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Every soon-to-be mother wonders about the best foods to eat during pregnancy. You might wonder whether you need to change your diet completely, and what to do if you’re craving a slice of pizza. The truth is that you don’t need to go on a special diet when you’re pregnant. You can indulge in the occasional treat, including pizza and other foods you love. However, moderation is the key. It’s also important to maintain a healthy diet that includes all the nutrients you and your growing baby need. Here’s what you need to know about the best pregnancy diet menu.
Pregnant women are often told to “eat for two”. However, this is a myth. You don’t need to eat twice as much as usual. Women who do so might gain more weight than recommended and make it harder to shed those extra pounds after giving birth.
The truth is that pregnant women only need to consume an additional 340 to 450 calories each day during their second and third trimesters (8). Keep in mind that the amount of healthy weight gain in women varies depending on their pre-pregnancy weight. After delivery, when you’re breastfeeding your newborn, you will need an extra 500 calories per day above your usual (pre-pregnancy) requirements (1).
However, it’s not just how much you eat that matters; it’s also about eating nutritious foods that provide all the nutrients you and your baby need to grow and develop. We know that calorie needs vary from person to person and throughout the pregnancy. That’s why the best thing you can do is consult your doctor or a registered dietitian to get specific advice on how much weight you should gain.
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The best pregnancy diet plan menu consists of a variety of whole, healthy foods, such as:
It’s important to try and eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day when pregnant, including fresh, frozen, or canned produce and 100% fruit juices.
These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as A, E, K, and C, fiber, folate, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and calcium. These foods are also rich in antioxidants that protect cells from damage and may help prevent conditions like gestational diabetes (3).
Pregnant women need to get enough complex carbohydrates. These foods provide your body with energy so you don’t feel tired and lethargic (12). A pregnant woman needs at least 175 grams of carbohydrate per day. Whole grains like oatmeal or quinoa, brown rice, whole-wheat bread and pasta, along with legumes like lentils and beans– these foods are rich in vitamins, such as E, B1, B2, B3, and B6, iron, folate, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and protein.
In addition to complex carbohydrates, pregnant women need plenty of protein from plant-based or animal sources. It’s important to eat a variety of nuts and seeds, including pumpkin seeds and chia seeds, as well as beans and lentils. You need a bit more protein (25 extra grams or so per day) during pregnancy than you did before. Protein is essential for the development of your baby’s body parts before birth and energy after delivery (9).
Fats should make up about 30 percent of a pregnant woman’s diet during her second and third trimesters. Healthy fat sources olive oil, avocado, nut butter, oily fish, grass-fed butter, and full-fat dairy products are all great options. Healthy fats with omega-3 fatty acids are especially important for your baby’s brain development after birth (11).
When you’re pregnant, you need significantly more iron than an average woman needs. It’s vital to get enough iron in order to prevent anemia during pregnancy, which can lead to fatigue and depression, among other symptoms (5). Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, beans/legumes, spinach, molasses, and whole wheat bread or pasta.
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It’s also a good idea to take supplements throughout pregnancy to make up for any nutritional deficiencies. Be sure to talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting supplements, as some may be harmful during pregnancy. Generally, pregnant women need to supplement the following nutrients, so look for a prenatal vitamin formulated for pregnancy that contains them.
Iron is a major component of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. The maternal volume of blood in the body rises by roughly 45% during pregnancy (10). To generate extra hemoglobin in this blood, pregnant women need more iron.
A pregnant woman may develop anemia if her iron reserves are insufficient. This raises the possibility of several pregnancy conditions, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (6). Other complications that may develop from iron deficiency include:
Taking a prenatal supplement with iron ensures that you have sufficient iron throughout your pregnancy.
Pregnant women need 600 micrograms of folate daily. Folate is needed for healthy cell division, especially during fetal growth and pregnancy. It’s also important for the formation of red blood cells (4). As it is critical during the very early stages of pregnancy, it is often recommended that folate (or folic acid) supplementation is started a few months prior to conception.
Adequate vitamin D intake during pregnancy may lower your risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, bacterial vaginosis, and preterm labor. Vitamin D plays a critical role in helping our bodies absorb calcium and phosphorus (13).
During pregnancy, it’s important to get at least 600 IU of vitamin D every day because you’re more likely to be deficient in vitamin D when you’re pregnant.
Read More: Pregnancy Cardio Workout: Everything You Need To Know To Do It Safely
A pregnant woman needs 11 milligrams of zinc daily (9). Some studies show that supplementing with zinc may improve birth outcomes and reduce the risk of preterm births, especially for low income women (14).
The majority of pregnant women do not get enough choline in their diet. Choline helps in the development and growth of the nervous system and liver during fetal life and infancy. Research suggests that choline influences early brain development, learning abilities, memory retention, and behavior in infants (2).
Here is an example of a 7-day healthy menu for pregnant women:
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Avoiding foodborne illness is especially important during pregnancy. Exercise caution when including these foods into your pregnancy diet plan menu:
These foods may contain bacteria called listeria, which can cause illness in a mother and baby during pregnancy. This also includes processed meats such as deli meats (7). If you do eat these foods, be sure they are cooked thoroughly, so there is no pink left in the center of the meat before eating them.
Pre-prepared foods are usually made with raw eggs, meats, poultry, etc. These may have not been cooked at high enough temperatures to kill the harmful bacteria found in these ingredients, so they may cause illness when you eat them.
Unpasteurized juice, raw milk or unpasteurized cheese can contain listeria bacteria (7). Pasteurization kills the bacteria before it reaches your table.
Produce, such as vegetable salad and fruits, should be washed thoroughly before eating to remove any harmful bacteria.
When you’re pregnant, you should aim to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet full of whole grains, plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and fresh produce. It’s okay to indulge in occasional treats as long as those come from nutrient-dense foods that provide the vitamins and minerals needed for both mother and baby’s health. Consult a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for more personalized advice regarding your nutrition regimen during pregnancy – after all, every woman is different.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!