So, you may have been questioning the things you're eating. "Is my baby really getting anything out of this burger and fries?" And, if that's a question that's going through your mind, realize that you're not alone! Many women question if what they're eating is healthy enough for their growing baby. Below is a list of the foods and drinks you should be having for nutrition value (for the baby and yourself) as well as calorie intake.
You should be having DAILY:
Milk- This includes a glass of milk, yogurt, cheese, and even some ice-cream. This doesn't mean that's what you have to eat everyday but you should try to have your milk intake. So one day you can have two glasses of milk throughout the day and a yogurt during breakfast and then another day you may have a bowl of cereal with milk and then a grilled cheese. Either way, it's important to get the dairy on in!
Eggs- You can do what you want with them but it's important to have them. You can scramble, fry, do omelette's, or french toast, egg salad, and much more.
2 servings of protein food- This includes meat, fish, beans, cheese, and tofu. So, even if you're vegan, you can still get your protein from tofurkey!
2 servings green vegetables- This includes all types especially spinach, asparagus, string beans, peas, and broccoli.
1 serving Vitamin C- You can get this source in a glass of Orange Juice
1 serving of fruit- Pick your favorites... or do fruit salad! I love bananas mixed with strawberries, pineapple, and grapes.
Other things to have throughout the week (these aren't must-haves but are helpful and simply a suggestion) are baked potatoes and other vegetables such as yams, squash, corn etc.
Don't forget that WATER is very important during pregnancy. Those 8 glasses are very helpful to keep you hydrated. Some women faint or feel like they almost fainted a few times during pregnancy and that is usually caused by dehydration; not getting enough of that good ol' H20.
FOODS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY!
Raw Meats- Because the meat is uncooked, that gives it a risk of having contamination and bacteria. The last thing you want is to be pregnant and end up having salmonella!
Deli Meats- Most deli meats are contaminated with Listeria, which is okay when you're not pregnant, but during pregnancy Listeria (which is a bacteria) can cause miscarriages. It doesn't mean that you cannot eat deli meat for as long as you're pregnant, but you've got to be careful. A better decision would be to purchase Oscar Mayer's packaged lunch meat since it has been heated before packaging.
Seafood/Fish- Seafood can be contaminated with Listeria as well and some fish contain high levels of Mercury which has been linked to brain damage in fetuses.
Raw Eggs- There is an exposure to salmonella with raw eggs, as with raw meat. You may think, "Oh, well I don't eat raw eggs" but some diner's and restaurants make Cesar salad dressing with raw egg, so that should be avoided. If you're going to have the Cesar salad, first ask the waiter to find out if there is raw egg in the dressing or not.
Caffeine- In moderation, it is okay.. but it has been linked to miscarriage. To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid caffeine. If that seems nearly impossible altogether, then it's best to cut back as much as possible for the sake of your growing baby.
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