Let’s face it: the quality of the foods that you put in to your body both before and during pregnancy has an effect on your baby’s overall health more than any other factor, which means that it is important to have the information necessary to provide both you and your unborn little love with the best nourishment possible.
Is It Too Late To Make Changes?
It is absolutely never too late to change and improve your eating habits. Let your pregnancy serve as motivation. Your baby will still benefit from the changes that you make, even if you decide to make those changes just a few weeks before they are born.
Actually, your babies requirements for iron, proteins and calcium are the greatest in the last few months of pregnancy, making it even more important to get proper nutrition.
During pregnancy, you are the one supplying everything for your developing baby. At the end of the day, baby will take what he or she needs in order to grow and develop. Unfortunately though, if proper nutrition does not have a solid foundation, you can quickly find yourself depleted of these vital nutrients that you need for optimal health.
So What Can I Do?
There are a few things that you can do to improve your eating habits during pregnancy.
- Stay hydrated. Water is essential for life, and you’re growing a brand new one. Ask your doctor what he or she thinks is a good amount of water for you to be drinking each day, and stick to it.
- Be more conscious on what you are putting into your body. Read the labels on foods. Try to stick within the healthy limits for each food group (think food pyramid).
- Take your prenatal vitamins. Yes, every day. If you have trouble remembering to take them like I did, simply set a reminder on your phone to take them before bed or when you wake up in the morning. If you dislike taking pills, maybe opt for the gummies instead.
What Should I Eat?
According to the food pyramid we all learned about in high school, you should have a certain number of servings of each food group from the pyramid. When you’re pregnant though, things look a little bit different.
- 3 servings of dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)
- 4 servings of veggies (carrots, peas, lettuce)
- 1 or less serving of fats/oils (processed foods, sweets)
- 3 servings of protein (meats, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, nuts)
- 3 servings of fruits
- 9 servings of grains (bread, cereal, rice, pasta)
If you’re looking for some specific meal ideas, I would say that pinterest is the way to go. Try searching “balanced meals for pregnancy” and see what you come up with. Pinterest was (and still is) one of my favorite go to places to find balanced meal ideas and recipes. Plus, it supports other fellow bloggers!
Remember, it is never too late to make a positive change for both you and your little one.
Xoxo,
Lia
Boss Mom Blog 