A healthy baby is the product of the mother’s good nutritional habits before and during pregnancy. Your baby is looking to you for everything, including the vitamins and nutrients necessary to grow properly. However eating for two doesn’t mean you should eat twice as much food as you did before you became pregnant.

For one thing, you may not have been eating the proper foods before pregnancy and twice the amount of the wrong foods could lead up to excessive weight gain. Most doctors recommend pregnant women gain between 12 and 25 pounds during pregnancy. If you are underweight at the onset of your pregnancy than you will need to gain more weight. Likewise, if you are overweight your doctor will advise you on where your weight should be.

Your Daily Food Choices
What exactly does a healthy diet consist of? A pregnant woman should consume at least three meals a day. These meals should consist of nutrient rich foods from each of the following food groups: proteins, fruits, vegetables, grain products, and dairy products.

Proteins: 3-4 moderate servings daily. Protein rich foods provide iron and B vitamins.
Fruits: 2-4 moderate servings daily. Fruits provide a vast array of vitamins, especially Vitamin A & C.
Vegetables: 4 servings daily. Vegetables provide Vitamins A & C along with many other important nutrients.
Grain Products: 6-11 servings daily. Grains are an essential source for fiber.
Dairy Products: 4-5 servings daily. Calcium is one of the most important nutrients that dairy products provide.

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