Important Foods to Eat When Pregnant

If you are pregnant, you are probably concerned about the health of your unborn child. As you know, the foods you eat during pregnancy can directly affect the health of your baby. These pregnancy tips will help you determine the best foods you can eat to provide your baby with the best start in life, plus the foods you should avoid to help prevent various complications.

Fruits and Vegetables

It’s a no brainer that fruits and vegetables are some of the most important foods to eat when pregnant. These food sources provide you and your baby with the most beneficial vitamins and minerals rather than to relying upon over the counter vitamins.

Some of the most advantageous are broccoli and bananas. Broccoli will provide you with an excellent source of antioxidants, folate, calcium and fiber. Bananas are an excellent way to prevent fatigue and they are typically easy on an upset stomach, as are avocados. Red peppers and carrots are also a great source of Vitamin A. Mangoes are another super fruit when you’re pregnant.

Meat and No Meat

Protein is essential for pregnant women to help stabilize blood sugar levels. Many women develop new food cravings during their pregnancy. Some women will begin to crave meat more than usual. If you do crave more meat, try to consume lean proteins rather than red meat.

If you are a vegetarian, don’t worry. You can receive all the protein you and your baby need through beans, legumes, eggs, tofu and other protein sources you already consume in place of meat. Also, be mindful of the fish and seafood you consume to prevent eating too much mercury and risky seafood.

Cheese and Dairy

While soft cheese such as goat cheese and feta are off limits, you can still enjoy a wide variety of cheeses and dairy. In fact, it is encouraged that you drink additional nonfat milk to stay on top of your calcium levels. You might also consider yogurt as a way to maximize your calcium consumption. Some cheeses such as mozzarella and cheddar are also approved sources of calcium.

Avoid Alcohol

It goes without saying that alcohol can negatively impact the development of the fetus. Although the risk tends to be higher with pregnant women consuming alcohol on a regular basis, any amount of alcohol may still affect your unborn child.

If you have trouble staying away from alcohol, please talk to your doctor and he/she can guide you as to how much alcohol may be safe for you. However, no alcohol is the best way to go.

There you have it, important foods to eat when pregnant! Remember, eating the right foods is the best chance you have for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. If it feels as though you are faced with many foods to avoid, you actually have more foods you can eat than those you cannot. Regardless of your dietary preferences, you have amazing options in fruit, vegetables, beans, meat, cheese and much more.