By Mariely Lopez, A Nutrition Communication Undergraduate at Arizona State University
Part two of a four-part series.
During pregnancy women’s bodies change and with this change it is important to know that what we put into our bodies may also change. Changes in diet can be different for each woman going through a pregnancy; it all depends on their body size, physical activity, stages of pregnancy, and health status. When it comes to nutrition during pregnancy it is important to know what is required in order to have a healthy baby, but for the most part eating a well balanced diet will allow for that.
Energy
We need energy in order for our bodies to function properly, when a woman becomes pregnant the need for energy increase due to the growing fetus inside of her. The fetus accounts for about one third of the increased energy needs of pregnancy. It has been estimated that the increased energy averages about 300 calories a day. Now, this is simply a rough estimate and it does not apply to every woman because every body is different. So, what does 300 calories of look like? I’ve compiled a list of meals that contain about 300 calories1.
Breakfast: 394 calories
- 1 whole wheat English muffin
- 1 hard boiled egg
- ½ cup of fruit
- 8 oz fruit juice
- 8 oz water
Lunch: 305 calories
- 1 medium baked potato
- 2 tablespoons of sour cream
- 2 tablespoons of salsa
- 1 cup of sliced melon
- 12oz of water
Dinner: 345 calories
- 6oz chicken
- 1 cut of green beans
- 1 cup of tossed salad
- 1 tablespoon of oil and vinegar dressing
- 12 oz of water
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates, what are they? Carbohydrates are what we use for energy; they are made up of hydrogen, oxygen, and water and are found in the foods we consume on a regular basis. On average, about 45-65 percent of total caloric intake during pregnancy comes from carbohydrates. Consuming about 175 grams of carbohydrates will meet the fetal brain’s need for glucose (sugar)1. Foods like vegetables, whole-grains, fruits, and fiber rich foods will be the great choices to consume because those types of foods are high-carbohydrate foods.
Protein
The need for protein for pregnant women increase due to the fact that protein is need by the fetus, uterus, and placenta. The recommendation for protein among pregnant women is 71 grams a day, however, most women living in the US already consume about 78 grams, which mean that most women are already meeting the required amount of protein to make a healthy baby1. Here is what 75 grams of protein looks like in a given day:
- 2 slices of toast
- 1 cup of milk
- 3oz of tuna
- 2 slices of bread
- 2oz of chicken
- 1oz of cheese
- 2 tortillas
- ½ cup of beans
Fat
Fat plays an important role during pregnancy; it is used for fetal growth and development of the brain, retina, and other neural tissues. However, the type of fat that I am talking about is categorized as a fatty acid called linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These types of fatty acids are found in a variety of different foods. Linoleic acid is found in foods such as corn, sunflower and soy oil and alpha-linolenic acid is found in walnut, soybean, canola oil and leafy green vegetables; it is recommended that pregnant woman consume 13 grams of linoleic aid and 1.4 grams of alpha-linolenic acid1. Here, in the US, diets deliver enough amounts of linoleic acid but they don’t offer much of alpha-linoleic acid.
Vitamins and Minerals
The following is a list of vitamins and minerals that are essential for the growth of the fetus and the placenta, tissue maintenance, and the many different metabolic demands a woman’s body under goes during pregnancy and where they can be found.
- Folate- Folate can be found in fortified grains and cereals, dark green leafy vegetables and dried beans.
- Choline- this vitamin can be found in beef, eggs, pork, dried beans, fish, and milk.
- Vitamin A- Vitamin A is found in animal products, liver, clams, low-fat milk, and American cheese.
- Vitamin D- Vitamin D can be found in milk, breakfast cereals, and fish.
- Calcium- this mineral can be met by drinking milk, calcium-fortified milk, and calcium fortified orange juice, and yogurt.
- Iron- Iron is normally taken as a supplement after the twelfth week of pregnancy, however, iron can be found in food such as beef, pork, dried beans, prunes, apricots, raisins, spinach, and bread.
- Iodine- Foods that contain iodine are iodized salt, milk and/or milk products, seaweed, seafood, and bread.
- Sodium- the most common for that sodium is found in is table salt but it also found in cured foods (such as corned beef, ham, bacon, and pickles), milk, cheese, and salad dressing.
Water
Staying hydrated whether you are pregnant or not is important. On average, it is recommended that we, women, drink approximately 8 cups of water a day, but when you become pregnant it is important to increase to about 9 or even 10 cups of water a day1. A rule of thumb to know that you are dinking enough water is to drink enough water to maintain your urine a light-color. Drinking water diluted in, say, fruit juice, iced tea, or other unsweetened beverages can also be an alternative to drink and stay hydrated.
Nine months of pregnancy is not joke. We must be aware of what our bodies need along with what our fetus needs in order to come into this world a healthy living baby. Most nutritional needs can be met by simply following a well balanced diet that consist of nutrient dense foods, like the ones that I mentioned above, you can rest assure that you will give birth to a loving healthy baby.
- Brown, Judith E., and Janet S. Isaacs. Nutrition through the Life Cycle. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, CENGAGE Learning, 2011. Print.