What to eat while pregnant?

It is absolutely necessary to keep a well balanced diet throughout pregnancy. As the baby is taking whatever the mother had, it is essential to keep healthy diet. Everything you will eat during pregnancy will affect the health of your baby. You have to take additional nutrients to keep you and your baby healthy. It doesn’t mean that you have to take more quantity of food.

During the first trimester (first 12 weeks) you do not need much change from your usual diet. No need to add more calories to your diet. Second trimester onwards you can take extra calories, 300 extra calories per day. Low calorie food will breaks up the stored fat in mother’s body, which is harmful to growing baby. Taking much calorie food will cause overweight. Try to avoid excess calorie food. At the same time make sure that you are taking enough food for your child. Try to add protein, vitamins, fiber and mineral content foods in your diet.

While pregnant, you should take food in time. Do not drop your breakfast as your baby has been waiting for food since he/she woke up in the midnight. If you hesitate to take food, you will feel sick and tired.

Make sure you are taking enough food for you and your baby, which includes 4-6 servings of dairy products such as cheese, milk yogurt, ice cream, buttermilk etc so as to get enough calcium. Calcium is essential for growing bones of the baby and helps mother to get sooner recovery from delivery.
A pregnant lady should take at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Try to add more leafy vegetables and iron content fruits such as apple, dates, grapes etc.

Some foods are not safe while pregnant, which includes dairy products without pasteurization, certain fish that contain high quantity of mercury, raw eggs, undercooked meats and Caffeine. Fish such as king mackerel, shark, and swordfish, exotic are rich in mercury, which is harmful to growing baby. Caffeine such as soda and chocolates are not advisable to take during pregnancy.

Try to avoid the habit of taking food from outside while pregnant. They may add many flavored things to make the dishes delicious, which may be harmful to the baby.

Never forget to take enough water, drink plenty of water. Lack of water may cause urine infection. Take fruits in the form of juice so as to easy to digest.