Review: Happy, Healthy Pregnancy Cookbook

It's no secret that a healthy diet is extremely important during pregnancy. Every pregnancy book ever devotes a substantial section to food: how much, which nutrients, what to avoid.

Okay, but what should a pregnant mama be eating instead?

There are plenty of lists of pregnancy superfoods out there, but some readers want just a little bit more guidance. That's where a book like Healthy, Happy Pregnancy Cookbook can help!

This little book is a great guide to the best ways a woman can nourish her body during pregnancy. The beginning talks about basic stuff: weight gain, superfoods, vital nutrients, ways readers can encourage themselves to do more cooking. The real "meat," as it were, of this book lies in the recipe section.

Registered dietitians Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh offer readers more than one hundred recipes that will nourish women during this important time. These are recipes that are well-balanced and include a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, and meats, and thus plenty of nutrients for a growing baby.

Better yet, the chapters are organized by common pregnancy symptom. Feeling nauseous? Try some Avocado Toast with healthy fats and B vitamins, or Quinoa-Veggie "Cheeseburgers" with plenty of protein without the smell of cooking meat. Fighting off cravings? Satisfy your sweet tooth with Peanut Butter, Apple, and Chickpea Breakfast Cookies. Third-trimester heartburn got you down? Recipes like Confetti Sweet Potato Hash or Lentil and Pumpkin Soup will provide a hearty sense of satisfaction while avoiding common triggers like onion or tomatoes.

Healthy, Happy Pregnancy Cookbook has such a thoughtful, useful premise, and it's full of recipes that will appeal to the whole family. This book is sure to be enjoyed by anyone who is struggling with eating well during pregnancy, anyone who is hoping that some dietary changes might alleviate common pregnancy symptoms, and anyone who just wants some new ideas to pack in the nutrition.