Completely updated and revised with the latest guidelines for nutrition and lifestyle before, during, and after pregnancy. Expect the Best is a comprehensive guide for new and future parents that answers the most frequently asked questions about nutrition and lifestyle habits from preconception to post-delivery. This second edition translates the latest research and expert recommendations about how to have the healthiest baby possible into clear and concise advice without preaching, and includes a wide range of topics, such as: the healthiest lifestyle for fertility (including for dads-to-be!); calories and weight gain throughout pregnancy and after delivery; important vitamins and minerals and how to include them in your eating plan; what, and how much, exercise is best before, during, and after pregnancy; keeping food safe, and foods to avoid during pregnancy; how to manage morning sickness, gestational diabetes, and more; and what to eat when breastfeeding This book provides easy-to-follow sample meal plans, and an expanded recipe chapter features more than 60 simple, nutritious recipes, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. This complete resource supplies what you need to make the best choices throughout your entire pregnancy journey!

Completely updated and revised with the latest guidelines for nutrition and lifestyle before, during, and after pregnancy. Expect the Best is a comprehensive guide for new and future parents that answers the most frequently asked questions about nutrition and lifestyle habits from preconception to post-delivery. This second edition translates the latest research and expert recommendations about how to have the healthiest baby possible into clear and concise advice without preaching, and includes a wide range of topics, such as: the healthiest lifestyle for fertility (including for dads-to-be!); calories and weight gain throughout pregnancy and after delivery; important vitamins and minerals and how to include them in your eating plan; what, and how much, exercise is best before, during, and after pregnancy; keeping food safe, and foods to avoid during pregnancy; how to manage morning sickness, gestational diabetes, and more; and what to eat when breastfeeding This book provides easy-to-follow sample meal plans, and an expanded recipe chapter features more than 60 simple, nutritious recipes, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. This complete resource supplies what you need to make the best choices throughout your entire pregnancy journey!

Quick Answers for a Healthy Start A healthy pregnancy starts with a well-balanced diet, but there’s much more to know. For example: True or False?

1. You need to eat an extra 500 calories a day when pregnant.
2. Iron needs triple during pregnancy.
3. A high-fiber diet is important during pregnancy.

1. False. Pregnant women require 300 extra calories a day and nursing women need an extra 500 calories a day. You’ll find more on calories and weight gain in Chapter 1 and nutrition tips while breast-feeding in Chapter 9.
2. False. Your need for iron doubles during pregnancy. Still, it can be difficult to get this much iron from food alone. That’s why you should read more about iron in Chapter 3.
3. True. Fiber helps prevent constipation, a common occurrence during pregnancy. Learn tips for managing constipation, morning sickness, and other discomforts of pregnancy in Chapter 7.

You're busy, and the last thing you need is a one-size-fits-all approach to eating that's impossible for you and your family to follow. MyPlate for Moms, How to Feed Yourself & Your Family Better decodes the Dietary Guidelines and serves up nutritious and delicious meals and snacks, simple solutions for working in exercise for the entire family, and nutritional guidelines anyone can follow, all while keeping your personal needs in mind. You'll learn to: restore balance to your diet using MyPlate prevent "portion distortion" to improve weight control dine out without wrecking your intentions to eat right prepare mouth-watering meals and snacks, with more than 50 recipes that reflect MyPlate's suggestions for what to eat help yourself, and your children, to easily get the physical activity you need