4.16

4

Apr 10, 2013

Excellent book! This is not just for those women pregnant or wanting to be pregnant. This is an excellent resource for traditional nutrition in general. As well as a great navigational tool to wade the waters of "food" in our modern culture. What is good to eat and why. I appreciated her being a Christian, though I differed with her on a few points. Overall, a great book I would recommend to anyone wanting a great introduction, refresher, or more information on healthy, whole, and real foods.

A Excellent book! This is not just for those women pregnant or wanting to be pregnant. This is an excellent resource for traditional nutrition in general. As well as a great navigational tool to wade the waters of "food" in our modern culture. What is good to eat and why. I appreciated her being a Christian, though I differed with her on a few points. Overall, a great book I would recommend to anyone wanting a great introduction, refresher, or more information on healthy, whole, and real foods.

A longer review on my blog here:

http://assertionsofahousewife.blogspo... ...more

4

Mar 23, 2013

A good overall look at how our food choices affect our bodies and our children. I have been reading a lot about the traditional food model, so I was not surprised at her recommendations, though they might be shocking to someone who is not familiar with Weston A Price and Nourishing Traditions.

4

Jun 26, 2017

Pretty fascinating. So much info. Lots of things are Bad For You. And I don't think I'll be able to buy all the most nutritional foods out there. But hopefully can make some somewhat informed changes, care more, and be healthier, yay.

5

Oct 26, 2015

So this was an interesting read.

It felt slightly sensationalist (basically I think it had the same tone zeal that usually vegans exhibit when they are speaking about being vegan), however it wasn't any information that I didn't already know on some level due to eating a (Cleanish) Ketogenic diet. That doesn't mean I didn't learn anything, so I didn't feel like I was reading the maniacal ramblings of a so called nutritionist hopping on the newest bandwagon.
It confirmed everything that I had So this was an interesting read.

It felt slightly sensationalist (basically I think it had the same tone zeal that usually vegans exhibit when they are speaking about being vegan), however it wasn't any information that I didn't already know on some level due to eating a (Cleanish) Ketogenic diet. That doesn't mean I didn't learn anything, so I didn't feel like I was reading the maniacal ramblings of a so called nutritionist hopping on the newest bandwagon.
It confirmed everything that I had already planned on doing, only adding a bit more to it. (Like shellfish hadn't been on my list. Now it is)

Taking things with a grain of salt, it is a very good book. It also is good at making sure you know "if you can't do it all, do what you can"
Like I live in England, getting Grass Fed Beef? Well, it's not labelled that way here. Same goes for the butter (unless I only buy Kerrygold, but I think there was controversy about that over here, so I'm not going to spend £5 for butter that might still not be the happy Grass Fed I want).
But I do have a few sources where I can get better quality meat than what normally is found in grocery stores. Can I eat organic beef every week? No. I just cannot financially do that.

However, when I make my Three Sisters Stew, shall I make it with an unknown brand, or shall I make it with Green Giant, because 1)I can get that here and 2)They state they use non GMO corn

It says I need to up my milk, and that basically I need to drink happy cow grass fed milk. Fine and dandy... however the only cows I can guarantee that from is cows from Jersey. So to buy a pint (a PINT) of milk, it will cost me £5, which.... the book wants me drinking a QUART a day. This is not financially feasible to add milk. A weekend treat? Yes, I'll grab some of it for my weekend hot chocolate, which I'm going to try to keep as my only 'bad for me sugar'. Why? Because I need something to drink my Great Lakes Gelatine (yes, I only use Great Lakes), and I've found the best way for me is mixed into hot chocolate.


Ack... I'm going on a tangent. I like the book. But make sure you read it with a grain of salt, and do what is best for you.... but this is a healthy way to eat. And it doesn't feel like she is trying to force her morals on me. (Other than the Chicken section where it goes on about the Battery Hens. I don't disagree with her, and believe me, I would much rather have my own hens, but can't right now.) ...more

4

Mar 23, 2013

Much of the same nutritional information as the Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care without the Steiner influence, and written in an easy, friendly style. I did think it was a little slim, though. The first section is taken up with defining "real food" in general, then there is a section about what to eat when pregnant, a very brief section on labor, and then a bit more on breastfeeding. The last section of the book is a collection of recipes.

