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
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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HI,
I’d love a copy of the book- I have three children with food allergies.
We’ve been eating a Nourishing Traditions/WAP diet for the past couple of years and doing well with it.
Just what I am looking for as we think about having baby #2
I would love to win a copy of this book. I’m pregnant with our 4th child, and have been transitioning our family to a traditional foods diet over the last 6-8 months or so. I think this would be an invaluable resource for the rest of my pregnancy and beyond. I also follow Nina on twitter (thefreckledmama).
I’d love a copy of this book! I have a 2.5 mo and have just started this journey the last couple of years. I didn’t have a baby at the time. I also have fertility issues. I know we are encouraged to feed the wrong foods as baby’s first meals. I want to know the right things instead.
I too would love a copy of this book. I have been trying to get pregnant and my sister just found out she is pregnant with her first. We could use some great information that I am sure this book contains! Thanks!
I would like to get this book. I am a labor doula and this would be a valuable resource to use with my clients.
This book is at the top of my wish list! I am newly pregnant with my 4th, it will be my first 100% NT pregnancy. I flipped through the book at Border’s & it looks WONDERFUL!! Cant wait to give it a read…
Our La Leche League needs a copy of this book!! It is incredible and empowering and it has totally changed the food in our home and the choices we make.
I have an 8 month old so this would be helpful at our house.
I think I just missed the entry by a few minutes. Oh well, I’ll have to buy it.
I would like to get the book because my new husband and I are worried about our ability to have children and carry them to full term. I have only recently started to ovulate and everything is out of whack. If we do get pregnant I do not want to lose the baby based on diet alone. I am also following nina on twitter.
I’d love to read this book. As far as I know, it’s the only one of it’s kind.