Guest blogger :)

Sorry I've been missing in action! We're still home in Florida with everyone fighting over little B.

I do have a guest blogger with a wonderful post is love to share with you. Her name is Katie Moore and she has written this just for all of you!

Healthy Nutrition and Recipe Tips for Mothers-to-Be

Pregnancy is a time when a woman is concerned about everything she eats. After all, she is eating for two. The saying "eating for two" is misleading though. Despite all of my cravings of peanut butter and spicy foods I wanted to give in to, it doesn't mean that I was supposed to be eating twice as much. Eating for two means that you should be getting the right nutrition for your developing baby. A pregnant woman only needs around 300 additional calories per day in the last two trimesters.

Fresh Foods are Better

When fixing meals and snacking, it’s much better for a woman to eat fresh fruits and vegetables than those in a can. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients and no salt. Consider planting a garden as a great way to ensure you’re eating as fresh as you can get. I started container gardening on my back porch for things like tomatoes and peppers.

Smaller Meals for Nausea

For women who are experiencing nausea during pregnancy, eating smaller, more frequent meals will help with symptoms. Eating this way keeps blood sugar levels more stable. I experienced morning sickness for what felt like my entire pregnancy and smaller snacks and meals certainly helped keep my stomach settled. A quick health tip is to consider eating a few baby carrots when your stomach is upset instead of eating crackers—you can eat and feel better without loading up on carbohydrates.

Protein

During pregnancy, protein is vital for preventing eclampsia, or pregnancy induced high blood pressure. There are many food sources for protein, such as lean meat, beans, eggs, tofu, peanut butter and cheeses. A pregnant woman should eat approximately 70 grams of protein daily.

Nutrition Guides

Nutrition information can get confusing whether you’re pregnant or not. Keep a few reputable resources handy—whether you print them off and hang them on your fridge or you find an app to download on your smart phone—and refer to them whenever you’re wondering if you’re getting enough of a certain food group or to make sure you’re not indulging in a food on the ‘avoid’ list.

The March of Dimes has a comprehensive nutrition guide for pregnant women. Another comprehensive nutritional guide for expectant mothers is from the USDA, called Choose My Plate, which has pages and information exclusively for pregnant women.

If you have any further questions, consult your doctor for the best answers. Your doctor is a great resource for a multitude of questions about your health and baby’s health—subjects like your diet, exercising, signs of labor, cord blood banking, among many others. Your doctor is the best resource for the most accurate answer pertaining to your unique pregnancy.

Food Cravings During Pregnancy

Some researchers associate cravings with the hormonal changes that happen throughout pregnancy. Other professionals believe that cravings are an indication of nutrients missing in the diet. But there is no proven cause of cravings. Cravings can vary greatly between women. As long as they’re not harmful or too unhealthy, indulging in cravings every now and then will only make you a happier woman.

Here is an easy recipe for Mint-Chocolate Ice Milk to help serve as a sweet, healthier indulgence:

Combine 1 1/2 cups ice, 2-3 tbsp. of Hershey's chocolate sauce, 20 fresh mint sprigs, and 1/2 cup of regular soymilk or low-fat milk. Blend until all ingredients are pureed. Add 1 1/2 cups of soymilk to this mixture and blend until it is frothy. This should be served immediately.

Food Aversions

Sometimes during pregnancy, a pregnant woman will suddenly be repulsed by foods that she used to like—for me it was jello, gag! The smell of coffee brewing may nauseate you or suddenly your most favorite treat is now your most hated. Just like food cravings, food aversions in pregnancy have no solid explanation. They just happen.

An Exciting Time

Pregnancy is an exciting time for a mother-to-be. When you are eating for two, you should always be striving to eat the most nutritious foods for your developing baby. You may crave strange food combinations like cherries with scrambled eggs, or you may suddenly dislike foods that you once loved. But when the baby arrives, all of your nutritional habits will serve you and your healthy baby well. 

“Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. 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.”