Being pregnant doesn’t mean that a woman has to restrict herself when it comes to her daily meals. On the contrary; pregnant women should add a lot of variety to their meals to ensure that they are getting all of the vital nutrients they need for a healthy pregnancy and, ultimately, a healthy baby girl or boy.

Pregnant women actually need more calories daily than a non-pregnant woman because the body requires more energy to perform the various physiological functions needed for growth, repair, and survival.

So don’t be mistaken – being on a pregnancy diet doesn’t mean you are going to starve yourself. Being on a pregnancy diet is actually the start of eating better and more interesting meals every day.

Tips for healthy and happy eating

1. Given a choice between ordering out take-out and cooking your own food, we highly recommend that you cook. Cooking food at home gives you the opportunity to control the amount of fat and salt that goes into your meals.

When you order fast food or pizza nightly, you are causing your body extra strain because of all the salt, fat, and preservatives that come with these convenience-centered food items.

So the next time you have a craving for another unhealthy dinner or snack, think about this: what you eat is absorbed by the placenta and is given to your baby as well. Do you want your baby to absorb excess salt and fat?

2. Whole foods are the only types of food that pregnant women need to stay healthy. Forget about specialty diets being sold on the Internet. Lean meats, grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables are all you need to stay strong and healthy.

3. Pregnant women need increased protein intake every day. That means you need to get 75 grams of protein throughout the day so your body has enough energy to perform vital functions. Getting enough protein every single day can actually have a protective effect on your body, too. Studies indicate that protein can prevent the onset of pregnancy-related hypertension. Read the rest of this entry »