Pregnancy Diet

For pregnant women, a good eating plan should be drawn that considers both the baby’s health and the mother‘s as well. A woman might find it a challenge to feed herself during pregnancy. But eating healthy is very necessary. It’s the best start the mother can give to her little bundle and to get herself in the right condition to support the growing life inside her and prepare herself for the rigors of childbirth.

Apart from making the baby healthy, eating well on the part of the mother during those nine months can also help her from developing anemia, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. Studies show that these ailments are less common among women who observe proper diet during pregnancy. A daily dose of folic acid and iron, in the right amounts, is also very important.

Here’s a quick guide:

What to Eat/Drink:

Broccoli

Avocadoes

Carrots

Soy Beans

Nuts

Lentils

Oatmeal

Spinach

Pasteurized Yoghurt

Brown Rice/Potatoes/Brown Bread/Whole Grain Pasta/Tofu

Fresh Fruits

Eggs (cooked)

Salmon (cooked)

Lean meat and chicken or turkey

Milk (preferably milk for pregnant women)

Water

What Not to Eat/Drink:

Sushi (including oysters)

Alcohol

Raw and Soft Cheeses

Unpasturised Milk

Unpasturised Yoghurt

Pate

Raw or Runny Eggs

Alfalfa and Sprouts

Deli Meats and Hotdogs

What You May Eat/Drink

(BUT in minimal amounts):

Shark, Swordfish, Mackerel and Tuna Fish (one to two servings a week)

Coffee

Green or Black Tea

Fizzy Drinks and Junk Food (pregnant women do crave for it once in a while)

Energy Drinks

Canned Food

Dark Chocolate

Helpful Resources:

What To Expect: Eating Well When You’re Expecting

What To Expect When You’re Expecting

(Both written by: Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel)

www.babycentre.com

www.whattoexpect.com

www.parents.com