Get Lean Quick: The Basics Of Eating For Two

Monday, February 20, 2012

The Basics Of Eating For Two

by Mel Greenswoodin Health / Weight Loss (submitted 2012-01-26)

To ensure a healthy pregnancy a woman must modify her diet to meet the special nutritional needs of her unborn child. By eating a well balanced diet designed for pregnancy, a woman can build a strong defense against some of the health risks that pregnancy can impose upon her. A diet that is rich in nutrients such as folate, choline and many other proven nutrients can aid in the appropriate development of a baby. Adjusting her diet is a huge commitment and investment that a pregnant woman should do to be certain her baby has a great start in life, starting in the womb.

The Specifics of Eating for Two

A pregnant woman will fall upon numerous books that claim to have the best diet plan for pregnancy. Though many of them may contain truthful information, it is wise to learn the basics of nutrition for all people before getting overloaded with pregnancy diet information. Though a pregnant woman will need extra nutritional support while pregnant, she must have a good nutritional foundation to build upon to begin with. Here are some guidelines the expecting mother should use to build a healthy nutritional foundation for herself, and her bundle of joy:

1. To gain an appropriate and safe diet model, the pregnant woman needs to familiarize herself with the ever famous Food Pyramid that has been the backbone of all nutritional diet plans for many years. The USDA also offers a website they call MyPlate, this website offers a modern approach to a well rounded diet plan.

Women who already have an appropriate diet plan that is followed at least 80% of the time may not require many modifications to their diet when becoming pregnant. The basic nutritional foundation will already be in place, with the exception of possibly adjusting portion size, and the total calorie consumption per day.

Some foods such as those rich in folic acid and other essential nutrients to a pregnancy may be introduced to obtain the levels of nutrients that will be needed. This gives a pregnant woman the chance to try new foods, some she may enjoy so well they remain a permanent part of her diet.

The woman who does not already have an appropriate diet will need to adjust her eating habits to meet the nutritional standards needed for a healthy pregnancy. This may be difficult at first, but with self discipline and the desire to have a healthy baby, a diet rich in favorable nutrients will be obtained. Maintaining the diet even after the baby is born is important, especially for nursing mothers. A new mother will need all the energy she can get; a well balanced diet is the best method to gain that energy.

2. The pregnant mother must eat healthy at least 80% of the time. This gives her the opportunity to eat some foods she simply has a hard time giving up. To better aid the expecting mother to stick to her diet, she should alternate the healthy food choices she has been eating. An example would be to alternate her favorite veggies and meats continually, and adding new ones to avoid growing tired of eating healthy. The woman who sticks to the 80% healthy eating rule can also splurge and have her favorite junk food snack in moderation, every now and then.

3. Staying hydrated is another diet issue that all people must consider, especially the expecting mother. The old rule of thumb is to have 8 glasses of water per day, which some physicians disagree with. Regardless, it is wise to drink plenty of water and healthy fruit and vegetable juices to stay healthy. An occasional soft drink or other flavored beverage is not going to hurt, but water should be consumed more than any other choice of drink.

There are many benefits of staying hydrated for the pregnant woman. A diet with plenty of water decreases painful constipation risks, helps to keep skin smooth and glowing, and can also contribute to a baby who is delivered on time. A well hydrated pregnant woman decreases other health risks associated with dehydration as well. Drinking plenty of water and modifying her diet are just some of the important gifts a mother can give to her unborn bundle of joy. About the Author

The author has spent a lot of time learning about pregnancy diet plan and other related topics.Read more about diet for pregnant women at Mel Greenswood website.

Mel Greenswood