What to Eat while Pregnant

Nearly everything changes when you’re pregnant—your body balloons, your skin expands, your moods and attitudes shift here and there, your sense of smell turns upside down, and even your eating habit or food choices change, too. But among all these changes, food choices make a crucial issue for expectant mothers.

Meat and seafood
“There is really no reason to avoid poultry, beef, pork, fish, or any other seafood—except when you have allergies to certain kinds and there is contraindication,” says Dr. Aurora Lopez-Valdez, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Bethany Hospital in San Fernando City, La Union. “For instance,” she says, “poultry is still a good source of protein for pregnant women, so it’s not advisable to abstain from it.”

An article on Today Health also mentions that fats found in fish are important aid in the development of brain and vision of your baby. Fish fats are called omega-3 fats. In some cases, however, because of the presence of mercury in fish, pregnant women have been advised to take only moderate amounts of fish. Mercury, found in fishes like king mackerel, swordfish, and shark, is a toxic metal said to cause some serious damage in our nervous system.

Lopez-Valdez stresses that most of these foods are generally okay to eat, but warns that there may be exceptions on a case-to-case basis. The condition of the patient has to be taken into consideration and properly diagnosed by a doctor.

What about when meat and seafood is served raw, as with sushi and kinilaw? “That’s ok, just make sure that it’s fresh.”

Canned goods and frozen foods
There’s has been much talk about canned goods and frozen foods not being healthy. Lopez-Valdez gives us the facts: canned food is high in preservatives, sodium, and sugar, so they must be completely avoided. “As much as possible, go for natural and fresh food choices if you have access to it.” A similar advice has been echoed on Today Health, saying that expectant mothers should focus on “real foods” such as fruits, whole grains, legumes, non-fat milk, and vegetables, among others.

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