When they become pregnant, many women feel pressure to change their diets for the sake of their baby's health. Whether or not you should change your diet will depend upon what kinds of foods you typically eat. Of course, it is important to eat a balanced diet while pregnant, and if your diet is typically poor then you really should start making an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables. On the flip side, if you are used to eating very little and you usually limit your intake of calories, you will need to reverse this trend. Healthy eating during pregnancy is about providing your baby with everything it needs to develop correctly. This often means increasing the quantity and variety of the foods you eat.
Increased Needs
You've heard the phrase 'eating for two'. This means that a pregnant woman needs more of everything; more vitamins and minerals, and more calories. You need to feed the growth and development of both your own body and that of your child. You can find out more about the nutritional requirements of your pregnancy by speaking to your doctor.
Home-Cooked Food Is Better
Home-cooked food is always the better option. This means saying no to nutritionally worthless and fundamentally unhealthy takeaway food. When you prepare a meal yourself, you can control not only the ingredients but the way they are cooked too. Takeaway food, by comparison, is very unhealthy and extremely high in fat. Remember that whatever you put into your body also goes into your baby's body. Is a pepperoni pizza really the best meal for your unborn son?
By preparing your meals at home, you can plan your diet more effectively, and you can avoid foods that cause you problems. Many pregnant women experience problems with their digestion. To avoid this, it is recommended that you keep a journal of the foods you eat so that you can easily identify the culprits. Home-cooked meals can also help you deal with your cravings. Try eating smaller, more varied meals. This will help you feed your cravings without filling up on the wrong foods.
Concentrate On Protein
Pregnant women need more protein in their diets than most. In fact they need to consume about 75 grams of protein each day. To keep up with the demands that pregnancy puts on their body, many mothers-to-be turn to supplement pills. While this can help, it usually isn't enough. You'll need to keep eating those healthy staple foods like meat, fruit, and vegetables.
Gaining Pregnancy Pounds
It is both normal and healthy for a mother to gain weight during her pregnancy. Aside from your pregnancy bump, you can expect to gain a few pounds throughout your body. I'm afraid you are just going to have to stop worrying about your figure until after your baby is born. Right now, the most important thing is your baby, and you will have to wait until after it has been born to get back into shape. Of course, there is such a thing as putting on too much weight, but weight gain is usually a good thing during pregnancy. It's just another sign that your baby is growing at a healthy rate.
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