Eating During Pregnancy

By Author: Danny Ang
Total Articles: 78
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The myth that pregnancy gives you the green light to eat whatever you want whenever you choose is just that; a myth. You are not allowed to eat everything in sight. You do not have a green light to live on vanilla ice cream and marshmallow sauce. A pregnant woman only needs to increase her calorie intake by about 300-500 calories unless she was severely underweight before becoming pregnant. The obstetrician will tell you how much weight you should gain, and you should do your best to try to remain within that guideline.

At every visit to your doctor, you will be given literature that will tell you what to eat and how much of it, as well as foods that you should avoid. This information will be confusing and possibly contradictive from one visit to the next, but the basic healthy food choices still stand whether you are pregnant or not.

For safety's sake, do not eat foods which contain raw eggs or fish. Also there are certain types of fish that should be limited or avoided altogether because of the potential for high levels of mercury in them, so heed your doctors warnings. You can eat sushi when you ...
... are not harboring a small human within your womb.

Lean protein is very important during pregnancy as the baby starts building its muscular system. Good sources of protein include chicken, turkey, peanut butter, some cheeses, eggs, tofu and other soy based meat alternatives. A serving size of protein is about the size of your closed fist.

Whole grain pasta and breads as well as fruits and vegetables will give beneficial fiber- remember you will need increased fiber intake to avoid constipation. (For that reason make sure that you are drinking plenty of water as well.) Fruits can satisfy cravings for sweets, and vegetables can satisfy crunch cravings- you can eat often if you eat well.

Remember that pregnancy is not the time to eat everything in sight, nor is it time to go on a strict calorie reduced diet. Your body will continue to need nutrients, but the baby will need nutrients too as it grows its precious little body. Make sure that you give him all the good nutrition he needs so that he can be born happy and healthy. Follow your doctor's advice, get as much rest as you possibly can ( you will need it, believe me) and make sure that you remain physically active.
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