Pregnancy: Plan a Healthy Diet

When you are pregnant, it is important to eat healthy meals. Eating the right foods means you and your baby will be healthier. Visit your doctor to plan a healthy diet. Follow these guidelines.

Choose a variety of healthy foods. You need foods from each of these groups every day:

• Grains, such as breads, cereals, and pasta

• Fruits

• Vegetables

• Dairy, such as low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese

• Protein, such as beans, chicken, or fish

Get enough iron and calcium. You can get calcium from dairy foods, such as milk and cheese. And you can get iron from leafy green vegetables, eggs, lean red meats, fish, and chicken.

Eat foods with folic acid. Folic acid protects your baby against birth defects. You can get folic acid by drinking orange juice. You can also get it from leafy green vegetables and some cereals. In addition to eating a healthy diet, ask your doctor if you need to take vitamins with folic acid.

Don't drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause your baby to have birth defects. Your doctor can help you quit drinking.