Congratulations on your pregnancy! You are about to embark on a wonderful, life-changing experience. Once you know for sure that you are pregnant, it is vital to take care of yourself to give your unborn baby the best chance at a healthy start in life.
The best way to take care of yourself is to ensure you are getting adequate rest and enough sleep – your body is working extra hard right now to grow your baby. Eating a healthy diet and exercising will increase your immune system and give you enough energy to complete everyday tasks as well as create a healthy baby.
Eating a variety of foods is important when you’re pregnant. Your energy needs will go up by 15%, and you should make sure to get plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grain cereals, rice, bread, and meat. Fish is also an important part of your diet.
It’s important to snack smart if you want to maintain stable energy levels throughout the day. Healthy options like yogurt and fruit, a peanut butter sandwich, or a muesli bar are all great choices. While sugar-filled snacks may give you a short-term sugar high, they have no real nutritional value. They will only make you feel tired later. So be prepared by keeping some extra snacks with you at work or in your purse. That way, you’ll never be caught off guard when your energy starts to dip.
Water is key to a healthy pregnancy. Drink at least 2 bottles of water a day, and carry a water bottle with you at all times. If you eat sensibly and have one extra snack a day, you’re giving your unborn baby the best chance to thrive.
So get organized and write out a list of all the ingredients you’ll need. Try to focus on foods that are in their natural state and haven’t been highly processed. You should aim for 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, as well as including meat, bread, yogurt, cheese, pasta, rice, milk, beans and nuts. As long as the food you eat has been washed or cooked thoroughly, you can be as imaginative and creative as you want in your cooking.
