Good nutrition is always important for proper body function, but it’s especially important during pregnancy. What a mother eats during pregnancy will have a direct impact on her child’s health, so it’s crucial to make sure she’s getting the right nutrients.
Becoming a mother and giving birth to one’s own child is the biggest gift a woman can receive. It’s a precious day for all involved, and mothers need to be extra careful about their diets to make sure their children are healthy and protected from all difficulties.
A pregnant woman’s diet is extremely important for both her and her child’s health. Diet should include products high in calcium, such as cheese, butter, soups, vegetables, and fruits, as well as proteins like eggs and meat, to ensure the child’s health and development. The effects of a woman’s diet on her children start long before she becomes pregnant; stores of fat, protein, and other nutrients built up over the years are used during pregnancy to nourish the fetus. It’s best to keep meals light, and to avoid going for long periods without food. Drink fluids between, but not with, meals. Avoid foods that are greasy, fried or highly spiced.
Pregnant women need to make sure they’re getting enough protein, calcium, and iron in their diets. Good sources of protein include soya products, beans, and grains. Calcium and vitamin D are important for the development of the baby’s bones and teeth. Iron is needed for the formation of blood in the fetus. Vitamin B12 plays an important role in fetal development. Fortified foods that contain these nutrients include some breakfast cereals, some soy milks, and Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula nutritional yeast. Folic acid is needed early in pregnancy for the proper development of the neural tube. Foods such as enriched bread and pasta, cold cereal, dried beans, green leafy vegetables, and orange juice are good sources of folate. DHA is a type of fat that is mainly found in fatty fish and is important for the development of the brain and retina. It can also be found in flaxseed, flaxseed oil, canola oil, walnuts, and soybeans. Pregnant women should use iodized salt to help prevent iodine deficiency. In addition, a pregnancy chart should be prepared to track the progress of the pregnancy.
Breakfast:
1/2 cup oatmeal with maple syrup
1 slice whole wheat toast with fruit spread
1 cup Eden Soy Extra soy milk
1/2 cup calcium and vitamin D fortified orange juice
Snack:
1/2 whole wheat bagel with margarine
Banana
Lunch:
Veggie burger on whole wheat bun with mustard and catsup
1 cup steamed collard greens
Medium apple
1 cup Eden Soy Extra soy milk
Snack:
3/4 cup ready-to-eat cereal with 1/2 cup blueberries
1 cup Eden Soy Extra soy milk
Dinner:
3/4 cup tofu stir-fried with 1 cup vegetables
1 cup brown rice
Medium orange
Pregnancy is a special time when a woman’s body is changing and growing to accommodate a new life. Apart from eating a nutritious diet, it’s important for pregnant women to be happy and stress-free. With all of this in mind, it’s possible to have a healthy and happy baby.
