Author presents herself as an impartial pursuer of truth who is just following the very best research wherever it may lead. Her bias is more apparent on social media, though, where she follows many accounts in the conspiracy-theory- and pseudoscience-laden echo chamber of alternative/antivax/“holistic”/“natural” health disinformation. You want to understand the science behind eating a lower carb, low glycemic diet (below the standard 175g carbs/day recommendations) during pregnancy Good sources: Fortified cereals are great sources of folic acid. Dark green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and dried beans, peas and lentils are good sources of naturally occurring folate. Food Real Food for Pregnancy is replacing my Prenatal/Maternal Nutrition textbook. The information meets every pregnant woman’s needs and provides evidence-based “real food” solutions. Rochelle Anzaldo, RD

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Why a vegetarian or vegan diet may not the be the best idea during pregnancy (and what nutrients/supplements to consider if you choose a vegetarian diet). You want to be proactive about your health before, during, and after pregnancy, including understanding how nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, avoidance of toxins, stress management (and more) can help you and your baby thrive

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I absolutely loved this book! I am not pregnant yet, but since I'm starting my IVF journey next month, I thought I would get a head start in nourishing my body! Are you a dietitian who specializes in prenatal nutrition? Or are you looking for continuing education on prenatal nutrition? Look no further. Also seems much more comprehensive and thorough than the chapters on prenatal diet recommendations in Expecting Better, though that comes with a risk of being overwhelmed by too much information on how to optimize. Probably Expecting Better is a better fit if you need to reduce anxiety about all the no-nos that MDs issue.

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You don’t like being given watered-down information. You want to see the science for yourself and decide whether or not typical pregnancy rules are valid (such as avoiding fish due to mercury or avoiding eggs with runny yolks for food safety). This book covers all the controversial nutrition-related topics On the one hand, it is well-researched and includes a rich array of information for pregnant folks, their providers, and anyone with an interest in prenatal care. The more I read prenatal literature the more I note how rarely authors cite evidence to support their claims. I can commend Nichols on the breadth of her research and her meticulous use of citations. I learned a lot from this text. It has changed the way I eat and how I think about my nutrition for the better. Her chapters on nutrition, healthy foods, the fourth trimester, and meal plans supported me in making incremental changes in support of my baby’s development. Lily’s second book, Real Food for Pregnancy, is an evidence-based look at the gap between conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines and what’s optimal for mother and baby. With over 930 citations, this is the most comprehensive text on prenatal nutrition to date. In addition, the macronutrient levels promoted by conventional guidelines (high-carb, low-fat) can put you at risk for gaining too much weight, developing high blood sugar, and having other complications with your pregnancy.This book is a powerful investment for any woman wanting to ensure the health of herself and her unborn child. It is the perfect blend of science and practicality. I can’t recommend Real Food for Pregnancy highly enough. Belinda Fettke Her real-food approach to nutrition is refreshing and sound. There are no fad restrictions here, just good solid reminders of the nutrition your body needs and how to get it from the food God gave us. Fact sheet for health professionals: Calcium. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/. Accessed Jan. 19, 2022. You’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes; you want direction and reassurance in simple language (or you’re a healthcare provider seeing clients with gestational diabetes) As a dietitian who specializes in women’s health, Real Food for Pregnancy will be an invaluable resource for me and my clients for years to come. Lily has bravely called out where we have gone wrong with prenatal nutrition and artfully combines modern science with traditional wisdom in a must-read for anyone who is pregnant or planning to have a baby. She managed to cover everything I’d personally want to see in an effective prenatal text from genetics, to nutrient bioavailability, to misconceptions, and much more. Ayla Barmmer, MS, RD

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Real Food for Pregnancy takes prenatal nutrition advice out of the dark ages and gives you an easy-to-follow guide for making the best food and lifestyle choices during pregnancy. No one has dissected the research on prenatal nutrition—and done so in the context of ancestral diets—to the depth that Lily Nichols has in Real Food for Pregnancy. If you want an evidence-based rebuttal to the outdated prenatal nutrition guidelines, look no further. Robb Wolf In short, this book focuses on optimal prenatal nutrition to support both mother and baby. It provides an in-depth discussion of how maternal nutrient intake affects the development of baby and risk for complications, and subsequently identifies which nutrient-dense foods are necessary to “build a healthy baby.” She did mention several times throughout the book that even if you can't eat organic, pasture-raised etc. That it is still more important to eat nutrient dense food than to avoid because of toxicity concerns. I think she could have said that more, as many women I think would give up because they don't have access to or can't afford to eat completely clean.Real Food for Pregnancy lays out the evidence—930 citations and counting—on the benefits of real food, why certain foods are essential (and others are detrimental), and countless lifestyle tweaks you can make to have a smooth, healthy pregnancy. These same choices ensure that your baby receives all the nutrients needed for optimal development.