Welcome back! On Wednesday, we talked about how your body communicates during pregnancy. Today’s topic is entitled What Do I Eat? and it deals all about nutrition during pregnancy.
I’m not a dietitian {nor will I pretend to be one}, so I’m just going to give you some helpful dietary guidelines I work to follow during pregnancy:
- Take a daily prenatal vitamin.
Talk with your doctor/midwife about a great option for you and then just put them in a place where you’ll remember to take them every day. {Mine live right near my contact solution.} If you can’t find a good place where you remember to take them, try setting up a reminder on your phone!
- Don’t think, “I’m eating for 2!”
I know, I know. You hear people say it to you as soon as they find out you’re prego. For me, it’s a line that is heard most frequently at cookouts or church dinners. but pssssssst….I’ve got a secret for ya…don’t believe it! Because the truth is: you’re not. I mean, yeah – you’re eating enough to fuel that little life inside of you. So in that sense, yes – you are eating for 2 lives. But let’s keep in mind that these 2 lives aren’t the same size. To put it plainly, you don’t need to double your calorie intake during the 9 months of pregnancy. Check with your doctor/midwife to find out the recommended number of {extra} calories you should be consuming on a daily basis.
- Fill extra calorie intake with healthy foods.
Just because you need to gain weight during these 9 months doesn’t validate binge eating and/or super processed foods. Assuming you already attempt to eat good fats and fresh foods, just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be fine. Let’s not go overboard here. I am a sweets lover. Brownies are my BFF. During every pregnancy I have cravedPeanut Butter Cap’n Crunch and chocolate milkshakes. However, I don’t indulge in either one regularly. A helpful tip to keep in mind: you cannot flip a switch on your 9 month eating habits. The way you eat during your 9 months of pregnancy is the way you will want to eat after you have the baby. So, if I drink milkshakes every day of my pregnancy because, you know – it’s for the baby – then you can bet I’m gonna want daily milkshakes after that little babe pops out. Eat foods that fuel your body and make it a better place to live – for you and baby!
There are a thousand more things that could be said on the subject of nutrition during pregnancy. Things like needing extra protein & iron. Drinking enough water. Avoiding processed foods. But these are 3 tips that I have found to be helpful during my pregnancies and I trust they will help you as well. As always, talk with your healthcare provider to find out what is best for you and your baby!
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Comments
2 responses to “What to Eat {Nutrition during Pregnancy}”
One rule of thumb that was helpful for me during pregnancy was to think “would I want my kid living on this food?” Or “would I give this to him as a healthy snack?” If I don’t want him eating it b/c it isn’t nutritious, than I shouldn’t use it to feed him now. Establishing good eating habits for the kid starts with mom now 🙂
Excellent tip, Naomi!