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April 2016 Moms
BumpCaitlin
admin
Powerful Eats for You and Baby
BumpCaitlin
admin
We hear a lot of chatter about what foods to avoid while pregnant, but not nearly as much about the foods to seek out.
Check out our list of nutrient-packed eats to keep you and baby healthy throughout pregnancy. Which of your favorite foods made the list?
Check out our list of nutrient-packed eats to keep you and baby healthy throughout pregnancy. Which of your favorite foods made the list?
Re: Powerful Eats for You and Baby
I'm surprised avocados aren't on the list.
In addition, I recently learned a good way to get a good intake of spinach and beans, lentil, and other vegetables is to make a big pot of soup. This way you can have it for a few days and not have to worry about making meals with those ingredients everyday.
I like your idea with beans, lentils, and spinach in a soup. We are heading in to great slow cooker weather, so that sounds perfect!
1 cup greens (I use spinach and kale)
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup frozen mango or peach
1/2 avocado
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional but healthy)
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
Pinapple juice
Ice
I'm due April 3rd and feeling just as nervous. Positive thoughts to you and your baby!
Im veggie!! So this list didn't really help lol!!
I'm due 19th April
Here are some other ideas, as well.
Eggs
What it's got: Whether you like them fried, scrambled, hard-boiled or served as an omelet, eggs are the gold standard for prenatal protein. They also happen to be a great source of folate, iron and choline.
Why it's good for both of you: Not only are eggs a relatively cheap, versatile and convenient source of protein, but they contain choline too. Never heard of that last one? Choline is critical to fetal brain development and reduces the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. But to reap the benefits, you'll have to eat the whole thing (so forget the egg-whites-only order); choline is contained in the yolk. If your cravings are more for a burger than eggs Benedict, you’re in luck — there's also choline in beef. Bonus: Give baby a brain boost by buying eggs fortified with omega-3s.
Sweet Potatoes
What it's got: Don't just save these guys for Thanksgiving — sweet potatoes are full of nutritious fiber, vitamin B6, potassium (even more than bananas have!), vitamin C and iron, as well as copper and beta-carotene.
Why it's good for both of you: Sure, other foods on our list offer many of the same nutrients, but we're singling out sweet potatoes for their beta-carotene — an antioxidant that your body converts to vitamin A. And as you may recall, vitamin A plays an important role in the development of baby's eyes, bones and skin. Sweet potatoes are also a great way to meet your iron quota. Not only do these orange spuds contain iron, but they also have copper — a mineral that helps your body absorb iron. So swap in sweet potatoes for your usual sides; they're great mashed, baked or French-fried (um, yum!)
Nuts
What they've got: This crunchy (and convenient) snack is full of healthy fats (including those brain-boosting omega-3s we mentioned earlier), protein, fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Plus, noshing on nuts will help make a dent in the 800 milligrams of magnesium you're supposed to get now that you're preggers.
Why they're good for both of you: Munching on magnesium-rich foods helps reduce the risk of premature labor and aids in the development of your baby's nervous system. A quarter cup of almonds contains 98 milligrams of magnesium, so keep a stash in your purse for a convenient prenatal power snack on the go. Cravings control: If you feel like a bottomless pit these days, try noshing on shelled pistachios. They take longer to eat, giving your body more time to register that it's full.
Beans and Lentils
What they've got: If you're not a big meat eater (or one at all), beans and lentils are great sources of protein and iron, as well as folate, fiber and calcium. And beans (especially baked ones) are also bursting with zinc.
Why they're good for both of you: Beans boast a bunch of the baby- and- mama-friendly minerals found in animal products, so they're a great option for vegetarian and vegan moms-to-be. Beans are also rich in zinc — an essential mineral that's linked to a lower risk for preterm delivery, low birth weight and prolonged labor. Beans bother your stomach? Other great sources of zinc include meat, chicken, milk, fortified cereals, cashews, peas, crab and oysters (just don't eat them raw!).
Lean Meat
What it's got: Sure, you know it's a great source of protein, but lean beef and pork are also packed with iron and B vitamins.
