Bun in the Oven is a thinly disguised diatribe against the meat and dairy industries. It supposedly offers pregnant women information about health and nutrition, but what it really does is apply a baseball bat to readers' heads without restraint. The authors acknowledge their "tough love" approach right from the start: "We didn't write this book to make friends."

If the authors were authorities on their subject and had amazing information to offer, I might be willing to overlook their nasty tone. They're not. In fact, they "strongly recommend" (in the fine print on the book's copyright page) that readers follow their own physicians' advice. Disclaimers about their lack of qualifications show up here and there -- e.g., "We're not gynos" on page 1, and "we're not doctors, research scientists, or anything of the sort" on page 244.
So, what are they? Rory Freedman is a former model's agent who has been "studying nutrition for 15 years." Kim Barnouin is a former model who actually has a degree: a Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition. What her bio doesn't tell readers is that the degree is from the Clayton College of Natural Health, a nonaccredited correspondence school. "CCNH does have one potentially valuable aspect," according to Quackwatch. "Its credentials are a reliable sign of someone not to consult for advice."