Book Review: Nourish

I am having such a week and it is only Wednesday. I feel like I'm juggling too many things but nothing at all at the same time. I can't put my finger on what my problem is but I'm struggling with life in general. I probably just need a nap. 

Nourish

An evidence-based, practical resource that explores the many benefits of a plant-based diet and provides parents with the tools they need to feed their families for health and with joy.

While nearly all parents agree that a nutritious diet is important for children to thrive, most feel that their children are not eating a healthy diet. This is not surprising, given the demands of busy families and confusing, conflicting research about what diet is really best for health.

Nourish offers the solution parents have been waiting for when it comes to deciding what and how to feed their families. Authors Reshma Shah, MD, a plant-based pediatrician and affiliate clinical instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Brenda Davis, RD, a world-renowned expert and pioneer in plant-based nutrition, will empower parents to become the experts of nourishing their families. 

Parents will learn:

How a diet centered around plants can optimize health, prevent chronic disease, care for our planet, and be an act of radical compassion. Nutrition specifics for all the stages of childhood—from pregnancy and breastfeeding all the way through adolescence. Tips, strategies, and mouthwatering recipes to bring all of this information to their dinner tables as they transition to plant-based eating.

If you've been a follower for long, you know that I have four kids ranging from fifteen to four, a wide range of likes and dislikes, that's for sure. I know that I struggle with feeding our family of six and frankly? I'm not a fantastic eater and I know that I need to be better on my own. Also? I admittedly don't know what fruits and vegetables are best, and what helps which conditions best, and it is really an overwhelming area to dive into all on your own. 

Enter Nourish, an incredibly in-depth guide on what to eat, why, and how. I love that this book really highlights that children's preferences towards food have a lot to do with what they are exposed to. If we don't introduce a wide variety of foods, their preferences won't be very diverse. 

I really liked that this book packs as much education as it did, although at times it is SO MUCH, so this is definitely not a book you're going to pick up to read cover to cover. Nourish is more of a reference book when you're in need of some information or if you're in search for an answer to your question. The book actually has a lot of common questions throughout, all with thoughtful and detailed answers, so if you are wondering about something related to a healthy diet, the answer is likely right here waiting for you. 

My other favorite part of this book is the chart of minerals. I can't even tell you how often I hear "Oh, well you probably need more magnesium (or enter literally anything else)", as if I know what the heck magnesium is even for or where I would find it outside of a capsule. This chart is incredibly detailed, it tells you what the function of the mineral is, but it also tells you what happens if you get too much or too little of the mineral, AND the best sources to get the mineral through food. Important to me is iron, potassium, and sodium, those are the ones I try to stay within normal ranges of but gets tricky with some of my other health issues, so I appreciated the added information this book gave me. 

Lastly? You get through the book and you're ready to jump into a healthier eating lifestyle, but where do you start? Don't worry, the book tells you! It goes into specifics on how to do this yourself but also how to lead your family into healthier eating. The book ends with some great recipes to try out (including tacos!), so you are encouraged with your food exploration. 

Thank you to PR By The Book for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review. I know almost everyone wants to be healthier in the new year, but will quickly get overwhelmed and give up, so I highly suggest looking into Nourish for some education and encouragement!

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