Why it's good for both of you: Your body needs a lot more protein now (about 25 extra grams a day) to help the fetus grow and to ensure her muscles develop properly. Same goes for iron: Not getting enough of this mineral can impair your baby's growth and increase the risk for preterm delivery and low birth weight. Iron is important for mom, too — it's necessary for red blood cell formation (to prevent anemia). During pregnancy, your blood volume increases, so you'll need to up your iron intake (to around 27 milligrams a day). Bonus: Meat supplies a hefty dose of vitamins B6 (helps baby's tissue and brain growth, while easing mom's morning sickness) and B12 (helps to maintain healthy nerves and red blood cells).
Orange Juice
What it's got: Down a glass in the morning to fill up on folate, potassium and, of course, vitamin C.
Why it's good for both of you: You've probably heard a lot of buzz about folate and folic acid (the synthetic form that you get in supplements and fortified foods), and with good reason: It's a necessary nutrient for preventing certain birth defects early on in pregnancy and for ensuring a healthy pregnancy after that, so try to get about 600 micrograms a day. The potassium in OJ is important for keeping your muscle function, metabolism and overall health in check. Like iron, pregnant women need to consume more potassium, because of their expanding blood volume. And as you already know, orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, which, in addition to fighting colds, helps your body better absorb iron and keeps both your and baby's teeth and bones healthy.
You can also get your vitamin C from broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, red peppers and a variety of citrus fruits, including another prenatal power food — mangoes, which are packed with more than 20 different vitamins and minerals. Bonus: Opt for OJ that's fortified with vitamin D, which increases blood circulation in the placenta and aids in calcium absorption so that your baby will have stronger bones.
Yogurt
What it's got: Surprise! Plain yogurt actually contains even more calcium than milk. Plus, it's got essential bone-building nutrients, including protein, B vitamins and zinc.
Why it's good for both of you: Calcium is essential for keeping your bones and teeth healthy and helping baby to develop hers, and skimping on this key nutrient could put you both at risk. Expectant moms should get at least three servings of calcium a day to reduce the risk of low birth weight and preterm delivery. If your calcium count comes up short, your body will take the calcium your baby needs from your bones, putting you at greater risk for osteoporosis later on. Bonus: Snack on Greek yogurt topped with fruit for double the protein (and fiber) punch.
Oatmeal
What it's got: Those oats are filled with fiber, protein and vitamin B6.
Why it's good for both of you: Start your morning off right with a nice big bowl of oatmeal. Whole grains are great for keeping your energy levels up, especially if morning sickness has you feeling a bit drained. Plus, all that fiber will help with another pregnancy pleasantry: constipation. But the benefits don't just stop with mom. This convenient breakfast dish (yep, the instant kind is great too!) also contains protein and vitamin B6, both of which are important for baby's development. Bonus: Look for a variety that's fortified with iron, B vitamins and folic acid.
Leafy Greens
What it's got: You had to know these guys were gonna make the list. Chock-full of antioxidants and nutrients, dark-green veggies — including spinach, asparagus, broccoli and kale — should really be on everyone's plates.
Why it's good for both of you: These super foods are especially important for moms-to-be and their developing babies. That's because, in addition to all those antioxidants, leafy greens supply calcium, potassium, fiber and folate, plus another important nutrient we haven't told you about yet: vitamin A. Because of its role in helping baby's eyesight develop and aiding in bone and skin growth, it's important for moms to nosh on vitamin A-filled foods too. No midnight cravings for asparagus or spinach? Oranges are also a great source.
Salmon
What it's got: This oily fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.
Why it's good for both of you: Forget about preordering Baby Einstein DVDs — just incorporate salmon into your diet over the next nine months. The omega-3 fatty acids (aka DHA and EPA) in fish help baby's brain to develop, and higher levels of DHA in newborns have even been associated with higher IQs, advanced motor skills and fewer neurological problems later on. Omega-3s are good for the development of baby's eyes, too, and salmon is also a great source of lean protein for mamas-to-be. Worried about seafood? Salmon's low in mercury and considered safe for expectant moms, but limit your intake to two servings of six ounces or less each week to be safe. Just not feeling fish right now? Snack on walnuts and almonds.