What to Eat During Pregnancy

You have a baby on the way - congratulations.What you eat now will have a big impact on the health of you and your baby.Eat right and you are doing a lot to minimize your risk of pregnancy complications. Learning what to eat during pregnancy has never been easier than it is now.

First, remember that once you hit the second trimester, good nutrition during pregnancy requires that you eat about 300 more calories a day.Getting the right amount of calories will give you and your baby the energy you need. Now these extra calories should not give you the right to chow down on every food in your line of site.This is only 300 calories. A glass of milk or one banana equals 100 calories and a slice of whole wheat bread, and ounce of cheese and a half of cup of grapes equal 200 calories.You will see how much more food you can eat when you eat this way, rather than having that donut you crave.

At least 3 servings of protein daily are required to give your baby what she needs to grow strong.Everyone needs protein, but you need more now that you are eating for two. Protein is very easy to come by and your options are endless.Try something like 3 glasses of milk, 2 cups of yogurt and 3 ounces of cheese.

Four daily servings of calcium are also important for you and your baby. Calcium is going to help grow your baby's bones and help protect yours.There are lots of tasty foods that supply calcium, such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream.

Aim for at least three servings of vitamin C. Your body does not store vitamin C so you need a fresh supply of it every day.You have lots of choices for getting vitamin C, as there are lots of fruits and vegetables that have high levels of vitamin C. You also want to make sure you get three to four servings of green leafy and yellow vegetables and fruits.An added benefit is that these fruits and most vegetables will give you vitamin C.

One or two more servings of other fruits and vegetables will serve you well, giving you other nutrients and important fiber.Some examples in this category are banana, apples, and onions.You need to get 6 or more servings of grains and legumes daily.In addition to having good amounts of fiber, these foods also are high in vitamins B and E. Try eating brown rice, whole wheat breads and even air popped corn to get your servings of whole grains and legumes in.

No doubt, one of the most important nutrients you need when you are pregnant is iron. Your body's demand for iron will never be greater than it is while you are pregnant.It is important not to ignore this. Not enough iron could lead to anemia so you want to make sure you are getting enough iron.If you have any concerns, ask your doctor about getting an iron supplement.

A fit pregnancy gives your baby the best chance for healthy development. And while it is always a good idea to eat well every day, when you are pregnant it is essential that you eat well every day.

Get Your Picky Eater Eating Your Food

Are you going crazy with your picky eater at home? Everyday you crack your head thinking what you can cook that they will eat. The meal battles are no joy either. It is really not uncommon for families with young children to have picky eaters. Many parents share the same predicament. They say most of these children will eventually outgrow it. I'm sure sitting around and waiting for it to end is not the solution you are looking for. So here are some suggestions for you:

1. Ask for their input when planning your meals and get them involved in the grocery shopping. You increase the odds of them eating what you cook when you give them the opportunity to decide what they family eats.

2. Watch the before-meal snacks. If they have a snack close to meal time, it's likely they won't eat their meal. Watch the drinks too. Even juice and milk can fill up our kid's tiny stomachs.

3. Don't pile their plates with too much food. Start with a small portions and if it's not enough, serve them seconds. Doing so, you create opportunities for them to finish their meal and they feel good when they do so.

4. Get them to help you prepare the meal. If they helped make it, they'll be proud to eat it. For instance, while preparing dinner, I persuaded my daughter who is 7 years old to help me chop up the broccoli and cauliflower. And you know what? She eagerly put them on her plate and finished it and we're talking about a girl who straight out refused them before.

5. Give them a choice of foods to eat. Make them feel the decision is in their hands. You should say "do you want pasta or sandwich", "fruit salad or vegetable salad" etc....

6. Make sure your snacks have some nutritional value. Fruits and vegetables are ideal. Turn them into finger foods that the kids can enjoy such as fruit kebab.

7. Bring to their attention what foods other children are eating, more so what their friends are eating. I used to joke with my friend that we should exchange food because our children seem to prefer the other person's food. Your picky eater is more likely to try something their buddies are eating even if its something new or different. It would seem like a good idea to get your children's friends together for a picnic sort of activity. Of course, make sure you team up with the parents first so there's no junk food.

8. Often times the problem lies with the food's texture and not the taste. You should come up with alternative ways to prepare the food such as grinding it up in a blender or food processor.

9. Don't label them a picky eater. If they hear you say it all the time, they may just accept that to be who they are.

10. Don't prepare separate meals just for them. Give them a choice but don't go out of your way to cook them something different from the rest of the family. If you give in to their demands, you'll never get them to expand their list of like-able foods.

One important trait you need to have in order to deal with picky eaters is patience. It's not easy but it's vital you stop the meal time battles. List down rules and adhere to it. One thing that will also help is to search out easy recipes for picky eaters. Some creativity in meal preparation won't hurt.

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Are You Wondering What to Eat in Order to Have a Baby Boy?

Does a woman's diet have anything to do with the gender of her child? Some believe it does, and others then wonder what to eat in order to have a baby boy. Before you start making your shopping list there are some things you want to consider first. Number one, there is no magic recipe or special shake you can whip up in the blender that is going to guarantee the gender of your child, boy or girl. While some may advise you on what to eat in order to have a baby boy, these changes may only increase your odds very slightly, if at all, so be prepared for a girl when the pregnancy does happen and get that ultrasound from the doctor before you pain the nursery blue and toss out the "girl's section" of the baby name book.

It's believed that the "boy sperm" from a man travels faster but lasts for less time than the heartier "girl sperm." This is where your considerations of what to eat to increase your chance of conceiving a baby boy come into play. When you create an atmosphere or environment that is difficult for the sperm to survive in, you make it that much more difficult for the "boy sperm" to last long enough to reach an egg. So basically you want foods that will help to preserve sperm so that you can help them survive for longer. Most people believe that the sodium in salty foods and the potassium in red meat can both help in this regard. Many recommend saltine crackers or soda bread, both of which have high sodium content. An increase in red meat every day might also help.

A word of caution though. If you are thinking of changing what you eat in order to have a baby boy you must be very careful that you don't put your health at risk. Too much salt can make you retain water and can cause your blood pressure to go up. Too much red meat is also somewhat unhealthy as the body has a hard time digesting it. Whatever changes you decide to make to your diet – be sure and run them past a doctor first.