| Many people like to indulge in junk food, but for | | | | a healthy banana or other fruit. |
| pregnant women this is certainly a no-no. When a | | | | Women who have been used to eating in between |
| woman is used to having junk food as part of her daily | | | | regular meals and indulging in junk foods and |
| diet, this should stop eating these foods when she | | | | sugar-laden snacks may experience some difficulty in |
| becomes pregnant. Babies need to have proper | | | | controlling their appetite and transitioning to a more |
| nourishment in order to develop well while inside their | | | | nutritious diet when they become pregnant. But this |
| mother's womb, so there is always the concern on | | | | can be done by careful planning. The best way to |
| what to eat and what not to eat when one is | | | | transition from three large meals and unhealthy snacks |
| pregnant. | | | | is to take five to six healthy small meals a day. |
| Junk food has nothing much to offer except little or | | | | The type of food to eat at these meals is important |
| empty calories and zero nutrients. They may be very | | | | so one can be sure about getting only the proper |
| tempting to eat sometimes but when a mother-to-be | | | | nutrition and gain the necessary healthy weight which |
| remembers that she is not only eating for herself but | | | | is between 18 to 32 pounds during pregnancy. Proper |
| for her baby as well. There shouldn't be a lot of | | | | nourishment can be taken from natural foods and |
| convincing needed to stay away from this type of | | | | supplements when necessary. Two fresh tuna steaks |
| food. Junk food also adds to unhealthy weight gain | | | | each week, enough white fish such as coley, cod, or |
| which can be detrimental when one is already nearing | | | | sea bass, the right amount of iron-rich food and folic |
| childbirth. | | | | acid are important in a pregnant woman's diet. Vitamin |
| Mothers-to-be do need a few extra calories to help | | | | D, omega-3 fatty acids, proteins and minerals can be |
| with their babies' nutrition needs. These can be taken | | | | sourced out from fish. |
| from good sources like toast with a single slice of | | | | Folic acid is important during the first trimester of a |
| cheese or three whole grain crackers set with two | | | | woman's pregnancy. Around 400mcg of this mineral |
| ounces of tuna. Stay away from too much processed | | | | should be taken until the third month. Spina bifida is a |
| foods, caffeinated drinks and sweet desserts like ice | | | | neural tube birth defect of babies which had been |
| cream and cakes. Research also has it that having | | | | attributed to the lack of Vitamin B during the first |
| over 300mg of caffeinated drinks daily carries a higher | | | | trimester of their development. Getting the right amount |
| risk for low birth weight and even a miscarriage. | | | | of iron supplement is also important in pregnant |
| Snacks are good only without the extra sugar and | | | | women, especially those suffering from anaemia. |
| artificial calories. Junk foods are no good substitute for | | | | |