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A pregnancy diet should be one that is nutritious and healthy as this is important for the growth and development of the unborn baby. When you are pregnant, you should consume 300 calories more than your regular diet. Your pregnancy diet should consist of a variety of foods from different food groups. Include high fiber rich foods in your pregnancy diet. They are the best source of all the requirements for your developing baby.
Food products like whole grains, a great deal of leafy green vegetables, cooked beans, raw fruits, wheat breads, rice and cereals fall into this category. These foods are also good sources of protein. Vegetables provide minerals, vitamins and fiber. Your diet during pregnancy should also contain milk and dairy products. These are rich in calcium. Skimmed milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, butter milk are all high in calcium, essential amino acids and Vitamin B12. If you are lactose sensitive, talk to your doctor about alternatives to these foods. Ensure that you eat only fresh and seasonal fruits. Avoid canned or processed fruits. Your pregnancy diet should also include meat, fish, and poultry as these provide essential animal proteins. Vegetarians should have nuts, eggs and legumes to make up their protein intake. Drink lots of fluids, especially fruit juices and water. Avoid processed or canned fish, fish with high mercury levels, pate, raw or undercooked poultry or meat, eggs, liver and liver products. All are possible sources of bacteria that could harm your child. Alcohol is taboo as well. Pregnancy is not a time to be bothered about weight gain. The very last thing you should do when you are pregnant is watch what eat for fear of putting on weight. Dieting is not advised during pregnancy either. Remember that women are meant to gain weight when they are pregnant. It is the way the body protects the new life it is nurturing. Keep in mind that you need a constant supply of calories and nutrients throughout your pregnancy. Trying to stop yourself from gaining too much weight will put both you and the baby at risk. Your own appetite is the best indicator of how much you need to eat. This will also fluctuate during the different trimesters. For instance, in the first trimester, you may have no appetite at all due to nausea or morning sickness. However, it is essential that you start eating healthy from this time itself. It is during the first trimester that your baby will develop almost completely. Your pregnancy diet in the first trimester should include small, light meals at intervals. Keep crackers or ginger cookies to help you with the morning sickness. Stay hydrated at all times and you lose fluid by vomiting. Drink several glasses of water a day. During this time folic acid supplements are recommended to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. During the 9th month of pregnancy, keep up your fiber intake. As your stomach grows, your digestive function continues to decline and this leads to constipation. Have smaller meals as your big tummy will cause you heartburn and indigestion as well. Avoid chocolate, spicy and fatty foods.
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