Pregnancy Nutrition

When a woman is pregnant, proper nutrition is essential. It is important for expecting mothers to carefully choose their foods. Understandably, pregnancy and food cravings are a packaged deal. Many women unknowing consume excessive amounts of foods that will not benefit their baby. Additionally, other women fall prey to common pregnancy misconceptions that result in overeating.

Myths about Pregnancy Nutrition

Although many physicians discredit the concept of “eating for two,” many expecting mothers hold fast to this theory. However, enjoying a second helping of meals, while satisfying food cravings, may greatly increase the amount of weight gained during pregnancy. It is estimated that women only need to consume an extra 200 to 300 calories a day while pregnant. This is equivalent to eating an additional piece of chicken. On the other hand, women who want to avoid gaining weight may significantly decrease their fat intake during pregnancy. However, robbing the body of fat may also decrease the baby’s intake of protein, which is found in most fatty foods.

Pregnancy Eating Tips

There is an abundance of information available to assist expecting mothers with nutrition. Online resources and parenting magazines are a great source, and they include easy tips that do not require a major lifestyle change. Some essential tips for a healthy pregnancy include:

• Eating five, small balanced meals a day
• Drinking at least ten glasses of water a day (8 ounces/per glass)
• Avoiding alcoholic beverages
• Taking prenatal vitamins
• Avoid overeating
• Avoiding caffeine

Food to Avoid While Pregnant

Certain foods that are more prone to harbor bacteria or salmonella should be avoided when expecting a baby. These foods include raw meat or undercooked meat. Moreover, foods that contained raw eggs such as Caesar dressing and mayonnaise should be avoided. Fish and foods containing high levels of mercury may cause developmental problems in babies.