mommymedia : nutrition

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:52:00 GMT

Combining their medical expertise with the input of their two sons, William and Martha Sears co-authored a comprehensive resource guide for raising your newborn through the terrible two’s. Amazon readers swear by the parenting techniques and advice, and after a whopping 878 customer reviews, this book ranks a commendable 4 out of 5 stars.

More specifically, this book focuses on the essential needs of babies and “The Seven Baby B’s of Attachment Parenting.” Is your baby constantly crying at night? This book reassures your natural instinct to respond to your baby’s cries. “A baby whose cries are not answered does not become a ‘good baby’ (though he may become quiet); he does become a discouraged baby,” explain William and Martha Sears.

Other topics range from the art of carrying your baby to feeding your toddler, and this contemporary guide will help you find a happy medium between your own parenting style and professional advice.

Pick up a copy here.

The Practical Encyclopedia of Pregnancy, Babycare and Nutrition for Babies and Toddlers

Satya — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:04:00 GMT

This is a great reference book for pregnant women and parents of children up to 18 months of age. It covers all the basics that mom and dad will need to know and includes valuable information on feeding a newborn, recipes, fussy-eaters guides, nutritional information and more.

The largest section features homemade baby food recipes. The recipes range from simple purees for babies just beginning to eat solids to thicker styles for older babies, as wells as more well-rounded recipes for toddlers. Each recipe includes nutritional information for easy reference.

This book may leave the reader wanting more information as it tends to cover topics broadly without delving into too much detail. However, it is a great starting point for expecting and new parents. Pick up a copy here.

Eating for Pregnancy: An Essential Guide to Nutrition with Recipes for the Whole Family

Satya — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:51:00 GMT

What is the one bad thing about having your own personal library of pregnancy books? Most of them only have a nine-month shelf life! So what should you do with them once your family is complete? You can sell them back to a used book store at half price, you can sell them at a garage sale for fifty cents a piece, or you can pass them down to your family members as they become pregnant. But wouldn’t it be nice to buy a book that you could still use after baby is born? “Eating for Pregnancy” is that book. It combines both recipes and nutritional advice aimed specifically at the mother-to-be, but moms who use the book while pregnant often find that they continue to use it after their babies are born. One mom says, “You don’t have to be pregnant to reap in the wonderful results of this cookbook,” adding that it is “chock full of priceless information on the nutrients we need, which foods have them and how to cook them.” Another plus, authors Jones and Hudson address the requirements of diabetic, vegetarian and vegan diets. Each recipe is followed by tips for cooking, storage, health and special diets, as well as complete meal ideas, variations and the approximate nutritional content. We especially like how each recipe highlights the nutritional goals for baby and mommy-to-be, aptly called "What’s in this for baby and me." Best of all, you’ll appreciate the plethora of information this cookbook has to offer years after your baby is born. Pick up a copy here.

The New Breastfeeding Diet Plan

Satya — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:54:00 GMT

The New Breastfeeding Diet Plan is a must-read for any mother, although it would be better described by a title like A Guide to Nutrition during Reproduction. The information it provides is not only valuable during the breastfeeding phase, but also during pregnancy, after birth and beyond.

While the technical language used by authors Rountree and Block may be confusing as they explain how the body works and reacts to nutrients and minerals from different foods, it is well worth taking the time to analyze it and understand it.

The New Breastfeeding Diet Plan is the kind of book that you’ll want to keep close by for reference as it’s filled with helpful resources from where to get nutritious foods and organics to information on toxins found in breast milk and how to reduce them. It also includes a list of other books that focus on nutrition and recipes for families.

The authors’ expertise really shines through in every chapter of the book. Their voices are caring and understanding, making it a more pleasant read than some of the more cookie-cutter parenting books out there. And although it is dense with information, it is a relatively small book making for a quick read and a good go-to reference guide.

The bottom line? The New Breastfeeding Diet Plan is a great book that encompasses everything you need to know about nutrition for you and your baby. Pick up a copy here.

Big, Beautiful and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:45:00 GMT

Almost half of all pregnant women in the U.S. are overweight, but there are few places for them to get reliable information and helpful advice on the special set of challenges they’ll face during their pregnancies. While plus-sized pregnant women are at a higher risk for certain complications, by receiving the right care, they can help minimize weight-related pregnancy issues.

Written by Cornelia van der Ziel, an obstetrician who specializes in plus-sized pregnancies, and Jacqueline Tourville, a childbirth professional and plus-sized mom herself, “Big, Beautiful and Pregnant” is a witty and down-to-earth guide that can help the plus-sized mommy-to-be navigate her pregnancy. It answers all the questions any overweight mom might have, including whether her pregnancy is going to be difficult because she’s overweight, how she can find a doctor who understands her needs, whether she’s destined for a c-section because of her extra pounds, if there are any special medical risks to her unborn child, where she can find maternity clothes in extra-large sizes, and more. It also covers topics ranging from fertility and nutrition to gestational diabetes and labor and delivery.

“Big, Beautiful and Pregnant” offers a unique blend of sound medical advice, warm reassurance, and fun. Readers will appreciate the information, inspiration, a sense of sisterhood, and reassurance that you can have a healthy and happy pregnancy. If you’re an overweight mommy-to-be who wants the skinny on what to expect from pregnancy and childbirth, “Big, Beautiful and Pregnant” is the book for you.

Get a copy here.

The Pregnancy Cookbook

Madelyn8278 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:49:00 GMT

Married couple and co-authors Doctor Hope Ricciotti and Chef Vincent Connelly offer a logistical balance of fact and flavor in “The Pregnancy Cookbook,” a practical guide to nutritious-but-delicious meals for any mommy-to-be. Combining professional experience and personal insight, the authors give expectant moms sound advice on how to eat nutritiously for two.

In addition, “The Pregnancy Cookbook” offers dozens of delectable dishes made from ingredients bursting with the most important nutrients you and your baby need. The book’s clear, informative chapters are chock-full of health and nutritional information, as well as nearly 150 creative recipes for meals that are both quick and easy to prepare.

Nancy E. Oriol, associate dean for student affairs at Harvard Medical School, says of the book, “I wish I had had access to such a simple and complete guide when I was a busy young pregnant doctor.” Other moms have called “The Pregnancy Cookbook” a must-have, saying the recipes are so good that even though they’re no longer pregnant, they continue to use it!

Pick up a copy here.