Proper diet is one of the most important parts of our overall health and well-being. Besides gym-goers, runners, fitness-junkies and practitioners of healthy lifestyle, ladies who are expecting a baby or planning a pregnancy should embrace a healthier diet plan. If you’re a lady who is not paying much attention on foods you eat on a regular basis, that needs to change if you want to give birth to a healthy baby.
Healthy eating is not only important for your own health, but it also plays an important role of your baby. As eating for two seems like a big responsibility at first (and it certainly is), it comes naturally to think about giving up on healthy foods and fill a bag of snacks and sweets in your nearest market. But if you leave your selfishness aside and commit yourself to giving birth to a healthy baby, you’re going to let us help you make a healthy diet plan that works best for you. When we’re done, you’ll see that the responsibility you once considered to be huge, is now much smaller.
Calories
First and foremost, you’re going to have to increase your calories intake as your body starts requiring more calories in the beginning of the second trimester. In the first trimester, you won’t need any extra calories, but once your abdomen starts growing, you’ll need about 300 more calories per day. In the third trimester, you’ll need to add 200 more calories onto that. However, those calories need to come from healthy foods.
Protein
While most people believe that protein can only be found in meat, poultry and fish, protein can also be found in tofu, soy milk, beans, lentils, quinoa, green peas, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, spinach, broccoli, almonds and many other vegetables and nuts. So whether you’re a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan, you’ll need to eat some protein every day. Eating more protein than you used to will help you gain weight in lean muscles, instead of unnecessary fats. Also, a well-balanced diet with enough protein will help in properly developing your baby’s brain when the third trimester of your pregnancy starts.
Carbohydrates
Besides protein, you’ll need to increase your daily intake of carbohydrates – the energy providers. The high-carb foods, or also known as starchy foods, are also loaded with vitamins and fibre, which are also essential for your health during pregnancy. Potatoes, rice, pasta, noodles, bread, oats and cornmeal are some of the healthiest carbohydrates you can include in your daily diet. Also, try to eat as much wholemeal as possible rather than processed.
Fruits & Vegetables
If you’re not a good friend with the green gang (apple, spinach, broccoli, cabbage and the rest), it’s time to start spending more time with them. Fruits and vegetables are the healthiest sources of vitamins, minerals, fibre and anti-oxidants, all essential for your own and your baby’s health. For best results, you should consume at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables every day in your pregnancy. Although raw is the best way to go, juiced, dried, canned and frozen fruits and veggies can also do the job.
Since your diet during pregnancy plays an important role in maintaining both your health and your baby’s, start practicing a healthier lifestyle as soon as possible. These diet changes can benefit you and your child even after birth. Healthy carbohydrates, more proteins, all sorts of whole grains, fruits and vegetables provide all the nutrition your body needs, so make sure to include them in your daily diet.
