Diet Pre Pregnancy

Your diet pre pregnancy really can affect your pregnancy – in so many ways. Not only does it affect the health of the baby, but also your health.

Here are ten tips for a healthy diet pre pregnancy, so that you have a healthy pregnancy and baby:

1. Eat iron-rich foods. If you eat enough foods high in iron, you are less likely to have a low hemoglobin (iron level of your blood) going into the pregnancy, which will make it easier for your hemoglobin to be higher during pregnancy.

2. Eat Vitamin C. Since Vitamin C actually helps your body absorb the iron, it’s important to eat sources such as oranges, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits.

3. Get adequate folate. Though many foods are fortified now, you may want to talk to your doctor about taking supplements before pregnancy, to prevent neural tube defects. Be sure you eat foods that are good sources of folate!

4. Eat balanced meals. Get in the habit before pregnancy to eat protein, carbohydrates, and the healthyfats at each meal and snack. During pregnancy, this may help you have more energy and gain the recommended amount of weight.

5. Watch your portions. Believe it or not, pregnancy is not the ticket to you eating whatever you want and however much you want. If you go into pregnancy with the idea that you don’t have to worry about how much you eat, you will most likely gain more than the recommended amount of weight.

6. Eat lots of fruits and veggies. Since you will especially need that fiber once you get pregnant, go ahead and get in the habit now! Find new ways to fit in some raw veggies for snacks, make fruit shakes in the morning, or eat more salads for lunch. Getting in the habit now will save you later, when you may be too tired to want to try new things!

7. Drink more water. If you’re like most people, you do not drink 8 glasses of water a day. It can be a challenge! When you’re pregnant, you will really need that extra fluid, so get started with increasing your water intake.

8. Eat less salt. Especially if you have high blood pressure before pregnancy, it is important to try to control your blood pressure. Cut back on salt that you add to food and foods that are high in sodium, such as processed meats, canned foods, and other processed and fast foods.

9. Cut back on caffeine. You might as well start getting used to less caffeine now, because if you guzzle coffee or sodas all day, you will have to abruptly stop that when you get pregnant. To avoid withdrawal headaches later, cut back now!

10. Replace the junk. Since you will need so much fiber, calcium, vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, why not start eating those things now? Figure out which foods in your diet are just “junk” and find ways to cut them out and replace them with a healthier food. For example, if you eat a lot of high fat ice cream, replace it with a yogurt parfait instead!

You will be at a better weight, which decreases the risk for many problems during pregnancy. You also be in the habit of eating healthier foods, making it easier to include those in your diet for good nutrition during pregnancy.

Besides pre pregnancy planning, all of these tips are also healthy for anyone to follow for better general health and disease prevention.

Have a healthy diet pre pregnancy and you will feel the benefits of it during pregnancy!