5

Apr 17, 2015

I've been meaning to read this for a couple years. I really wish I would have known about all this before I had kids, would have been nice to avoid braces...

5

May 20, 2016

Excellent read while expecting. I'm fully on board with her nutrition concepts. Lots of helpful tid bits and I also purchased her online course.

5

Sep 24, 2015

His works! My son is beautiful and I'm sure that the things in this book helped...not just good genetics

4

Mar 15, 2013

I have enjoyed Food Renegade's blog. Her book is an easy read with comprehensive info on the importance of pre-and- post pregnancy nutrition. There are some key recipes at the end of the book as well. Highly recommend for anyone looking to give their baby the best start possible!

4

Dec 25, 2013

This had some great information from a unique perspective. There were some parts that I would love to have seen fleshed out more, and there were also some places where I felt the book was a bit disjointed, but overall, I enjoyed reading it.

3

Apr 28, 2013

I don't agree with everything in here for my own mostly plant based diet, but would recommend it as a good resource for anyone interested in Weston Price nutritional theory. Or anyone interested in a healthier life/planet!

3

Aug 30, 2015

The information was good, but the writing style was unprofessional. It isn't nearly as scientific as it could be, and isn't well organized. The two biggest positives were the recipes at the end which all look great, and the introduction that talks about an 80/20 ratio. 20% of the time, we just can't eat clean. Whether it's due to church community or being invited to others' houses for dinner. I appreciated that she wasn't so extremist that she didn't allow for wiggle room in her diet.

3

May 13, 2013

I would actually recommend this book to anyone interested in a whole foods diet. The info is laid out well and easy to understand. The recipes are limited, so don't read this expecting a cookbook. I disagree with some of the info (ie. drinking wine while pregnant), but overall, it gives great suggestions. The ideas provided for fertility and healthy pregnancy are the same as those you would find in any clean eating guidebook. Any suggestions that are specific to pregnancy are very limited.

5

Jan 05, 2014

Want to know how to really find out if there is MSG in your food? Curious about what oils you should avoid and why? This is the book you need. Even if you are not intending to have children, this is a priceless resource for eating well and keeping yourself and your family healthy. I go back to this book often; a resource that I reference every few months.

I've been leaning towards a Weston A Price diet for some time, with influences by Sally Fallons "Nourishing Traditions" and found this book to Want to know how to really find out if there is MSG in your food? Curious about what oils you should avoid and why? This is the book you need. Even if you are not intending to have children, this is a priceless resource for eating well and keeping yourself and your family healthy. I go back to this book often; a resource that I reference every few months.

I've been leaning towards a Weston A Price diet for some time, with influences by Sally Fallons "Nourishing Traditions" and found this book to be the perfect easy to digest book for someone considering ways to feed their baby or their own pre-pregnant self. Great resource I find myself going back to often - with handy lists and guides in the back. ...more

4

Jan 04, 2015

This book provides high level education on what to put in your body when it comes to planning for baby.. It begins with fertility so naturally she starts there. then down the road when it comes to starter foods for baby includes breastfeeding too!

If you haven't studied up more recent published medical studies or just rusty about being prepared for fertility, pregnancy & beyond this book is helpful resource, coupled w/midwife or doctor plus online information provided at our finger tips.

I This book provides high level education on what to put in your body when it comes to planning for baby.. It begins with fertility so naturally she starts there. then down the road when it comes to starter foods for baby includes breastfeeding too!

If you haven't studied up more recent published medical studies or just rusty about being prepared for fertility, pregnancy & beyond this book is helpful resource, coupled w/midwife or doctor plus online information provided at our finger tips.

I would've rated it 5 stars had it been tripple the size. But there are a lot of topics listed, many others authors have dedicated whole books just to certain chapters. She covered in here's.


