What Foods to Eat & Avoid in your Diet during Pregnancy

Experiencing motherhood is special. It starts from taking care of your little one when it is in your womb. As a mother, you are experiencing an array of emotions- from joy to anxiety. But no matter it is a joyous occasion, pregnancy is physically taxing. Eating nutritious food is beneficial for the baby and as well as for the mother. But not all healthy diet is suitable during pregnancy. In this blog, we will cover what foods you must eat & avoid during your pregnancy. First, let’s go through foods that you must avoid during your pregnancy.

Foods to Avoid during your pregnancy

RAW Foods

You must avoid eating uncooked foods when you are pregnant. Any meats, eggs, and fish that are undercooked or raw are at risk of being contaminated by different types of bacteria. These bacterias can cause miscarriage, so try to curb your sushi cravings for some time.

Meat in Small Quantities

Protein-rich meats in small quantities are okay if you are pregnant. You can eat cooked meat but keep your portions in check.

No Papaya

Pregnant women must avoid papaya as it might cause uterine contractions, leading to inducing early labor. It contains papain, which your body may mistake for the prostaglandins that may sometimes induce labor. Papaya can also weaken vital membranes that support the fetus and may cause miscarriage.

No Alcohol

Now that’s a given, but you should avoid drinking alcohol when you are pregnant. It can cause issues while the baby is developing in your womb. Drinking alcohol during the first trimester can cause abnormal facial features.

No Caffeine

To all the coffee addicts, you must avoid drinking coffee when you are pregnant as it increases the risk of miscarriage or having a baby with low birth weight. Make sure to avoid caffeine that is present in other foods as well.

Foods to Eat during your pregnancy

Now to the best part of the post, all the nutritious food you can eat when you are pregnant. Keep your diet in pregnancy healthy as far as possible for your recovery phase. Also, don’t complicate your healthy diet plan during pregnancy by buying groceries that are not readily available. Choose ingredients and foods that are healthy and readily available to avoid the hassle. Now let’s go through a few healthy foods that you can eat during pregnancy.

Healthy Veggies

Green vegetables like kale and spinach contain nutrients pregnant women needs. They contain fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium, iron, folate, potassium, and more. Hence, eating healthy veggies is recommended for pregnant women.

Fruits

Fruits are an essential source of antioxidants. Pregnant women require a minimum of 70 mg of Vitamin C daily, which you will find in fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and honeydew. Eating fresh fruits during pregnancy can help both the woman and the baby to be healthy. Fresh fruits contain lots of vital vitamins and nutrients and are a good source of fiber for pregnant women. Citrusy fruits are an excellent source of folic acid, so try to include grapefruits, oranges, and sweet limes in your pregnancy diet. Bananas, pears, cherries, grapes, guavas, apples, watermelons, and more are also a great option to include in your diet. So try to include fruits in your pregnancy diet plan.

Dairy

You can choose cottage cheese popularly known as paneer in India while targeting the daily protein portion as it is a good source of not just protein, but also calcium, which is essential for bone and muscle development. Yogurt, curd, low-fat milk, and different types of cheese can be devoured throughout the pregnancy.

Non- Veg Food

While deciding on the type of non-vegetarian food for pregnancy diet, you can include warm chicken soup, eggs, and protein-rich meats. Make sure to eat well-cooked poultry to prevent any digestive issues and bacterial infections. Fish is rich in omega-three fatty acids, but you should avoid deep-sea fishes as having high mercury content. So these are the foods that you must eat & avoid when you are pregnant. All of this doesn’t apply to everyone. Every woman is different and has different complications during pregnancy; your diet must be the one that suits you the best. Disclaimer: Consult your gynecologist or your physician before eating anything or starting anything new as your pregnancy diet.