Lily Nichols - Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition

Real Food For Pregnancy should find its way into every medical school and prenatal clinic. Lily Nichols first book, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes , is a staple in my teaching here at West Virginia University and has shifted how many in our department view nutrition. Her second book is encyclopedic; its amazingly well-referenced and more in-depth than many textbooks. If mothers embrace Lilys advice, the next generation will hopefully suffer less obesity and diabetes.

Mark Cucuzzella, MD, FAAFP, Professor at West Virginia University School of Medicine

Finally, a book about nutrition in pregnancy that wont put you to sleep, and might, in fact, make your mouth water! No sign of the Pregnancy Police here, as Lily brings together a straight-talking combination of sauce and science. As a midwife, this book will be on my must-read list for every pregnant person I know.

Tracy Donegan, Midwife & Founder of GentleBirth

Real Food for Pregnancy should be considered essential reading for any woman who is currently pregnant or planning conception in the near future. I have not found a similar text with the breadth and depth of discussion on prenatal nutrition. What sets Real Food for Pregnancy apart is how it logically explains the current scientific evidence that is disrupting modern nutrition science and pushing conventional dogma into a new direction. Lily Nichols meticulously cited text provides not only a quick read but also plenty of details and references for those who wish to dig further. This book may very well serve as the tipping point leading to a sea change in nutrition science and medical care. I will be recommending it to my patients within my busy high-risk obstetrics practice.

Amit Bhavsar, MD, Board certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist practicing outside of Austin, TX

Lily Nichols has written a must-read for any woman or health professional interested in prenatal nutrition. During my first pregnancy I felt like I spent hours upon hours trying to research all of the information that is summed up beautifully in Real Food for Pregnancy . Lily questions conventional wisdom and offers new and practical, science-based recommendations to support optimal health for both mom and baby. I hope this book will inspire change in current prenatal nutrition guidelines.

Shannon Weston, MPH, RD, LD, CDE, Houston, TX

Real Food for Pregnancy is replacing my Prenatal/Maternal Nutrition textbook. The information meets every pregnant womans needs and provides evidence-based real food solutions.

Rochelle Anzaldo, RD for an OB clinic in Bakersfield, California

Lily Nichols is like the Michael Pollan of prenatal nutrition. Real Food for Pregnancy is an enlightening and informative read that focuses on the quality of food rather than calories. Having worked with Lily, its refreshing to hear from a dietitian I trust, who values research, truth, and real world application.

Brittany Maughan, RD, Knoxville, TN

As a practicing CNM (midwife) for almost 30 years, I am thrilled to have found Lilys writing and expertise. Real Food for Pregnancy is one that well keep in stock at our clinic and will teach from during our early pregnancy classes. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the vitamins and minerals and how to get them from food. In my experience, too many people believe that prenatal vitamins will solve all of their problems or will guarantee the health of the baby.

Cheryl Heitkamp, APRN, CNM, President of Willow Midwives in Minneapolis, MN

I was recently pregnant for the first time (I unfortunately had a miscarriage) and this is exactly the book I had been searching for. Real Food for Pregnancy was a difficult book for me to read, in the best possible way. As a longtime vegetarian, it made me confront many of my food choices and preferences head on and acknowledge that they are not even close to optimal for pregnancy. Despite my internal conflict, I walked away from reading this book feeling incredibly empowered. While reading it I wrote down many questions, only to find that Lily devoted an entire chapter to answering my exact question later in the book. Lily provides all the tools pregnant women need to start optimizing their diets immediately. She lays out the science and interprets it into a series of actionable items that each woman can choose to do or not to do, depending on her specific needs.

Anna Gajewski, MPH, Research Coordinator, Managua, Nicaragua

Real Food for Pregnancy covers a lot of ground. From debunking some of the way-too-common misconceptions about dietary fat, to the importance of micronutrients and where to find them in real food, to lab testing, to the eye-opening section on toxins, there is so much information packed into this book. I especially liked the discussion of food aversions and cravings; its a curse for so many women, and I love how Lily encourages healthy choices and also some leeway at the same time. There is so much lazy information given out to save on time and costs of educating women; this book offers more detailed and proactive guidance than youll find anywhere else. I want to give a copy to every single OBGYN office I see.

Katie Miller, RDN, Gilbert, AZ

As a dietitian specializing in pregnancy and gestational diabetes, I consider Real Food for Pregnancy (along with Lilys previous book, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes ), my go-to resource for research-backed nutrition information. Ive had my doubts about the standard nutrition recommendations for pregnancy, but never had the time (nor patience) to dig through the research to the depth that Id like. Not only did Lily do all the work for me (and you), she did it in a way that is easy to read and understand by anyone. Being in the field, I thought I had a pretty solid understanding of prenatal nutrition, but reading this book was a humbling experience. This is an extremely comprehensive book that I would highly recommend to healthcare providers, as well as ALL women, regardless of their stage of pregnancy (including those who are just in the planning stage). I have full trust in all of Lilys work and I am so glad she is sharing even more of her wisdom and expertise with us in this book. Im already looking forward to reading it again.

Katrina Yoder, RD, CDE, San Luis Obispo, CA

I have read numerous books on nutrition and Real Food for Pregnancy is simply incredible. I always tell my patients that I dont practice out of popular books. Lily Nichols book seems to fit in a different category as it is really of textbook quality; it could be called an easy reading version of an encyclopedia of nutrition. Lily is meticulously thorough in combining current scientific understanding with the wisdom of the past. Nutritional demands are undoubtedly most intense during pregnancy, and Real Food for Pregnancy offers crucial insight into the importance of eating a nutrient dense diet during this time.

John Madany, MD, Dillon, MT

This amazing book is long overdue. As a midwife, I am relieved to finally be able to recommend a one-stop resource for proactive nutritional guidance. Its reader-friendly and well-organized with loads of information, but at the same time not overwhelming. The information is based on solid research but also from the experience of a professional with a long history of success working with expectant and postpartum mothers. Lily Nichols common sense approach is both accessible and effective. Real Food for Pregnancy is great for expecting parents and professionals alike, who wish to get up-to-date on the best ways to minimize complications and use nutrition for the best pregnancy outcomes.

Elke Saunders, CPM, Anchorage, Alaska

I highly recommend Real Food for Pregnancy and will be making it required reading for all future mothers in my nutrition practice.