Diets and Nutrition for Future Moms and New Moms

Pregnancy can be one of life’s most precious gifts. This experience is set to be unique on different levels. On one hand, you will be having emotions you never had before, which can be both fascinating and challenging. At the same time, you will also be going through many physical changes, as your body prepares you to receive your little one.

Giving birth is indeed a miracle. Therefore, to the future moms out there, make sure you are fully ready for it! You will have your ups and down moments, for sure. What matters is that you take care of yourself through both.

The best diet during pregnancy

Taking care of yourself during and after pregnancy will make you and your little one healthier. For this reason, we insist you pay close attention to your thoughts and emotions during this time.

We understand that it can be difficult to control, especially with all the changes you are going through, but please remember that any positive change first starts in your mind. If you let your thoughts and feelings go by without any control, it will be more challenging to follow any diet.

Instead, you will be doing what is called ‘emotional eating’, thus gaining weight with food that probably has no value for you nor the baby.

With that in mind, we believe that pregnancy is not the ideal time to think about losing weight. Rather, your focus should be on eating what brings the most nutritional value to your body and your baby’s. These are the foods rich in vitamins, nutrients and minerals.

That being said, your diet during pregnancy should target the following foods:

·   Beans and lentils: this is your number one pant-based source of iron, protein, fibers and calcium.

·   Dairy food: dairy products and highly rich in protein and calcium, two nutrients your fetus needs during development. It does not necessarily have to be your main meal. For example, you can simply have some Greek yogurt to snack on. It will bring you two endless benefits!

·   Leafy Greens: Kale, broccoli, and spinach should now be your new best friends. Being loaded in fibers and antioxidants, they will strengthen your immune system and help with constipation as well!

·   Salmon: a delicious source of omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, it doesn’t need any fancy cooking skills. Just put it in the oven with some ginger, olive oil, salt and pepper, and relish!

·   Lean meat: As it is the case for Salmon, the same can be applied for other types of meat too. Pork, beef or chicken are also easy to cook and incorporate in your dishes. It will help you supply your body with the amount of iron it requires, especially during the last trimester.

Of course, this list is not all inclusive. You can still add grains, dried fruits and avocados for instance.

The most important thing to never miss is to keep your body well hydrated by having plenty of water every day. If you notice that you forget to do so, set reminders and have a bottle of water by your side 24/7.

The best diet after pregnancy

Once your little one is here and you fully celebrated your joy, it is now time to try and get your body back on track. Do not feel bad if you gained a few pounds here and there. This is completely natural. What matters is that you and your baby are both in good health.

As for the weight, you can reduce it by trying to be more physically active whenever you can. We know just how busy a mum’s life is, so do not put extra pressure on yourself.

In case you don’t get to workout more often, make sure you keep a balanced diet despite all. It should include fruits, vegetables, dairy, and a lot of water. You will need any source of proteins and nutrients during this phase too, especially if you are breastfeeding.

The only foods to keep away from your dining table are junk food and alcohol. It will be harmful more than ever during this period.