I hope she writes more in the future. ...more

4

Apr 26, 2013

I bought this for Harmony for her birthday, but I read it first. I have enjoyed Kristen's blog, Food Renegade, and the book reflects the sound advice, nicely reasoned and supported, that endeared me to the blog in the first place. The food photography is scrumptious and the recipe section is long enough to be helpful, but short enough to be useful, and not a shameless "padding" of the book that other authors have used to bulk up a pamphlet to book-length. The only thing I did not like about the I bought this for Harmony for her birthday, but I read it first. I have enjoyed Kristen's blog, Food Renegade, and the book reflects the sound advice, nicely reasoned and supported, that endeared me to the blog in the first place. The food photography is scrumptious and the recipe section is long enough to be helpful, but short enough to be useful, and not a shameless "padding" of the book that other authors have used to bulk up a pamphlet to book-length. The only thing I did not like about the book was the excerpt she included from a book about hypno-birthing; it was utterly Neo Pagan. But, one paragraph aside, this is a book I'll be gifting at baby and bridal showers for a long time to come. ...more

4

Apr 12, 2013

This book contained a lot of information I already knew because I'm deep into traditional foods already and have read Deep Nutrition which talks about epigenetics (how nutrition affects our genes and the genes of our children), so it wasn't super useful for me at this point. However, for someone new to traditional foods or real foods, it's a great resource for understanding what foods are actually good for the body and therefore good for fertility and making healthy babies. She specifies foods This book contained a lot of information I already knew because I'm deep into traditional foods already and have read Deep Nutrition which talks about epigenetics (how nutrition affects our genes and the genes of our children), so it wasn't super useful for me at this point. However, for someone new to traditional foods or real foods, it's a great resource for understanding what foods are actually good for the body and therefore good for fertility and making healthy babies. She specifies foods that are particularly good for making healthy (and beautiful) babies. The information on feeding babies is good. I wish I had this info before I got pregnant with my son, and it's an easy read. Includes recipes that I'd like to try. This would be a great book to give as a gift to couples who want children since it will give them the tools they need to be healthy, fertile and have healthy babies. ...more

4

Mar 28, 2013

Beautiful Babies is a nice short little book that offers useful advice for women who want to eat as traditionally as possible to help ensure that their babies are healthy and happy. Michaelis bases her advice on her own research, the work of Sally Fallon and others at the Weston A. Price Foundation, and the work of Dr. Cate Shanahan (whose own book, Deep Nutrition, is really worth a read).

Much of Michaelis's advice is familiar to me from other reading, but I still learned a lot about a bunch of Beautiful Babies is a nice short little book that offers useful advice for women who want to eat as traditionally as possible to help ensure that their babies are healthy and happy. Michaelis bases her advice on her own research, the work of Sally Fallon and others at the Weston A. Price Foundation, and the work of Dr. Cate Shanahan (whose own book, Deep Nutrition, is really worth a read).

Much of Michaelis's advice is familiar to me from other reading, but I still learned a lot about a bunch of things, such as the developmental stages of children's digestive systems. Michaelis is quite religious, but she's not pushy about it, so for non-Christians like me, I don't think it's really an issue. She's also quite refreshingly practical - her advice to go for 80/20 (80 percent nutrient dense, whole foods, the other 20 percent don't matter too much) has relieved me of some of my anxiety about eating out. She's also in favor of relaxing with a glass of wine when you're pregnant, like the French do, if that's what you feel like doing. Love that! I'm not pregnant, but I'm thinking about it and this book is really helpful.

Kind of wish I'd bought this in print, though, rather than on Kindle - Kindle is really only good for books you don't want to go back to, I find. I hate having to search for words or phrases to find the page I need. ...more

3

May 31, 2014

I bought this ebook for a dollar. I had been casually interested in it before, enough to price out the paperback at my local bookstore: $28. Oy.

Despite the title, this book is about health, not looks. It's about beauty inasmuch as beauty is incidental to health.

Science shows that what a woman eats *before* pregnancy affects the life, health and development of her fetus. (What would it take for a fetus-protecting politician to take up the cause and support access to healthy food for all women of I bought this ebook for a dollar. I had been casually interested in it before, enough to price out the paperback at my local bookstore: $28. Oy.

Despite the title, this book is about health, not looks. It's about beauty inasmuch as beauty is incidental to health.

Science shows that what a woman eats *before* pregnancy affects the life, health and development of her fetus. (What would it take for a fetus-protecting politician to take up the cause and support access to healthy food for all women of childbearing age?) Turns out that "fertility foods" are good foods for the health of the general population.

The first half of this book is "here's what's wrong with the SAD [Standard American Diet]!" I already believe that eating sick, abused animals and poisoned plants is a bad idea; I already think that natural fats are good for health; I'm already a disciple.

