Pregnancy Diet - your healthy Pregnancy Diet Plan, Nutrition Diet before, during and after pregnancy
When you are pregnant there need to continue with the same healthy diet and balance of nutrients that you needed when you needed when preparing for pregnancy and detailed advice given in this site applies equally during pregnancy. Keeping healthy and eating well are important when you are pregnant. Did you know that it is alos important to be healthy before you become pregnant? So, if you are thinking about trying to conceive, a critical part of your healthcare planning is diet.
It has been said that you are what you eat, and of course your baby will be too.
Is a vegetarian Diet adequate in pregnancy
There are not usually any problems with a well balanced vegetarian diet during pregnancy, plus you will have some benefits sush as increased fibre in your diet from all the fruit and vegetables. However. Such a diet will provide sufficient protein, vitamins
and minerals to meet the needs of most women, although sometimes iron supplements are required to help prevent anaemia caused by the extra demands of the unborn baby on the mother's stores of iron. Some very strict vegan diets contain no food at all that is derived from animal sources like
dairy products. Women following such a diet may need extra vitamin supplements and should discuss this with their family doctor. If you vegan then
you may be prescribed supplements of calcium and vitamins D and B12.
Fruit and vegetables diet in Pregnancy
You should try eating more salads using a wide range of fresh vegetables, and
try to take two portions of vegetables with each meal. Avoid overcooking
vegetables as this will break down many of the vitamins they contain; try
steaming them instead. Then have fresh (not canned) fruit for dessert - and for
nacks during the day - and drink fruit juices.
Starchy Carbohydrates Diet
You should eat wholemeal bread each day, and include a portion of potatoes,
Jasta or wholegrain rice with each main meal. For breakfast you should have
porridge or a high-fibre or wholegrain breakfast cereal, avoiding cereals with a high sugar content. Starchy carbohydrates such as pasta, wholemeal bread, breakfast cereal
and potatoes are ' good ' and ' Bad ' carbohydrates are those foods that are sugar-laden, such as cakes,
biscuits and sweets. Try to cut down the bad carbohydrates in pregnancy.
You want to avoid high levels of sugar in your diet. Try to avoid or at least minimise your consumption of sweets and chocolate and also sugar-rich soft drinks. It is easier said than done, but try to eat fruit for a snack instead, and drink mineral water.
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