), it’s time to figure out what foods to avoid during early pregnancy.. It’s a good idea to question the foods you eat because while some foods seem harmless they might not be good for your growing fetus during early pregnancy. There is an opinion that local fruits are better for organism than the ones transported from other countries. It’s the most crucial time of all because now fetus needs the nutritional elements more than any other time. The food you usually eat might not be good for you during pregnancy. Pregnant women who don’t take the time to clean their food properly are at risk of getting toxoplasmosis. The same is true for fruits for pregnant women. Fresh juice. Most women experience some degree of nausea, food aversions, constipation and bloating during pregnancy. Foods to eat or avoid when pregnant. If you’re a first-time mom who just found out you’re pregnant (congrats mama! During those times, eating strategies may need to focus more on reducing these symptoms. The same is true for fruits for pregnant women. Red = Don't eat. 5. Increase the nutrient value of your salads by consuming darker-coloured lettuces (the deep colours signal higher vitamin content). You just need to eat a variety of things to get the right balance in your diet. Bananas sometimes are considered the best, because they give you energy and contain a lot of potassium, which is necessary for firm bones. During pregnancy, the goal is to be eating nutritious foods most of the time, Krieger told Live Science. Eat fresh fruits If you want to give birth to a beautiful baby, plan your meals to include nourishing food. Cut the plantain into little cubes, cook it with meat and spices. Ensure that eggs, beef, chicken, sausages and other foods are well-cooked. Protein is important for the growth of new tissue. ( pregnancy diet) Carbohydrates. Plants improve the process of digestion and the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Give preference to chicken meat, not to sausages and hams. Although food prohibitions during pregnancy are common in Africa, the forbidden foods vary by setting. Fruits are also the basis of a pregnant woman’s nutrition. And if you're not pregnant but know someone who is, please share this with them. They are a great source of Iron, Folate, Calcium and Zinc. It is important to include carbs in your Nigerian food timetable for pregnancy because these foods will fill you up and give you lots of energy. It’s recommended to eat vegetables four or five times per day, whether raw, steamed, as different kinds of soups or as salads. Soft or unpasteurised cheese and raw eggs should be avoided along with raw papaya. Make sure your meat is always thoroughly cooked. Make sure you chow down on these and mix them up regularly to give you a balanced and interesting diet. These are also some of the pregnancy foods to avoid, as they may result in swelling of body parts. Broccoli and dark leafy greens Broccoli and dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are prenatal superfoods, loaded with vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, iron, and folate. Please note: You should make fruits a big part of your diet. For vegetables, you can eat ugu leaves or fluted pumpkin, cucumbers, afang, oha leaves, editan leaves, spinach, carrots. Eat more cabbage, carrot, lettuce, salad, cucumbers every day. Some whole cuts of meat — such as tenderloins, sirloins, or ribeye from beef, lamb and veal — may be safe to consume when not cooked all the … Pregnant women also need iron and another great source of iron is plantain. Lack of iron will make you tired. But if you can’t live without tangerines, lemons, and oranges - make a fresh juice of them and dilute it with water or add sugar. During pregnancy it’s recommended that you consume … Doctors recommend to eat more whole-grain products, nuts, fish and meat, fruits and vegetables, and early pregnancy won't be as troublesome. During pregnancy you are better off with unripe plantain, it is green in colour and very high in iron which is very important during pregnancy. Every woman understands that pregnancy is the most important and at the same time the hardest time in her life. Morning snack: Seasonal fruit; Lunch: Fried plantain (Dodo) and Jollof rice with chicken or meat stew; Afternoon snack: Chin Chin; Dinner: Eko with chicken or meat stew; Evening snack: Granola bar or cereal with skim milk. This should include a variety … Continue reading "EATING HEALTHY FOOD DURING PREGNANCY:" Of the worst foods during pregnancy you could eat, raw meat is universally known to be blacklisted. For that reason, we have compiled some foods you should consider adding to your diet while you are expecting. Fruits like mangoes, papaya, oranges, bananas, and African cherries should be in your diet. The best food for pregnant women should contain the following elements: According to this list, a pregnant woman should choose the food full of these elements, especially of the first three. Don`t forget about cereals and porridge, but choose the natural oatmeal, not the quick-cooking products. Any views or opinions expressed in this article are personal and belong solely to the author; and do not represent those of theAsianparent or its clients. You should eat carbs like fufu, eba, maize, potatoes, noodles, rice, bread, cassava, yams, cocoyams, and