I'm already using transdermal magnesium. I think this is the star recommendation of the book. This recommendation was showcased on a blog I read (not the author's blog, which I also sometimes read). It was why I was interested in this book. If she had had more stuff like that I would have itwasamazinged this book. Mg supplementation helps pretty much everyone, childbearing or childbarren.

I think its biggest contribution specifically for babies and mothers is what foods to introduce to your baby when. The facts about amylase production are little known yet important. Amylase is an enzyme necessary for metabolizing carbohydrates. Salivary amylase production can start as early as 6 months but pancreatic amylase doesn't start until much later (13 to 19 mo) -- concurrent with molar development! So no grains for baby until baby has molars.

So, did I get anything from this book to do that I'm not already doing [that actually pertain to me, as a non-reproducer]? Sure: I want to try roe. I'm not already eating roe. ...more

2

May 29, 2013

I believe this book has some parts that are helpful – such as the suggestion to use magnesium to combat morning sickness and the facts regarding where some of our food comes from and how other forms of medicine such as chiropractors and acupuncture can help with problems. However, I see this book overall as an effort to take a common fear of many mothers, the fear that they aren’t providing enough for their children and grandchildren and emotionally blackmail them into eating things they would I believe this book has some parts that are helpful – such as the suggestion to use magnesium to combat morning sickness and the facts regarding where some of our food comes from and how other forms of medicine such as chiropractors and acupuncture can help with problems. However, I see this book overall as an effort to take a common fear of many mothers, the fear that they aren’t providing enough for their children and grandchildren and emotionally blackmail them into eating things they would never consider such as liver, kefir, kombucha and raw eggs on the hope that their child will never have to wear glasses or braces. At the end of the day however, my faith lies in God and His will for my life, not the thought that if I were to simply switch to local, pastured meat, eggs, and milk (at very high costs), I can add more time to my life and more health to my family. For did not Christ Himself tell us in Matthew 6:25-34, that He cares for us more than the lilies of the field and the birds of the air? As a Christian, I would say, do the best you can to feed your family healthy foods and rest in the knowledge that God will take care of the rest. Let healthy eating be in balance with the rest of your life and not an extreme.

Matthew 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
...more

1

Aug 29, 2019

The nutrition advice in this book ranges from laughably wacky to dangerously bad. Avoid this nonsense.

5

Jul 10, 2018

Real food for us and our babies! Genius!

Loved this book! Lots of solid advice on how to eat healthy the way our ancestors did! Can’t wait to start implementing at home!

3

Aug 26, 2019

Most helpful aspect was recognizing that many people are on a budget and giving prioritization of quality food based on her research. It is more or less just a distilled version of Wise Traditions. Glad I read, but not something I feel like I would go back to.

3

Jul 05, 2018

Some advice good, some weird

Some good advice, but some was a little too out there for me or seemed to conflict with what I was told for the health of my little one. There are a lot of recipes in here that I’m not interested in making.

3

Jan 24, 2017

There's some good research and information here, and a lot of helpful detail on what to eat, what to avoid, and how to prioritize. Following this plan to a T would be extremely difficult, however, for a family with two working parents and/or limited budget or access to non-industrial food. For my purposes, there's a few things that I already knew (less sugar! avoid processed food! cook at home!), a few things that I'll take (non-industrial dairy and meat are more important than organic produce, There's some good research and information here, and a lot of helpful detail on what to eat, what to avoid, and how to prioritize. Following this plan to a T would be extremely difficult, however, for a family with two working parents and/or limited budget or access to non-industrial food. For my purposes, there's a few things that I already knew (less sugar! avoid processed food! cook at home!), a few things that I'll take (non-industrial dairy and meat are more important than organic produce, baby-led introduction of food, start baby with proteins/fats like eggs, seafood, homemade broth, avocado, not with carbs) and a few things that just aren't feasible in a day-in, day-out sort of way (purchasing half a cow in bulk, raw milk/dairy 100% of the time).

There's also a bit of overzealous sensationalism here. Sure, what you eat impacts lifelong health, for you and your children, and even your grandchildren. But to suggest that eating a perfect diet during pregnancy and beyond will mean your children will never need glasses or braces is not supported by research. ...more