Re: What are the guidelines for healthy eating during pregnancy? I want to eat right... but what does that really mean?
Good nutrition during pregnancy is essential --the nutrients you give your body are the building blocks of strong, healthy growth for baby. During the next nine months, you'll need about 300 more calories perday than usual. The best way to get these in is by sneaking in two or three healthy snacks between three small meals. Eating frequent small meals (as opposed to a few large meals separated by long period without calories or nutrients) help baby get maximum benefit from what you eat. Here are a few more ways to give baby a healthy start (and keep yourself comfortable):
[ ] Drink eight to ten glasses (80-100 oz) of water each day
[ ] Pick fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are healthy and prevent constipation
[ ] Eat high iron foods such as liver, shellfish,lean meat, poultry, fish, dried beans, green leafy vegetables and whole graincereals and breads
[ ] Choose whole grains over sugar cereals and whitebread
[ ] Avoid excessive caffeine (found in most sodas, coffee,tea, chocolate)
[ ] Don't skip meals -- even if you don't feelhungry, baby needs the nourishment
[ ] Use our prenatal nutrition checklist to keep track of food groups and servings every day
Denise Gershwin, CNM | May 20 , 2009 1:41 PM