1 Dec 2017 | 8 min Read
Babychakra
Author | 1369 Articles
It is crucial to follow a balanced diet during pregnancy as it keeps your health in-check, and ensures that you receive all the right nutrients to support the development of your growing baby. You can plan your daily pregnancy food diet chart under the guidance of a nutritionist or a physician, depending on your needs.
Having a diet plan with nutritious food for pregnant women has an added benefit too: it makes grocery shopping way easier and you do not even have to worry about planning your next meal. Let’s understand what to eat during pregnancy and which foods to avoid during pregnancy, in detail. Keep on reading.
Diet plans are tailored depending on an individual’s needs, to suit their health status. Some examples of tailored diet charts are as follows: diet chart for diabetes, diet chart for gym enthusiasts, diet chart after the gym, diet chart after delivery, diet chart for heart patients, diet chart to gain weight, and diet chart for cholesterol control. Below is a diet chart that will be useful for expecting mothers:
Having a nutritious and well-balanced diet is one of the most important things for pregnant women, as it helps meet the additional requirements of the growing baby. Here is an example of a diet chart for healthy food for pregnant women:
According to a 2,000-calorie diet, ideally, you should eat at least 8 ounces of seafood each week (less for children). But if you’re pregnant, you should consume 8 to 12 ounces of seafood each week. Seafood includes fish and shellfish, which are good sources of protein, iron, and zinc. These minerals are also great for your baby’s development. Many fish include omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and can help boost your baby’s brain development.
Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins for women who try to get pregnant or are pregnant. They have more of some nutrients that you need during pregnancy than a standard multivitamin. All nutrients are important but some of the nutrients such as folic acid during pregnancy, iron, iodine, calcium, vitamin D, and DHA play a vital role in the baby’s growth and development during pregnancy. You should take a prenatal vitamin with 600 mcg of folic acid every day during pregnancy and 27 milligrams of iron each day. And to strengthen the bones and muscles of your baby, make sure to take 1000 milligrams of calcium each day.
One of the most essential steps to ensure your baby gets all the nutrition he/she requires throughout pregnancy is by watching your calorie consumption. Before becoming pregnant, if your weight is within a normal or average limit and you’re somewhat active, your suggested daily consumption should be around 2,000 calories. During your first trimester, you probably won’t need any additional calories . But, you will need to focus on consuming a well-balanced diet to boost your metabolism.
During the second-trimester diet, you will need to increase your daily calorie intake by 300 to 350 calories. You can do it by adding two glasses of skim milk and a bowl of oats every 3-4 days a week. And in the third trimester, you’ll require an additional 450-500 calories each day to maintain the health of you and your baby.
When you are pregnant, you will have to avoid certain pregnancy foods. If you’re a huge fan of coffee, this might be a genuine bummer for you. While there are certain foods that you can consume in limited amounts, others should be completely avoided during pregnancy. Here are some of the pregnancy foods to avoid or limit.
Limit your daily caffeine intake to less than 200 mg. Caffeine is believed to cause the tightening of blood vessels in the uterus and placenta and reduce blood flow to the foetus, and inhibit development.
You should avoid excess consumption of added sugars as well. It can cause high blood sugar levels and create complications all over your body. It has the potential to harm blood vessels and nerves. And it can also injure the eyes, kidneys, and heart. High blood sugar during pregnancy might also cause birth abnormalities in the developing infant. So, it is highly recommended to limit the intake of sugars.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant raises the chances of miscarriage. It can also have an impact on your kid after they’re born. If you drink alcohol while pregnant, your baby may also develop a dangerous illness known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). So, avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, you will need to ensure certain things to maintain the health of your baby in the womb. For that, when possible, eat pregnancy super foods that are freshly cooked. Avoid refrigerated, ready-to-eat items that have been sitting out for an extended amount of time. While making meals, maintain proper hygiene and use clean utensils. Wash all raw veggies and fruits well to make sure there are no germs. For raw meats, use a separate chopping board.
The recommended servings during pregnancy should be around 6-11 servings of bread and grains, 2-4 servings of fruit, 4 or more servings of vegetables, 4 servings of dairy products, and 3 servings of protein sources (meat, poultry, fish, eggs or nuts). Consume fats and sweets in moderation to maintain your overall health during pregnancy.
Your taste for some meals may change during pregnancy. You may find that you suddenly loathe meals that you liked before pregnancy. However, if you have any issues that hinder you from eating balanced pregnancy foods and gaining weight healthily, consult your doctor to get the best advice to maintain your body throughout pregnancy. You can also check out the role of bitter gourd in pregnancy along with what to eat in first trimester in pregnancy to get the most information and prepare yourself accordingly.
Disclaimer: The information in the article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor.
Also Read: The ‘real’ foods that power your baby during pregnancy
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Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.