Congratulations! You are going to become a mother. In the next 9 months, your little angel will arrive in this world. But, are you eating the right way and enough nutrition for your baby’s development and for your own self?
When Should I Begin Taking Care of My Diet?
All women need to practice a balanced nutritious diet as soon as they plan to become pregnant and this good heating habit should continue throughout the pregnancy in order to give birth to a healthy generation. This is because healthy nutrition before pregnancy will supply the storage of nutrients for the needs of the formation of the fetus in early pregnancy. Therefore, every woman who is planning to get pregnant should care about nutrition for reducing health risks during pregnancy and the subsequent birth of a healthy baby.
Eating for Two, Is It True?
It is FALSE!
During pregnancy, an increase in body weight throughout the pregnancy should be monitored to meet the recommendations. The increase in weight that does not follow the recommendations will affect the health of the mother and the baby. Thus, extra calorie that needs to add to your current intake should be according to the trimester of pregnancy as follows:
1st Trimester
2nd Trimester
3rd Trimester
What to Eat and What Not?
What to Eat
Choose your foods according to the Malaysian Food Pyramid
Practice eating the 3 main meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) using the quarter quarter half concept. Add on 1-3 healthy snacks in between.
Enjoy a variety of foods from within each food group
Eat more high fiber food
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
What Not to Eat
Limit food and drinks high in sugar contents
Limit intake of caffeine that mostly present in coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks
Avoid undercooked food as they are prone to cause food poisoning
The Important Nutrients During Pregnancy
- Calcium : Milk, Dairy products, Green Leafy Vegetables, Beans
- Iron : Lean Meat, Dried Fruits, Eggs, Pucuk Paku, Spinach
- Iodine: Seafood, Cereal Grains, Eggs
- Zinc: Legumes, Whole Grains Cereals, Meat, Fish
- Folate: Green Leafy Vegetables, Okra, Fortified Grain Products
- Vitamin A : Yellow and Red Colored Vegetables and Fruits, Eggs, Green Leafy Vegetables, Milk
- Vitamin B1 : Yeast, Pork, Legumes, Fortified Cereal and Products
- Vitamin B2 : Legumes, Beef Extract, Eggs
- Vitamin B3 : Beef ,Pork, Fish, Whole Grains
- Vitamin E : Vegetable Oils, Whole Grain Cereal
3 Healthy Drinks Option for Pregnant Ladies
Sneak Peek on What's Inside NutriBrownRice® That Meet The Need of Pregnant Mommies
The suggestion of Menu for Each Trimester
In conclusion, a pregnant mother needs to eat extra calories but not literally means to eat for two. A healthy and well-balanced diet should be practiced in order to gain a recommended weight gain throughout pregnancy. Consuming NutriBrownRice® during breakfast, afternoon tea, or supper could be a better choice for a pregnant lady as it is a source of whole grain, contains calcium, vitamin E, vitamin B6, Vitamin B3, iron, and is high in fiber too.
