Everyone knows how important it is to maintain a healthy diet every day. This is especially true for women who have become pregnant. As the baby grows inside you, it receives vital nutrients from the mother, and she does not receive as many vitamins, minerals, and proteins as before. By losing some of these basic ingredients, both mother and baby can suffer.
Early in pregnancy, many women get very sick every day with morning sickness. This prevents them from eating normally as they did before. Trying a cracker with a glass of juice or water can ease symptoms. This will eventually come to an end. Eating smaller, more frequent meals will also help.
When the nausea passes, try to eat a good breakfast. A small bowl of cereal with some fruit and milk, a slice of whole wheat toast, and a glass of water or tea. Then after a few hours, try an egg, some fruit juice, and a whole grain muffin. A tasty snack of nuts and dried fruits is good.
For dinner, have a small serving of lean meat, chicken, or fish, a small salad with very little dressing, and a vegetable. To top it off, have yogurt, sorbet, and a cookie. Drink lots of water and milk and finally a small cup of coffee or tea. By eating small portions throughout the day, you will feel better.
Good foods to include in your daily diet are lots of vegetables and fruits. Brightly colored varieties are the healthiest.
Broccoli, cabbage, green peppers, along with carrots, tomatoes, grapes, blueberries, and strawberries are good choices. Even sweet potatoes are better than white potatoes. Low-fat dairy products such as milk, cheeses, eggs, as well as certain fruits and vegetables contain calcium to protect and strengthen the bones and teeth of both mother and baby.
Dangerous foods
Some foods we eat are not good for anyone and are especially bad for pregnant women. Unpasteurized dairy products can cause serious side effects and even land someone in the hospital. Eggs are used in many raw dishes, such as eggnog and salad dressings, and many are not cooked long enough as main dishes for breakfast. This could cause a lot of stomach upset.
Sea fish bought at the local market can contain mercury and other chemicals that are dangerous to mothers and their babies. Domestic meat products, which are not fully cooked, can contain pests and harmful organisms and bacteria that cause food poisoning. Cold cuts and other packaged products contain harmful additives that should be avoided.
Foods to Avoid
Not all foods are safe during pregnancy, there are some things to avoid eating:
– unpasteurized products- brie
– Certain fish: exotics, sharks, swordfish, anything high in mercury.
– Raw eggs
– Undercooked meats, cold cuts. If you are going to buy a deli sandwich, you can ask them to eat some of the meat.
– Caffeine, soda, chocolate. If it is difficult for you, you can stop, but the less caffeine in your system, the better it will be for the baby.
If you are ever unsure of the foods to eat, you can ask your doctor for a list of foods to avoid during pregnancy. They will be more than happy to share this with you. You can also learn that your stomach will not tolerate certain foods like it used to. Some of those foods may include foods that contain fat, fast foods, meat, and certain foods that have a strong odor.
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to cut all the fun out of your life, you can still indulge yourself once in a while. Go out and buy a frozen yogurt or smoothie.
While you make sure you eat enough throughout the day, that doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your fluid intake. You will need a lot of water and juices from now on. The baby will thank you later. Who knows, you may find that you really enjoy eating healthier and stick with it even after pregnancy.