What Superfoods a Would-be-mum Should Have?

Pregnancy is both a phase of happiness and changes in a woman’s life. She changes both physically and emotionally, while she’s happy nurturing a life inside her. However, to combat these changes and to add on to her excitement, both the mother and the growing baby needs food strongly packed with nutrients. In other words, she will need “superfoods”. 

However, here’s a list of pregnancy superfoods ready:  

Fortified Breakfast Cereal Dieticians believe that a pregnant mother should get 400 mg of vitamin supplements and 200 mg naturally high folate from whatever she eats. And fortified breakfast cereal is a way to have it. Combining it with asparagus and black-eyed peas is a good idea.  

Nuts Full of healthy fats, protein, fiber and  different types of minerals and vitamins; munching on this power snack helps in reducing premature labour and adds to the development of nerves and brains of the baby growing inside.  

Orange Juice Downing a glass of orange juice in the morning can fully fill the folate, potassium and vitamin C requirements in a pregnant mother. She can also absorb the much-needed iron from it. 

Bananas Packed with potassium; slicing them up and throwing them into breakfast cereals or whipping them with milk to make a glassful of smoothie or blending them with yoghurt, berries and other fruits and ice to make a plateful of chilled salad for a midday snack, will boost up a pregnant mother with energy and help combat her fatigue.  

Yoghurt Getting 1000mg of calcium every day is a must for pregnant mums. And yoghurt contains more calcium than milk, bone-building nutrients, proteins, Vitamin B and zinc. 

Dried Beans & Lentils During pregnancy, a pregnant woman is advised to take 10 extra grams of protein every day, and beans and lentils are a good source for it. They are also rich in fiber and help in fighting constipation. Moreover, a cup full of cooked lentils will fulfil her daily folate requirements. Punching them into salads or preparing a delectable rice with them is a nice way to have them for lunch or dinner or just a simple evening snack.

Broccoli Rich in fiber, and packed with folate, calcium and plenty of vitamin C, this green vegetable is a healthy necessity for a pregnant mother. Having it with pasta or brown rice is a good idea.  

Lean Meat Undoubtedly it is a great source of protein. But it is also packed with iron and Vitamin B6 and B12, thus helping in the baby’s brain and tissue growth. Beside this, it also helps in maintaining the would-be-mummy’s nerves and eases her morning sickness. 

Eggs Some pregnant mothers may have an aversion for meat, but they can have eggs instead. And, eggs happen to be a great source of prenatal protein. Being packed with folate, iron and choline, a pregnant mother can have them fried, scrambled and hard-boiled for a grab-and-go breakfast or as snacks. 

Salmon Incorporating salmon in the pregnancy diet (grilled or smoked or broiled) through the nine months, becomes an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein.  

To Conclude Eating right during pregnancy is the right of every would-be-mother. One of the many reasons why women choose to consult nutritionists during this crucial and exciting phase of life. We hope the pregnancy superfoods list we have made is right. However, if that is not enough, it is pertinent to keep consulting the nutritionist.  

After all, “It is the most powerful creation to have life that is growing inside you. There is no bigger gift” Beyonce.

Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops contents on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare and stem cell banking and umbilical cord lining and more.