I was recently approached by fellow blogger Katie Moore, who wanted to submit an article to be posted on my blog...
Even though I had considered guests posts in the past, I had never gotten around to actually doing it so this was a great opportunity to start...
Katie is an
active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness,
health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting
new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.
Thank you, Katie for showing an interest in my blog and for lending your article to be published on "Stories of a Happy Mom"...
Healthy Eating for Expectant Moms
Before my pregnancy, I
never gave too much thought to health and wellness. I was young and in good
health, so I figured I was one of those lucky people who could eat whatever
they wanted without gaining weight or developing any health problems. However,
when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to stop taking such risks with my
health, both for my sake and my baby's. I started becoming increasingly aware
of what I was putting into my body and I knew I had to make a change.
My pre-pregnancy diet was decent but also consisted of fast food, caffeinated,
sugary beverages, processed snacks, and frozen meals. Upon closer inspection of
these foods, I realized they were not only full of fat, calories, sodium and
potentially harmful chemicals, but they were also completely devoid of any real
nutrition. Although I didn't know a lot about prenatal nutrition, I did know
that I could not, in good conscience, continue to eat these foods during
pregnancy. My baby was completely dependent on me and I knew I had to make
smarter, healthier choices.
Making
Diet Changes
With my doctor's help, I formulated a meal plan. The processed, fatty
and sugary foods had to go. In their place, I stocked my kitchen with fresh,
all-natural foods. I traded starchy carbohydrates for whole grains, which
boosted my energy and body function without causing spikes in blood sugar.
Since my mother had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during both of her
pregnancies, I knew whole grains and a low-sugar diet were especially
important.
Instead of relying on fast food lunches and dinners, I began preparing my meals
at home. I traded burgers and fries for green salads topped with grilled
chicken or fish, and vending machine snacks for trail mix or fresh fruit. The
change I felt was almost immediate. Instead of that mid-afternoon sluggishness
I'd always experienced, I started feeling energetic and alert all day long. My
performance at work improved, as did my overall attitude and mood.
Before I got pregnant, I
was always a big meat-eater. However, once I researched healthy protein
options, I decided to cut back on the meat and stock up on beans, nuts, legumes
and seeds. These sources of protein have all the benefits of meat, but without
the calories, sodium and cholesterol.
Don’t
Forget Your Liquids
Since caffeine isn't recommended during pregnancy, I gave up coffee, tea and
soda in favor of water, juice and decaffeinated green tea. To my surprise, my
energy levels didn't suffer at all. With all the vitamin-rich foods I'd been
eating, I felt better than I ever had. The extra water also helped ensure
healthy amniotic fluid levels, as well as increased blood flow to my
baby.
With the help of your
doctor and strong willpower, any expecting mother can make big, positive
changes in her life that will benefit baby and herself. Speak to your doctor
about exercise recommendations as well as become educated on signs of labor,
delivery options, and post-delivery choices like cord
blood banking. Starting your baby’s life off in the healthiest way possible
will make you and baby happy and healthy.
