Tips for Holiday Eating While Pregnant
Dec 2nd, 2009 by Bellybar Team
Photo credit: citrition.com
1. Stand (or better yet, sit) away from the food. The further away from the food you are, the easier it is to limit yourself to healthy portions.
2. Choose whole grains with your meals. Whole grains, such as brown rice, are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber which are essential for preventing constipation (and hemorrhoids!).
3. Keep the weight gain slow and steady. You need 300 extra calories per day during the second and third trimesters. Gaining the appropriate amount of weight is healthiest for you and baby.
4. Go easy on the fried foods (like crab cakes, potato pancakes…). Studies show that pregnant woman who consume less fat (it is important to have some fat in your diet) during pregnancy have children who are a healthier weight throughout life. And, remember fried foods make heartburn worse.
5. Get some exercise. A recent study from The American Journal of OB/GYN shows that women who exercise during pregnancy tend to stay healthier for decades.
6. Avoid overeating. Besides the extra calories, overeating can also worsen heartburn. Consume smaller, more frequent meals and snacks (like Bellybar - Baby Needs Chocolate is my favorite!).
7. Go easy on the caloric beverages. Even if you are having a mocktail, those calories from eggnog (pasteurized only, please) can really add up. Try a sparkling water with lime or a club soda with a splash of cranberry.
8. Find low calorie swaps for some of your favorite holiday dishes. Rather than full-fat sour cream, try low-fat or try chicken broth instead of cream for a sauce.
9. Bring something healthy to holiday parties. When the host asks what you would like to bring, opt for something that is nutritious so you are guaranteed to have a healthy choice.
10. And most importantly, carry your Bellybar snacks with you everywhere you go! They will be perfect when you get that chocolate or citrus craving.
Read more healthy tips from Jodi at www.citrition.com.
**Jodi (Citrin) Greebel is a Registered Dietitian in New York City and the President of Citrition, LLC. She is also the co-author of the recently published book, The Little Black Apron: A Single Girl’s Guide to Cooking with Style and Grace. Her New York City based practice attracts clients across the country including models, news anchors and celebrities. In addition to private counseling, Jodi is often asked to speak at corporations, non-profit organizations, hospitals and universities throughout the tri-state area. Jodi is also the national spokesperson for Dannon Danimals. She has appeared on Good Morning America, the CW morning news, radio stations across the country such as Radio Disney and CNN International and been quoted in top publications and websites such as: Fitness, Parenting, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Shape, Kiwi magazine, The Daily News, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes.com, Yahoo.com, MSN.com and CNBC.com.
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