What to eat for a vegetarian pregnancy
Being vegetarian and pregnant may definitely be a good and healthy choice, but you would like to make sure your diet is balanced and provides all the nutrients you and your baby need following a plant-based diet when pregnant is perfectly healthy, but it’s important to get all the nutrients you and your baby need. As a vegetarian mum-to-be, you actually got to consider getting enough of a number of key nutrients – protein, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate.
Protein power
Protein is important for the growth and development of your baby’s muscles, tissues, and cells. However, there are many high protein vegetarian options available including lentils, beans, and meat alternatives like nuts. depending on the type of vegetarian you’re, you’ll eat well-cooked dairy, or neither or both. If you are doing eat dairy make sure you select products made from pasteurized milk. no matter this, it’s important to include protein-rich food at every meal.
Omega-3 fatty acids
These beneficial fats are found in foods like oily fish, omega-3 enriched eggs also as plant foods like soya, linseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. During your pregnancy omega-3 fats are important for the event of your baby’s brain, eyes and central nervous system. more recent studies also suggest that a better intake of omega-3 may reduce the risk of allergies. Evidence suggests that plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids may not be as rich as say oily fish, so speak to your GP or Health Visitor if you’re concerned.
Iron
Iron is an important key nutrient you need to be aware of and its role in pregnancy is very important. During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to assist deliver nutrients through the placenta to your body. Following a vegetarian diet doesn’t mean your iron intake has got to be compromised. Good and best sources of iron include dark green vegetables, pulses, fortified breakfast cereals, well-done eggs, dried fruits, and wholemeal bread. vitamin C increases the absorption of iron, so it’s an excellent idea to have a glass of orange juice (150ml), satsumas, or orange with or after your meal.
Calcium
Calcium is important vital for the development of your baby’s bones, teeth and cells, so ensuring your diet includes adequate calcium is key. If you eat dairy products, animal milk, cheese, and yogurts are useful calcium foods – always make sure the products are pasteurized. If not, vegetarian options are equally good – just ensure your plant milk is enriched with added calcium. Some non-animal milk e.g. rice and oat milk are lower in calcium. Pulses, tofu, sesame seeds, tahini, and dried fruit are all good sources of calcium.
Vitamin D
Despite the amount of calcium-rich foods you eat, if you’ve got low levels of vitamin D , your body can’t absorb the calcium you digest. A high proportion of us living within the UK have low vitamin D levels as we get most of it from sunlight. we will get some from food, however, most are found in meat, oily fish, and eggs. All pregnant women, regardless of their diet choices are advised to require a vitamin D supplement to make sure they need enough vitamin D for their baby.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B 12 is found naturally in animal foods and is needed for growth, development, and repair. If you often include eggs or dairy, you probably eat enough, however, if you avoid all animal products or eat eggs and dairy infrequently it’s important to have a reliable source of B12. As a vegetarian or vegan you’ll obtain B12 from yeast extract, fortified breakfast cereals, fortified soy products, or B12 supplements.
Folate
Folate is found in vegetables, especially, leafy greens so as long as you’re eating a balanced, vegetarian diet you ought to be obtaining folate in your diet. However, during pre-conception and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy your need for folate is greater. For this reason, all women who hope to conceive or are within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, whether vegetarian or not, are advised to supplement with 400mcg of folic acid.
Relax
When you’re pregnant it can feel like you’re bombarded with information from all sides, and sometimes you might just feel like a plate of beige for dinner, and there’s no got to feel bad about that. You’ll probably feel differently about food at different times in your pregnancy, so you’ll be craving greens one month and be disgusted by them the next. But it is often helpful to arm yourself with the knowledge of what foods will quickly get you the nutrients you need.