Nutrition Guide for Pregnant Women
What a woman eats and drinks during pregnancy is her baby’s main source of nourishment and development. That’s why, experts recommend that mothers-to-be ensure that they have a variety of healthy foods and beverages to provide the all-important nutrients babies needs for healthy growth in the first nine months of their lives.A pregnant woman needs more calcium, more folic acid, more iron and more protein – in fact more of healthy, nutritious foods – than a woman who is not expecting. During pregnancy, the objective should be to eat nutritious foods. To maximize prenatal nutrition the following five food groups – fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and dairy products – should be integral to a pregnant woman’s daily food intake. Typically, a pregnant woman should fill half her plate with fruits and vegetables; a quarter of it with whole grains; and a quarter of it with a source of lean protein. She should also have a dairy item at every meal. So, here’s a basic check-lis...