Eating for Two? Cereal is a Clue

For some women pregnancy is a free pass to feast on anything that satisfies newfound cravings, and an excuse to classify previously forbidden treats as a craving. Why not? After all the baby on board needs that extra food to flourish and thrive inside. Think again!

Surprisingly, a pregnant woman only needs an additional 300 calories per day. Consider that a snack compared to the average diet consisting of around 2000 calories per day. Betsy Berthin puts it this way, “It’s really just a snack. You’re growing a tiny baby, not an elephant.” To consume 300 calories you could eat 2 apples, 3 bananas, an avocado or half a pineapple. For more examples view a pictorial guide by clicking here.

The bottom line is that 300 calories is not very much. Editors at WebMD recommend higher quality food instead of high quantities of food. So instead of thinking your baby needs a pint of “death by chocolate” ice cream after dinner, choose quality foods packed with nutrition that your baby will benefit from. Look for opportunities to consume nutrients vital to your baby’s health like folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids.

With a lot of time devoted to reading baby books, doctor visits and nursery preparations the key is to find simple sources for these nutrients. A quality breakfast cereal is a great option for getting a variety of nutrients from various sources in one easy-to-eat package. Be careful when selecting cereals because not all are created equal in terms of nutritional value. Check the nutrition facts on the side of the box, or get premium options delivered to your door from a service like Serial Cereals. If you would like to research cereals online before your next trip to the grocery Serial Cereals offers an online view of nutrition facts, ingredients and nutritional breakdowns.

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