millet. The ideal foods to eat will be those which are going to supply the iron, protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals needed for your own body, as well as your baby’s. Worst of all, it can affect the unborn baby through the placenta. If the amount of them is average, there is no need to buy additional vitamin and mineral complexes. Also, fatty foods can increase bad cholesterol in your blood and eventually lead to heart disease. There are many other seasonal fruits, and you’ll do well to eat them if you want beautiful babies. Nuts can be a healthy addition to your diet, packed with vitamins and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are important in your Nigerian food timetable for pregnancy. Greek yoghurt, in particular, is known as one food that pregnant women should definitely consume if they can’t handle other dairy products. How to stop fibroids from growing during pregnancy, Pregnancy Nutrition 101: Here's A Nigerian Food Time Table For Pregnant Ladies, Boiled potatoes and egg sauce (no raw eggs), Egusi soup with swallow (eba, fufu, semo, or any swallow of your choice). Story by: Lydia Acquah/cmonline.com.gh Pregnancy is the term used to describe the period in which a fetus develops inside a woman's Foods To Eat During Pregnancy. The following foods are not only safe to eat during pregnancy but they are highly recommended. You need to wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove debris, sand and germs. Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurts should be at the top of the list. Meats. Garlic benefits for men: Why should you really consume it? These are the foods you should be eating during pregnancy. birth weight for your baby, and massive weight gain for the mama. If you are a vegetarian have more soya milk or yoghurt, soya mince, soya burgers, dried beans and lentils. Sea foods are usually high in mercury and should not find their way into the diet of a pregnant mother. Fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy and are often recommended for expectant mothers. In principle, it’s possible to eat all the fruits. Fruits and vegetables are important in your Nigerian food timetable for pregnancy. You should be cautious about what to eat and what Foods not to eat during pregnancy. There is no reason to avoid foods you crave as long as you eat in moderation to avoid excessive weight gain. Legit also have compiled for you the list of top foods to eat during pregnancy. A raw steak or undercooked chicken also carry listeria. Some of these contain topsoil, which could lead to the risk of toxoplasmosis when consumed. Fruits like mangoes, bananas, pineapples, watermelons, and oranges are rich in vitamins and minerals. So consider our tips on foods to eat during pregnancy in Nigeria if you want to stay healthy during this challenging but rewarding time. In this food timetable for pregnancy in Nigeria, we encourage you to avoid eating for two. Beans and other legumes are one of the delicious west African foods for pregnant women and are readily available in Nigeria. Thursday. Because the food consumed by you may directly affect the health of the child. But if you follow the doctor’s advice and keep to a healthy diet, these times will be the happiest for you. Some nuts such as peanuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts/hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts can cause allergies or skin rashes on your body. A healthy diet is important for everyone, but for pregnant women, pregnancy will require a healthy diet for both the mom and the baby. Below are the Foods You Need to Avoid During Pregnancy if you want the best for your child. Legumes and grains have numerous vitamins and minerals which are needed by the body for various functions. Any amount of vegetables should be at each meal, especially it concerns meat; green vegetables help to digest and split meat faster. All the fears and concerns women have during pregnancy are related to the growing child, as it should receive all necessary vitamins and microelements to avoid developmental problems. You need to include lots of low-fat dairy products in your Nigerian food timetable for pregnancy. These are the main source of energy of the body because they can be burned very fast. The protein is the primary building material for new cells and should be the basis of pregnancy nutrition. Make sure that you wash your fruits and vegetables well before eating them. About Us Foods to eat. For vegetables, you can eat ugu leaves or fluted pumpkin, cucumbers, afang, oha leaves, editan leaves, … If you listen to doctors and nutritionists on the perfect diet for expecting mums, the uncertainty of what to eat and the fears of your baby getting hurt by your cravings would be alleviated. Folate, for instance, helps in the prevention of neurological disorders in babies such as Spinal Bifida. They have a high level of acid and can cause harm to the mother’s stomach and baby. Also, among the fruits allowed (and even recommended) for pregnant women are the following: Each of these fruits is necessary for a woman and her future child. Dark-Green Leafy Vegetables Dark green leafy vegetables are highly recommended for pregnancy because they have high levels of folate and iron, and good calcium sources. The 14 Must Eat Foods During Pregnancy. Women that are on a diet are afraid of them, but they represent an important part of nutrition. When metabolism is proper, all elements will get to the child. That said, always contact your doctor before making drastic changes to your diet. Nigerian food is rich and nutritious; there's something for every palate, even in the sensitive time of pregnancy. The highest level of protein is in non-fat milk and other dairy products, as well as in fish and meat. One of the best natural sources of protein is beans. Examples of foods in this group include wheat, oats, and beans. During pregnancy, one should avoid foods high in mercury and Vitamin A as they pose a significant risk to the child. Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water. In the first month, a woman should eat 5-6 times per day, drink more water and avoid unhealthy junk food. 1. Sugar has been linked to excessive weight gain and tooth decay. Mercury-Containing Food. Full Fat Dairy. However, always make sure you wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming. READ ALSO: Nigerian food time table for healthy pregnancy. Use this handy guide to help make decisions about what to eat and what to avoid during pregnancy. This meal plan and food timetable for pregnancy in Nigeria will help you balance your pregnancy diet! Toxoplasmosis can lead to damage to your heart, eyes, brains and even lungs. 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READ ALSO: Nigerian fruits to avoid during pregnancy, Leave your email to receive our newsletter, Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria, Drop your mail and be the first to get fresh news. Pregnant women need extra protein daily. Eat moderate portions of protein in the form of dairy/meat/chicken/fish/soya with all meals. Try them in chili and soups, salads, and pasta dishes. This vitamin is found in almonds, hazel nuts, sunflower seeds, green vegetables, avocados, spanspek melons, green melons, grapefruit, naartjies, oranges, pears … According to this article published on Livestrong, eating for two could lead to problems like gestational diabetes, heartburn and other kinds of discomfort, high. Try to avoid fresh-squeezed juice from restaurants. As mentioned before, you need to wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly to prevent infections and diseases. The food you eat during your pregnancy will have a direct effect on your sense of wellbeing, your energy levels, metabolic processes and your baby’s growth. Do you know what foods to eat during pregnancy in Nigeria or any other country? Vegetables must make up more than half of the daily diet because they are the source of cellulose, fibre, pectin, vitamins, and microelements. Try not to eat too much sugar and salt during pregnancy. It is best to eat unprocessed carbs, which means buying your foods fresh from the market. 1. But you should be more cautious with citrus fruits. Home › Forum › PREGNANCY DIARIES › EATING HEALTHY FOOD DURING PREGNANCY: This topic contains 6 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by Kawthar_pearl 2 years, 4 months ago. Eat a variety of food to ensure you include a maximum amount of vitamins and minerals. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the right nutrients. Creating the perfect food time table for Nigerian homes, © Copyright Africaparent.com 2020 Tickled Media Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. A study among pregnant women in Tanzania enumerated various forms of food taboos ranging from eating fish which was believed to hurt the mother’s abdomen and cause late delivery, and eating of farm animals perceived to make babies pick up characteristics of the farm animals [ 9 ]. You should proteins every day during your pregnancy. Author Posts July 13, 2018 at 4:23 am #1607 Nuryikanwa Aim to eat a healthy deit always,especially during pregnancy. To support the average level of folic acid, expectant mothers should include green leafy vegetables and legumes in their diet. Fruits like mangoes, bananas, pineapples, watermelons, and oranges are rich in vitamins and minerals. Any amount of vegetables should be at each meal, especially it concerns meat; green vegetables help to digest and split meat faster. 2. Nigeria has a lot of foods that are rich in protein. Eat vegetables and greens If you get sick easily, you might want to stay away from salads and uncooked vegetables. But at the same time, the majority of women have toxicosis and can't look at food without getting nauseous. Vegetable protein is also allowed: eat more nuts and legumes. Image source: Pexels . Their advantage is the long-lasting digestion, which provides a sense of satiety for a long time. You should eat beans, fish, eggs, nuts, chicken, beef, etc. You don’t want to be eating the same thing every day and getting bored, right? That's why we have prepared a food time tablefor pregnancy in Nigeria; to help you maintain a healthy diet during your pregnancy. The Calcium and other foods are not only safe to eat undercooked meats and fish during pregnancy common! Are pregnant, and massive weight gain the worst foods during your pregnancy deli meats,,... 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There 's something for every Nigerian pregnant woman you are pregnant, and are!