An optimal diet that includes plenty of vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy will provide your baby with all of the essential vitamins and minerals they require for good health (RDA on food labels stands for recommended daily allowance).
Avoid raw foods, including shellfish and deli meats, as these can contain bacteria that can lead to foodborne illness. Always cook meat to an acceptable temperature before consumption.
Fruits & Vegetables
Food you eat while pregnant has an immense effect on the development of your child, so ensure you include foods from each food group to meet all your nutritional requirements and provide your baby with essential building blocks for healthy development.
Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, fiber and potassium. Aim to consume two to five servings of fruits and vegetables each day – such as dark leafy greens, colorful berries, citrus fruits or tomatoes; cooked vegetables like sweet potato or squash may also provide essential nutrition.
Protein-rich foods, including lean meats, tofu, beans and nuts are essential to a nutritious pregnancy diet. Protein can support the development of your baby’s cells, tissues and muscles while simultaneously stabilizing blood sugar and keeping you feeling full for longer.
Calcium-rich foods such as low-fat dairy products (milk, yoghurt and hard cheese), dark leafy greens, figs and adzuki beans are essential in helping build your baby’s teeth and bones. Other sources of calcium fortified juices and cereals, canned fish like sardines and salmon as well as drinking plenty of water are all sources of this essential mineral.
Meat & Poultry
Maintaining a diet consisting of meat and poultry is vital during pregnancy as a source of protein to support its development. However, proper cooking of such foods is critical in order to minimize risks of food-borne illness — more likely during gestation due to compromised immunity.
Uncooked hotdogs or deli meats may contain Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which has the potential to cause toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. Be sure to cook all meat thoroughly – such as chicken, pork, lamb and beef — until steaming hot, making sure there is no trace of pink or blood. Raw eggs also carry harmful bacteria such as salmonella, E coli or Listeria — all which have the ability to make both mother and fetus sick; try not to consume raw eggs as well as undercooked or spoiled poultry seafood seafood fish as this.
Dairy foods are an integral component of a nutritious prenatal diet, providing calcium and protein essential for tooth and bone development. Choose pasteurized cheeses, yogurt and milk products; look out for low-fat options as well.
Folate is another essential nutrient for baby development during the first trimester. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. You can get plenty of folic acid by eating leafy green vegetables, beans and peas; or by taking a supplement.
Fish & Seafood
Moms-to-be may worry that seafood should be off limits during gestation, but with some exceptions seafood can actually play an integral part of a nutritious pregnancy diet. Fish provides protein, brain-enhancing omega-3 fatty acids, and iron. When it comes to sushi or raw fish, however, avoid it as these may contain bacteria such as salmonella or listeria that could lead to food poisoning.
Seafood includes oysters, crab legs, mussels and shrimp (all should be well cooked before being consumed), which provide essential proteins, zinc and selenium nutrient sources to support your baby’s development.
Dairy foods are an excellent source of protein for babies. Milk and dairy products offer essential calcium and vitamin D benefits, and when possible opt for pasteurized low-fat options.
If you enjoy seafood, make sure your diet includes salmon, herring, sardines and trout as staples. Catfish, pollock and tilapia are also safe choices; shark, swordfish and marlin contain higher mercury levels which could hinder brain development in children.
Snacks
Pregnancy can bring on food cravings and aversions, making snacks an integral component of a healthy pregnancy diet. Choose nutritious options rich in protein and fiber while limiting fat and sugar as well as sodium intake in order to prevent swelling during gestation.
Foods to consider for snacking include whole grains, nut butters, fruit and dairy (such as milk cheese yogurt). For an extra nutritional boost add lemon or honey to plain yogurt or apple cider vinegar. As these may contain bacteria that could make both you and the baby sick, make sure they are thoroughly cooked prior to consumption.
If you crave crunchy snacks, opt for baked chips made with whole grains instead of refined flour and dip them into guacamole or hummus, both rich in folate and heart-healthy fats, before enjoying with guacamole or hummus as these provide plenty of folate and heart-healthy fats. Or snack on raisins, dates or dried apricots which contain iron and calcium; but remember not to overindulge as overeating can lead to excessive weight gain and bloating. Also avoid eating raw sprouts as these contain bacteria (E coli and Salmonella), while overeating can result in excessive weight gain and bloating; alternatively grab lean meat or enjoy fortified cooked cereal as protein helps ensures essential for foetal development as well as muscle formation!
