Page 88 - Winter2014

All Thumbs Book Reviews

Beautiful Babies: Nutrition for Fertility, with claiming their own birthright of radiant
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, & health, and a strong, resilient immune system. As
Baby’s First Foods a college professor in holistic health, I recognize
by Kristen Michaelis Michaelis’ voice as hip and effective, and more
Foreword by Joel Salatin than once I found myself wishing for a more
Victory Belt Publishing, Inc. inclusive title to appeal to this wider audience.
In her introduction, Michaelis informs the
A not-so-quiet revolution is taking place, reader that she “stands on the shoulders” of many
an inspired movement toward what is called Re- authors before her. Foundational research for
storative Food and Farming (www.bioneers.org/ Michaelis’ book is based on the work of many
programs/restorative-food-systems/). Authors, contemporary and past authors in the areas of
activists, parents, and educators are informing traditional food, food preparation and nutrition
each other as they combine forces to halt the as they relate to health, most notably that of Dr.
support of industrialized food production, which Weston A. Price and the Weston A. Price Founda-
brings disease and destruction to people, planet, tion. Beautiful Babies contributes to the goals of
and future generations. WAPF as it is particularly accessible to the reader
With this awareness comes a need for change who may be new to this information as well as
in everyday choices of how to obtain and prepare engaging and fun to read for those familiar with
food for optimal health. The task can appear the principles.
overwhelming to the newcomer, especially for A testament to the book is that it begins with
those planning to start a family. There are deep the enthusiastic voice of Joel Salatin, a fourth-
concerns about the safety and nutrient value of generation organic farmer of Polyface Farms
conventional supermarket foods, often laden with in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, who has
genetically engineered organisms and chemicals. been featured in several films, including Food
A young woman today may fear for her own Inc., (on the many problems with factory farm-
health and that of her future child as the statistical ing). Salatin makes no bones (pun intended)
probability rises in this country for any number about the plight of our declining health due to
of chronic ailments—from autism, mental and the Modern American Diet. Salatin primes the
cognitive disability, to multiple allergies, endo- reader toward a palpable answer to the question
crine, reproductive and immune disorders, to the of “Why be concerned—why change”? Salatin
increasing incidence of dental deformities, and asks the reader to consider, for example, that it
even childhood cancer. is not natural for human aging to equate with ill-
Kristen Michaelis’ book offers a wonder- ness. “Morbidity data do not support the notion
fully accessible resource for this population. The that diabetes and heart disease eventually get
information is interesting and engaging, as she the old-timers in more primitive societies,” he
both informs and empowers the reader through states. With a very concrete look at the environ-
her personal story, and well-documented, well- mental degradation inherent in food production,
organized chapters on the subject. Salatin’s voice is passionate as he dismisses our
Although the purpose of the book is to offer current modern food production as “the larg-
guidance toward healthy choices for obtaining est experiment in human history.” He applauds
and preparing food for fertility, pregnancy, birth Michaelis’ “faith in the way ecology and nature
and nutrition of the infant, Beautiful Babies could work,” and admonishes us to “trust in historical
very well be the book of choice for many young normalcy.” This section is a great primer for the
women (and the men they love) as they emerge reader who is new to these principles, discussing
into adulthood. Most college students struggle how traditional diets are based on principles that
84 Wise Traditions WINTER 2014 Wise Traditions

145881_text.indd 84 12/23/14 12:17 AM