Wholesome Eating During the Trimesters
What you need to eat and what you will want to eat will change during each trimester of pregnancy.
The First Trimester
During the first trimester one of your main nutritional Concerns may be battling morning sickness, which doesn't necessarily occur in the morning. Some strategies that I suggest help include eating small meals frequently, whether you are hungry or not, eating foods high in carbohydrates and potassium and low in fats, eating dry food like crackers and salty biscuits, eating liquid and solid foods a half hour apart, and munching on salty snacks.
The Second Trimester
During the second three months of pregnancy, continue to eat a well-balanced diet and increase it by about 300 calories a day. These extra calories should primarily come from protein derived from grains, meat, poultry, non-meat alternatives, and/or milk and should be added to your diet as snacks throughout the day. Iron supplements will continue to be important, but avoid taking them with products that contain calcium, magnesium, zinc or tannic acid (found in tea). It is best to take iron pills with fruit juice or water at bedtime or in-between meals.
You may experience more problems with your digestive system and be more intolerant of certain foods such as milk products, during this time. As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows, your stomach slows down, which can cause gas and indigestion. Eat more slowly, eat smaller main rneals and more snacks, walk after eating, and drink a lot of liquids between meals.
If dairy products become difficult to tolerate, try some that are easier to digest such as curds/yoghurt, paneer, processed cheese and cheddar cheese. Fish is also a good source of calcium.
The Third Trimester
In the final three months before delivery, the weight of your baby will more than triple. For you, that means feeling fuller faster. However, it is still necessary for you to eat a well-balanced diet with sufficient calories. The best way to do this is to eat smaller amounts of food more often. Snacks will become increasingly important. Pick a variety of snacks that will supply the nutrients you need.
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