Eating Expectantly: A Practical and Tasty Guide to Prenatal Nutrition

by Bridget Swinney, Tracey Anderson, Michael Hambidge (Foreword by)

Eating for two can be more enjoyable than eating for one...if you're Eating Expectantly! Rated one of the "ten best parenting books of 1993" by Child Magazine, this originally self-published book is now totally revised and updated for the expectant mother. This comprehensive guide reviews nearly every aspect of nutrition, from prepregnancy planning to the postnatal period. It combines information on proper nutrition with over 100 practical recipes and 200 complete menus, all of which have an important feature -- they taste good! Here is a book that details dietary information for each trimester, with extra tips on shopping and cooking,

Genres: Cookbooks, Reference

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

After giving this one a quick glance, I could tell it was not worth my time. Much of the information is faulty.

[Madison Grace]

No rating for this one - I love Swinney’s writing style and tone, but the nutritional information is badly outdated. I wish she would update it, because the overall advice and non-judgmental writing style is great. She manages to write in an approachable yet serious way, making the reader want to take their pregnancy diet seriously too, but without talking down to the reader. If only it wasn’t so outdated! Here’s to hoping for a revised edition.

[Amber Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an RD I have to say this is a little bit outdated. Would benefit from an update on new research based feeding practices.

[Sierra Lirette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed learning about nutrition but most recipes do not sound good at all.

[Holly Scudero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eating a healthy diet takes on a whole new level of importance during pregnancy, but did you realize that eating well can make it easier to conceive in the first place, or how important it is to consume nutritious foods during the postpartum period, especially if you are nursing your infant? There is a lot of misinformation out there about food and pregnancy, and Bridget Swinney sets out to clear the air with the brand new 4th edition of “Eating Expectantly,” a practical guide for healthy eating while pregnant (as well as before and after). Most pregnancy books touch on the importance of good nutrition, but this important topic deserves a book of its own. Swinney, a registered dietitian, discusses some of the nutrients it is vital to consume enough of during pregnancy, touches on weight gain and how to gain enough without gaining too much, and provides information to help mothers-to-be reduce their consumption of pesticides and avoid foodborne bacteria. She talks about how good nutrition can help prevent conditions like gestational diabetes, and how nutrition can reduce your risk of having a premature baby. She offers meal plans and even delves into having a healthy vegetarian pregnancy. All information is provided in a very accessible manner; eating well does not have to be a daunting task! If you are pregnant, or even just considering having a baby, do yourself (and your baby) a favor and pick up a copy of this book!

This review originally written for Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review.

[kaity · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author lives in El Paso and we got this and another of her books from a friend who knows her. I have a pretty solid background in nutrition, so I skipped the sections on various nutrients. Some of the recipes are good, though, for extra nutritional boosts at important times in fetal development.

[Tara]

I have an older edition. I don't know if there are any changes for the new edition. I remember liking this, but can't remember any details (I guess those memory lapses will happen if you wait 11 years to have another child). I've just found this book in my stash and plan to read it again.

[Lyndsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Gave me a lot of different ideas and ways to eat healthier. Broke down the importance of each vitamin and how to help balance your diet during each stage of pregnancy, how many calories you should be cosuming each month etc.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to flip through & very detailed. Dense, no pics really, but helpful.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with great advice. Every woman who is pregnant or considering becoming pregnant should read this.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Outdated.

The search for the nutrition book I can recommend to clients continues!