Grains, cereals, fruits and veggies, breads, pasta are all great sources for healthy breakfast ideas for pregnancy. Then, pair them with protein and fiber.
Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and protein foods. Choose foods and drinks with less added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium (salt). Limit refined grains and starches, which are in foods like cookies, white bread, and some snack foods.
Whether you wake up nauseous or ravenous, eating a healthy breakfast is super-important when you're pregnant. These easy, mostly assembly-only breakfast options are full of essential nutrients that will keep you healthy and promote your baby's growth -- and get your day started right.
The 'warm' ones aren't necessarily unsafe, but the hotter the better. The cheese in Mcdonald's breakfast products is processed and therefore safe for pregnant women to eat, though remember it adds calories and fat. Hotcakes or pancakes – these are safe for pregnant women, though try to go easy on the butter and syrup!
“Skipping breakfast and [other] meals increases the risk of premature labor.” Without a healthy morning meal, you also may feel sick to your stomach, lightheaded and, soon, famished.
Protein is crucial for your baby's growth throughout pregnancy. Good sources: Lean meat, poultry, seafood and eggs are great sources of protein. Other options include beans and peas, nuts, seeds, and soy products.
Three small, but balanced, meals and three light snacks throughout the day are a good rule of thumb to ensure you and your baby's nutritional needs are met. Want to Know More?
Try high fibre varieties - wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta and high fibre breakfast cereals such as Weetabix, All Bran, Bran Flakes, Shredded Wheat. Choosing these foods, as well as fruit and vegetables and plenty of fluids (8 - 10 cups per day) will help to prevent constipation.
Kiwis. Kiwis contain a high level of folic acid and are delicious besides. Folic acid actively helps prevent fetal growth defects. In addition, kiwi helps expectant mothers absorb iron more efficiently, and this can prove essential for ensuring that a mother's blood carries enough oxygen to her baby.
While grapes do have high levels of vitamin A and C (which are important nutrients for pregnant moms), there are a few reasons why you might want to steer clear from grapes in your first trimester: Resveratrol toxicity. The outer skin of grapes is rich in a compound called resveratrol.
Yogurt is a good source of calcium, which is necessary for the development of your baby's bones and teeth, as well as heart, nerve and muscle function. If you don't consume enough calcium, your body will take it from your bones.
Intermittent fasting is generally not recommended to women during pregnancy.
Research shows that what a woman eats during pregnancy not only nourishes her baby in the womb, but may shape food preferences later in life. At 21 weeks after conception, a developing baby weighs about as much as a can of Coke — and he or she can taste it, too.
Lanugo is soft, fine hair covering a fetus while inside the uterus. It helps protect them and keeps them warm while they grow. Some newborns have lanugo covering their bodies at birth, especially if they're born prematurely. Lanugo can develop in people with eating disorders or certain tumors.
Munch on Fruits and Veggies
"Antioxidants protect the baby's brain tissue from damage," says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy. Choose deep-colored produce—like dark leafy greens, papaya, blueberries, and tomatoes—for the biggest antioxidant punch.
Many key nutrients need to be increased during pregnancy, and it's especially important to get enough calcium, iron, iodine, choline, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Breakfast: One cup 2% fat plain Greek yogurt with ½ cup granola cereal, ½ cup blackberries, and ½ cup diced strawberries. Lunch: Three ounces of baked chicken breast, and one cup of mashed sweet potatoes. Dinner: Three ounces of grilled salmon, one cup of cooked quinoa, and one cup of collard greens.
Milk or soy milk is a good source of calcium and protein and should be part of the pregnant woman's diet. Calcium during pregnancy is particularly important in helping to build strong bones in the growing baby. If you are not able to take dairy products, try getting your calcium from other foods such as vegetables.
Prolonged periods without food intake during pregnancy increase risk for elevated maternal corticotropin-releasing hormone concentrations.
Tips for healthy lunches for pregnancy
Think a small smoothie for calcium, a salad for fiber and vitamins, and a sandwich on whole grain bread for protein and carbs. Throw in some good fat from olive oil, nuts or avocado and you've got yourself a perfect meal.
When made from pasteurized milk, most soft cheeses are considered safe to eat during pregnancy. That goes for other cheeses made from pasteurized milk too, such as cheddar, American, cottage, and cream cheeses. Hard cheeses are generally considered safe in pregnancy.