FOOD TALES

Every pregnant woman's confusion starts with the news of her pregnancy confirmation test. What should I eat?? What's healthy for me and my baby?? What will benefit me, help me stay strong through my pregnancy?? Can I eat this or no?? Everyone who knows your pregnant will want to advice you on the same and you end up in more confusion. So,; I'm just putting together everything I know about food and pregnancy because I too had a lot of apprehensions and doubts all the time about what to eat and what not to. I will split it up in detail and hopefully I'm able to give as much information as possible.



My mom wanted me to eat rice for both lunch and dinner and that too two portions of my normal diet, because I was pregnant and I was supposed to eat for two people. Am sorry, but that's just a myth or understanding of the old school mom's. You will need to eat as much as your body demands. Yes! Certainly your hunger levels would have sprung up, making you feel hungry all the time. Every meal is important now, your lil one is dependent on your food for it's own. But remember instead of eating one huge bulky meal and struggling with a bloated tummy, eat smaller portions and multiple times. Progesterone is a pretty tricky hormone, and your growing uterus pushes your belly aside to make space for itself,; leaving you feel gassy, colicky, heavy and constantly a target for indigestion. That's why you need to cut down your meals to smaller portions.



Binging on cravings and having junk once in a while is OK... But if you don't wanna gain unnecessary pregnancy weight and want a healthy weight for yourself and your baby, then avoid eating junk regularly. Preserved foods, artificially colored foods, colas, packed juices are a big No. There's a lot told about MSG / ajinomoto in Chinese foods, that it affects the brain development of the baby. So best said avoid it, would you wanna eat Chinese you can always request not to add ajinomoto. I did the same, cause I carved Chinese cuisine all the while..



Throughout your pregnancy eat healthy fresh food,; Vegetables and fruits. Prepare a lemon squash and preserve it for upto 15 days each time, just dilute it and drink according to taste and preference each time.





Lemon Squash Recipe : lime juice about one to one and half cup, a tsp of salt, a tbsp sugar. Mix, bottle it up and store in refrigerator. Dilute when ever u crave for it.;



What to Avoid.;





Throughout your pregnancy you will need to avoid papaya and pineapple.;





During you 1st trimester avoid eating anything that causes over body heat. Seasonal fruits like mangoes, Jackfruit, papaya, pineapple, drumstick.;





If your diagnosed with diabetes or gestational diabetes, then you will have to avoid all forms of sugars, Jackfruit, grapes, banana, mangoes, dates. You can also check with your gynac or a nutritionist for more info..





Undercooked meat and eggs is a big No.;



What's best for you.;





During the 1st trimester, it's very important to eat food that is rich in folic acid. As folic acid aids in baby brain development and is essential for a healthy developmental beginning of your baby and also for a strong pregnancy.





Broccoli, banana, spinach, cantaloupe, Avocado are a few to name.;





I started eating dry fruits from my 1st trimester itself and never felt the need to avoid them. Water is a must and keeping yourself hydrated helps. Everyday you can have one tender coconut water it's good for you, a lot of imp nutrients are absorbed from coconut water.;





Milk, milk products, yogurt, curd should be another major portion of your diet.





If you are a non vegetarian include portions of well cooked meat and eggs in your diet. You can avoid fish that is high in mercury(salmon, shrimp, lobsters).;;





During the 2nd and 3rd trimester try and consume foods rich in calcium and iron. Since u will also be given iron and calcium supplements, a natural way to meet the required quantities is a healthy option in addition to the medication.;





Spinach, Beetroot, carrots pomegranate, citrus fruits can become your best everyday meal portions.;





If you are a coffee lover limit your caffeine intake to 200mg per day, that's about a cup of coffee. Tea not more than 2 cups a day.





Avoid juices and instead eat the fruit as a whole, much more healthy.;



Finally to close my post, I'm adding a simple diet chart that I followed and it helped me. Per day intake.. U can make one of ur own.;





4 almonds, 2 figs, 2 dates, few raisins, 2 cashew, 2 walnuts





1 bowl vegetable salad





1 bowl fruit salad





1 egg boiled or omelet every alternate day





Meat of ur choice once in two days;





1 tender coconut water





Your regular meal of breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can add a soup also to your diet.;





2 cups milk (if u don't like milk, try milkshakes, or some health mix with milk)





;Always have some biscuits, crackers handy incase ur hungry and just wanna pop in. Just gap your meals well..;





I gained about 12 kgs in total and my Aarav was 2.8 at birth, which is healthy. Hope this post helps, any feedback is welcome.;