Eating For Two

Although you may be sorely tempted to eat twice as much as you would usually eat during your pregnancy, but quite honestly, there simply is no medical reason to. You are eating for a baby – not another fully grown adult! Eating twice as much, or eating for two, usually results in excessive weight gain during your pregnancy, which means that you will also have greater difficulty loosing the weight post pregnancy. It also means that you stand a greater risk of developing pregnancy complications which are going to put both you and your baby at risk. Your body actually becomes more efficient at absorbing and using the nutrients that you take in during pregnancy. In fact you really only need around 300 extra calories a day during your pregnancy. Instead of dishing up for two during your meal times, you should instead try and focus on the types of food which you are eating. If you are still hungry after eating your regular meals, then snack by all means. But then make sure that you are snaking on healthy foods and not junk food.

What foods do I need more of during pregnancy?

In order to help you meet your daily requirements for protein, calories and vitamins which you require during your pregnancy, we have a basic guide to help you:

• 9 servings from the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group
• 4 servings from the vegetable group
• 3 servings from the fruit group
• 3 servings from the milk, yogurt, and cheese group
• 3 servings from the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group

Maximize your intake through food choices

In order to maximize the nutrients you take in a day, and to stop you from getting bored of your food choices, make sure that you choose:

• Fruits and vegetables over frozen veggies and canned fruits
• Choosing several different colored fruits
• Choose whole grain breads and brown rice over white breads and white rice
• Eat fats, oils and sweets sparingly.

When do these food guidelines ever not apply?

Of course there are occasion when these guidelines would not apply, and these would only include the following scenarios:

• If you’re significantly overweight
• If you’re significantly underweight
• If you’re a teenager who is still growing
• If you’re the expectant mother of multiples
• If you’re a diabetic mother-to-be
• If you develop gestational diabetes during your pregnancy

You are responsible for your developing baby’s health and well being, and by eating correctly, and not by eating for two, will you maximize the full potential of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.