How Do I Eat Naturally to Have a Healthy Pregnancy?

Eating naturally during pregnancy is one of the best things you can do to ensure a healthy baby. As your baby receives all his nutrients from your meals, eating natural foods can keep you physically fit and your baby healthy. When you first find out your are pregnant, begin taking a multivitamin that has no more than 100 percent daily value of each vitamin, says the March of Dimes, which also says folic acid will help prevent birth defects. Throughout your pregnancy, make healthy decisions when it comes to meals, drinks and snacks.

Things You'll Need

• Healthy meal recipes
• Multivitamin
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Lean proteins
• Dairy products

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Instructions

• 1

  Chicken is a great lean protein meal.

  Begin adding more lean protein to your diet while pregnant. Most grocery stores and farmers markets sell organic meats, which do not include growth hormones or synthetic additives. Besides meat, eat more organic eggs, peanut butter, nuts and beans. MayoClinic.com recommends two or more servings per day of protein-rich foods.

• 2

  Vegetables provide fiber and other nutrients.

  Eat more organic fruits and vegetables while pregnant. MayoClinic.com recommends that pregnant women eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Although all vegetables are good choices, leafy green vegetables will supply vitamin A, folate and iron. Fruit servings will add much-needed fiber to a diet as well as vitamin C. Always wash fruits and vegetables, and cut away damaged portions.

• 3

  Drink low-fat organic milk and eat more low-fat organic yogurt and cheese. Dairy products include calcium that promotes strong teeth and bones in you and your baby. Reduce the your caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day, MayoClinic.com says. Too much caffeine can affect your baby's heart rate and birth weight. Besides coffee, caffeine is also found in chocolate, tea and soda.

• 4

  Add more iron to your diet, which helps carry oxygen throughout your body. Eating six to nine servings a day of whole grains, says MayoClinic.com, will provide iron, fiber and B vitamins. Whole grains can be found in whole-wheat bread, cereal, cooked pasta and rice.

• 5

  Carrots and peanut butter make a healthful, natural snack.

  Begin weeding out unhealthy foods such as chips, cakes, cookies and other empty calories. Junk food has little benefit to your baby and can cause you unnecessary weight gain. If you crave snacks between meals, natural foods such as carrots and celery can be combined with peanut butter for a healthy snack. The USDA also recommends drinking six to eight glasses of fluid daily, including water, low-fat milk, diluted fruit juice and club soda.