The Border-based dietitian said there was a lot of misinformation or dated theories on pregnancy nutrition about three years ago.  

“I found most of the readily available information was either out of date, inaccurate, boring or just not detailed enough to make any difference for mums and their babies,” she said

The Central Medical Group dietitian teamed up with her former Sydney-based colleague Leah Vandervliet to write Growing Baby Bean: A Complete Guide on Pregnancy Nutrition, which will be launched in Albury next weekend.

Dr Star and Ms Vandervliet, who have more than 30 years of experience in nutrition and dietetics in clinical and research settings, have integrated the latest nutrition research and health guidelines into practical tips. 

Dr Star said good nutritional health during pregnancy had myriad benefits.

“It reduces the risk of a premature birth, it reduces food allergies, asthma and immune system disorders in children, it reduces the risk of gestational diabetes and also the risk of childhood obesity,” Dr Star said.

Growing Baby Bean has chapters on pregnancy nutrition – from preconception to post-delivery – and includes more than 60 recipes. Dr Star’s partner Nick Peters did the photography.

The book will be launched at Albury Library Museum on July 7 at 11am.

It is available from Dymocks in Albury, Central Medical Group in Wodonga and BOOKtique at Wangaratta.