Healthy Eating During Pregnancy: Protein, Fruits and More

I, like many women, treated my body the best I could during my pregnancy. I ensured that I ate plenty of fruits and vegetables while exercising regularly. Many women are unsure of what foods they are to have and what foods that they need to avoid. Pregnancy can be a very scary thing for women, as to ensure the safety of the unborn child. The unborn child solely depends on us to provide it with what it needs and to protect it from harm as it does after it is born. We try our best to make sure our children eat right after they are born, so why not make sure we provide them with the necessary vitamins and minerals while they are inside our wombs.

During pregnancy the unborn child needs the best nutrition the most during the first few months. This is when brain and eye development are occurring. Be sure to take prenatal vitamins and drink plenty of water. There are also vitamins to take in conjunction to the regular vitamins. These are mainly for fetal eye and brain development. I can vouch that they are the best thing. I took them during pregnancy and can say my 15 months old daughters development is much farther that of her 2 year old cousins.

The foods you need to be eating during pregnancy are fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, fish, meats, beans and eggs. Be sure to get all of these in your diet to keep your little one healthy. Sweets are all right, too, as long as you keep them to a minimum.

With grains some options are cold cereals, pasta, rice, crackers, bagels or muffins. Keep cereal to ½ a cup and muffins or such to about half. Brown rice is best and is better for you. It takes some getting used to but is great if mixed with a can of chicken or broccoli cream soup straight out of the can with no water. Fills you up and tastes great.

Fruits and vegetables are a definite must have in your diet. Eat three pieces of fruit a day and about four of vegetables. With every meal include some sort of vegetable. In between meals snack on a banana, apple or grapes. All are great to keep your digestive system running smooth, help prevent cancers and help you feel younger.

Make sure you get adequate calcium intake from things such as cheese, yogurt and skim milks. Try combining milk with fresh fruits and ice in a blender to make a fresh fruit smoothie. This is great for a summer treat for a hot momma.

Protein is also very important for you and your little one during the first trimester of your pregnancy. Eat at least two or so servings a day. You can obtain protein from the following sources tofu, nuts, peanut butter, beans, meat, fish and poultry.
Eating healthy is very important through all stages of pregnancy and during breast feeding. Its best to keep this newly learned lifestyle going to ensure your health as well even after all the baby buzz is over.

Sources:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_823.asp
http://www.healthyalberta.com/HealthyEating/581.htm
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/nutrition/?ordersrc=yahoo3eating_cgy&cobrandId=ww5&s_kwcid=TC-3019-59629083022-S-7240017022