Although a pregnant woman must eat enough to meet her baby’s nutritional needs, her energy requirements increase only slightly during pregnancy.
Eat better for two, but not twice as much!
In the first trimester of pregnancy, baby goes from being an embryo to a fetus. The formation of this complete little being requires a minimum of energy. The pregnant woman must therefore consume about 100 Calories more than what she normally eats, which is the equivalent of a yogurt or a piece of fruit.
During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the baby is growing rapidly. The energy needs of the pregnant woman increase by 300 Calories (500 Cal/day for the pregnant teenager). An orange in the morning, half a peanut butter sandwich in the afternoon and a glass of milk in the evening?
Pregnancy requires that the mother-to-be increase the amount of food she eats slightly and, more importantly, make sure it’s of good quality. By following Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and increasing the number of servings appropriately, pregnant women will find the nutrients and energy they need.
To ensure the quality of your diet, eat
- whole grains
- colourful vegetables (green, yellow, orange, red)
- Fruit
- dairy products
- meat, fish, legumes, eggs or nuts
- Choose fresh foods and vary your diet as much as possible!