Eating for pregnancy Your essential month-by-month nutrition guide and cookbook

This third edition of a nutritional guide offers recipes, menus, and health advice geared to all phases of pregnancy, from preconception to post-delivery. Before launching into the figurative and literal "meat and potatoes" portion of this collection of 150 healthy recipes for pregnancy, the authors include a lengthy introductory section that provides detailed information about nutrition as it relates to the well-being of mother and child. This portion features a list of do's and don'ts for the "pregnancy journey" and charts that show optimal caloric intake and weight gain during each trimester. Other sections explain the essential roles of macronutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as the nutritional functions of vitamins and minerals as related to the process of growing a tiny being inside one's body. Specific sections are dedicated to those with special diets, either by choice, such as vegetarian or vegan, or by necessity, such as lactose- and gluten-free, with extra detail given to the vitamin and mineral needs of those who do not consume animal products. The recipes that follow this exhaustive introduction are divided into nine chapters, one for each gestational month. Each begins with a brief introduction describing ongoing fetal development and nutritional needs. Recipes are designed to be both tempting and nourishing. Even the exceedingly simple offerings suggest additions for the adventurous, such as sliced scallions or curry powder mixed into the basic egg, celery, and mayonnaise base of "Pr-Egg-O Salad." Others deliver easy-to-prepare, restaurant quality entrees while minimizing cleanup. For "Baked Salmon and Broccoli Rabe with Scallion-Ginger Sauce," the authors suggest cooking everything on one parchment-lined baking sheet. Most recipes supply ideas for side dishes to make meal planning easy. Jones (A Year of Russian Feasts, 2002, etc.), an accomplished cookbook author; Hudson, a licensed and registered dietitian; and Knight, a physician, bring a wealth of expertise to the project. Their informational chapters are well researched and documented with extensive notes, and the recipes are varied and appealing. While the work's tone is authoritative, it is also caring and informal, like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable friend. A comprehensive manual for healthy eating that could become a pregnant woman's most helpful resource. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.