book would provide me with invaluable advice on what I should be eating to grow my baby on the best stuff possible. I’m hoping and praying I win this one. 🙂
Eva
I have a friend who has a 2 year old and just found out she is pregnant – with twins! Double surprise!! I know she won’t have a ton of time on her hands during this pregnancy as she runs after her toddler, so this book would be great for her. Thanks for doing this giveaway! 🙂
Katie
I would love a copy of the book! my Husband and I have been going back and forth on when to introduce solid foods to our baby, and which would be the best ones. With my other children, I really did not know what I was doing, and just followed main stream nutrition and rice cereal was the first food for them. I am looking forward to nourishing my baby the best way possible now!
Thanks
Katie
Brenda
The book sounds great. I’m pregnant with my 4th, and am always looking for new information! Thanks!
Jenn
I read a copy from the library and now have this book on my wishlist. I’m currently feeding a 9 month old and hope to be able to conceive my 3rd child (and maybe more to follow) with less medical intervention.
Laura
I just put this book on my Amazon wishlist the other day! I’m pregnant with my first, and while I usually maintain a balanced diet, it’s been tough this pregnancy. This would be a great resource to get me back on track and make sure my baby is well nourished.
Jen
I’ve heard so many good things about this book, but have yet to read it. I would love to win a copy! Thanks for the opportunity.
Amanda B
wow. What a cool book. I will get a copy whether I win or not! However, it would be so cool to win!! I am currently nursing my 5 month old, and have many questions about what I should eat, and then when and what I should feed her. Thanks so much!
Amanda
Herbwifemama
I got this book from the library, and loved it. I decided I would own it when I got pregnant. Two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant, 🙂 and bought the book. I was stressing a lot about food, because I was having to *constantly* eat just to keep nausea and headaches away. I love her “don’t panic” style about food. I was stressing about eating enough when I didn’t feel like eating at all, and glad to just keep down some junk food. Reading Nina’s book is a breath of fresh air and common sense among a lot of nutritional books that tell you that terrible things will happen if you don’t eat perfectly before, during, and after pregnancy.
Emily
I am pregnant with my first baby and feeling rather overwhelmed at all the “guidelines” and daily/weekly quotas I should meet according to the Brewer’s diet (recommended by Bradley method). I’d love this book to help me navigate through all the conflicting info out there!
Leigh
Wow! How do you explain to a five year old boy that “Real Food” really is better than “Fast Food”? Not very easily! We have two children and are expecting our third right now and we have in the past two years switched to a “Real Food” diet. I have devoured every “Real Food” book I can find, but am very excited about this book for the mere fact that it has all the information we need right now. . .pregnancy, toddler, and beyond! Thanks for sharing this book with us blogg stalkers! Hopfully we will win!
Holly
I have been trying to conceive for 6 years. Would love a copy of this book.
Lisa Z
This looks wonderful, something I would like to share with young women I know. I’d love to win! I will follow Nina on Facebook.
Tiffany P.
I would also love a copy of this book!
Emily @ Under$1000PerMonth
This looks like an excellent book. I would love to win it.
Anna C.
I have heard of Nina’s previous book but was not able to purchase. My husband and I are preparing to try for our first child in January and I am trying to educate myself on everything that is healthy for pregnancy and after birth. I am working on getting my husband to be on the same page with what food to feed your baby. I would love this book for the two of us to share before, during, and after the pregnancy.
I can’t wait until January 🙂 !!!!