Wondering What Foods To Eat While Pregnant?
Eating nutrition rich food is very important for each and every person for a healthy life. However, eating healthy when you are pregnant is vital! Normally we might skip a meal due to some reason or another. But you should never do this during pregnancy. A balanced diet that contains all the essential nutrients, is crucial for the health of both you and your unborn baby.
Following a healthy diet plan is very important for the proper development and growth of the unborn baby. It is important to follow a nutritious and healthy diet regime to make sure that the baby has a trouble free journey into the world. But creating a pregnancy diet plan on your own can be a daunting task, especially when you don't know what is healthy and what is unhealthy for the baby. Below you can read a basic guideline of what foods to eat while pregnant.
Following a healthy diet plan is very important for the proper development and growth of the unborn baby. It is important to follow a nutritious and healthy diet regime to make sure that the baby has a trouble free journey into the world. But creating a pregnancy diet plan on your own can be a daunting task, especially when you don't know what is healthy and what is unhealthy for the baby. Below you can read a basic guideline of what foods to eat while pregnant.
Pregnancy Diet Plan
Food preferences and desires often change during pregnancy. Regardless of how you ate prior to becoming pregnant, now is the time to follow some important guidelines for a healthier baby and a healthy pregnancy. Include fiber rich foods in your daily diet as they are the best source for all the requirements of your unborn baby. To get enough amount of fibers, you can always consume whole grains, whole wheat breads, cereals, rice, green and leafy vegetables, raw fruits and cooked beans. In fact, you can include to around 5 to 8 fiber servings per day.
To develop strong bones for the baby you need to take adequate foods that contain calcium, else the calcium from your bones dissolves to supplement the baby. Dairy products are the best source of calcium. A serving of about 4-6 per day should be sufficient for a pregnant mother. The pregnancy diet plan of a pregnant woman should therefore include extra milk, hard cheese (not soft) and yogurt. Make sure you take a lot of folic acid. It is one of the best nutrients that decreases the chances of birth defects. Folic acid is available as a supplement and can also be found in beans, peas, asparagus and leafy greens.
Approximately 2,500 calories per day is usually the recommended amount for a pregnant woman. Many women believe they are eating for two so they should double their calories, but this is far from correct. Calorie consumption during pregnancy should only be about 300 more calories than the normal intake. The exception to this rule is when your doctor prescribes something different due to your personal situation (example, being underweight prior to pregnancy). Now about the food servings. Rather than the routine 3 straight meals, you should evenly distribute them into 5 to 6 small but healthy and filling meals. All this food should be accompanied by at least 6 to 8 glasses of clean water. Keeping yourself hydrated is very important. These are some of the things to remember when you are considering what to eat during pregnancy.
To develop strong bones for the baby you need to take adequate foods that contain calcium, else the calcium from your bones dissolves to supplement the baby. Dairy products are the best source of calcium. A serving of about 4-6 per day should be sufficient for a pregnant mother. The pregnancy diet plan of a pregnant woman should therefore include extra milk, hard cheese (not soft) and yogurt. Make sure you take a lot of folic acid. It is one of the best nutrients that decreases the chances of birth defects. Folic acid is available as a supplement and can also be found in beans, peas, asparagus and leafy greens.
Approximately 2,500 calories per day is usually the recommended amount for a pregnant woman. Many women believe they are eating for two so they should double their calories, but this is far from correct. Calorie consumption during pregnancy should only be about 300 more calories than the normal intake. The exception to this rule is when your doctor prescribes something different due to your personal situation (example, being underweight prior to pregnancy). Now about the food servings. Rather than the routine 3 straight meals, you should evenly distribute them into 5 to 6 small but healthy and filling meals. All this food should be accompanied by at least 6 to 8 glasses of clean water. Keeping yourself hydrated is very important. These are some of the things to remember when you are considering what to eat during pregnancy.
What Not To Eat When Pregnant
Now that you are aware of the foods to include in a healthy pregnancy diet, it is the time to learn about the foods to avoid during pregnancy. The reasons behind avoiding these foods are quite obvious too! An mother-to-be should make sure that she keeps a safe distance from alcohol! Alcohol, including wine, is extremely hazardous for the child. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy might cause premature babies, mental retardation, low weight in the newborn babies, learning disabilities, and other problems for your baby. The mother's womb may protect the child from basic toxins in her diet, but not from those present in alcohol. Eliminate caffeine during pregnancy. It has been known to lead to miscarriages and complications of pregnancy. Not only is there caffeine in drinks, but it is contained in many foods too.
Be sure to read labels and try to totally avoid caffeine. If you are a smoker, stop it now and even after the pregnancy. Foods that you should try and avoid during pregnancy include, mercury rich fish (shark, swordfish, tuna, tilefish, king mackerel, etc.), raw meat, raw dairy products and raw eggs, deli meat, unpasteurized milk and products made using it, etc. The biggest reason behind avoiding these foods is the chances of food poisoning during pregnancy. What not to eat when pregnant, may contain some food items which you are particularly fond of. However, you should remember, if you are able to avoid these food items, you are not only protecting your baby but yourself too. Think of this as a temporary change, which I am sure you can do for your little one.
When you are pregnant, you should focus on good nutritional habits for life. Make smart choices that really count and that offer optimal nutrition to you and your unborn baby. The nutritional choices you make today will affect your baby before and after he/she is born. They will also help ensure you have the healthiest delivery experience possible. You need to get serious about the health of your baby and avoid all the things that are not healthy for you and your unborn baby.
Be sure to read labels and try to totally avoid caffeine. If you are a smoker, stop it now and even after the pregnancy. Foods that you should try and avoid during pregnancy include, mercury rich fish (shark, swordfish, tuna, tilefish, king mackerel, etc.), raw meat, raw dairy products and raw eggs, deli meat, unpasteurized milk and products made using it, etc. The biggest reason behind avoiding these foods is the chances of food poisoning during pregnancy. What not to eat when pregnant, may contain some food items which you are particularly fond of. However, you should remember, if you are able to avoid these food items, you are not only protecting your baby but yourself too. Think of this as a temporary change, which I am sure you can do for your little one.
When you are pregnant, you should focus on good nutritional habits for life. Make smart choices that really count and that offer optimal nutrition to you and your unborn baby. The nutritional choices you make today will affect your baby before and after he/she is born. They will also help ensure you have the healthiest delivery experience possible. You need to get serious about the health of your baby and avoid all the things that are not healthy for you and your unborn baby.