Eating A Healthy Diet During Pregnancy
Being pregnant is not a blank check to eat as much as you want of whatever you want. To have a healthy pregnancy, your diet needs to be carefully balanced so that your newborn will be getting as much nutrition as possible. It sounds tricky, but having a healthy diet during pregnancy is much easier than you may think.
What Should A Healthy Pregnancy Diet Include?
A healthy pregnancy diet is well rounded, and ensures that you are getting plenty of all necessary vitamins and minerals. Eat foods that are high in fiber and rich in nutrients, such as iron and other minerals. A good rule of thumb is to follow is the USDA food pyramid. A healthy pregnancy diet should include six to eleven servings of grains, two to four servings of fruit, four or more servings of vegetables, four or more servings of dairy, and at least three servings of protein. And as with any diet, sweets and fats should be used sparingly. Most doctors also recommend that pregnant women take a multi-vitamin with folic acid (manufacturers make vitamins specifically for pregnant women with extra iron and folic acid).
Eliminate Some Foods From Your Diet During Pregnancy
There are certain foods that pregnant women should avoid or cut out of their diet altogether. Pregnant women should not eat raw seafood, including oysters and sushi. Raw meat and poultry should also be avoided. A healthy pregnancy diet will also eliminate milk that has not been pasteurized and soft cheeses. And of course, you should not drink alcohol or smoke when pregnant. Certain foods can be eaten as part of a pregnancy diet, but in moderation. Large amounts of caffeine should be avoided, but most doctors think that one caffeinated beverage a day is acceptable. Tuna and other deep-sea fish should not be eaten daily, but can be enjoyed once a week. And while you shouldn’t drink them often, a diet soda is okay once in awhile while pregnant.
Eating For Two
Everyone hears that when you are pregnant, you need to eat for two. But does that really mean you should eat twice as much as you were eating before? The short answer - no. To have a healthy diet during pregnancy, you actually only need to increase your caloric intake by about 300 calories a day. That means that you should be eating about 2,500 calories a day. You also may experience cravings as part of your pregnancy; your diet can safely include the foods you are craving (just not mass quantities of them!). And many women find that snacking on crackers or pretzels helps keep nausea away while also curbing their cravings.
