Well Balanced Pregnancy Diet

I am naturally a very healthy eater, but now that I am pregnant and feeding not only me but my growing baby, I decided to look up some legitimate pregnancy diets, so as to guide me to eating enough of the right things, such as proteins. I am a vegetarian (who occasionally eats fish) and I never worried much about my protein intake, until I saw this on the Bradley Method website; I love this diet and have been closely following it all week.

A WELL BALANCED PREGNANCY DIET CONSISTS OF:

Every day of the week you and your baby should have:

1. One quart (4 glasses) or more of milk. Any kind will do: whole milk, low fat, skim, buttermilk, or cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc....
2. Two eggs, (hard boiled, in french toast, or added to other foods).
   
3. One or two servings of fish or seafood, liver, chicken, lean beef, lamb, pork, beans or any kind of cheese.
   
4. One or two good servings of fresh green leafy vegetables: mustard, collard, turnip greens, spinach, lettuce, or cabbage.
   
5. Two or three slices of whole wheat bread, cornmeal, cornbread, or tortillas.
   
6. A piece of citrus fruit or glass of juice of lemon, lime, orange, tomato, or grapefruit.
   
7. Three pats of butter.
   
8. Other fruits and vegetables.
   

Also include in your diet:

1. A serving of whole grain cereal such as oatmeal or granola.
   
2. A yellow or orange-colored fruit or vegetable five times a week.
   
3. Liver once a week. (if you like it)
   
4. Whole baked potato three times a week.
   
5. Plenty of fluids, water, juice etc.
   
6. Salt food to taste for a safe increase in blood volume.
   

You may substitute proteins if you wish, being sure your proteins are complete,
and that you get approximately 100 grams per day, If you substitute, also be sure
all the elements necessary for a well balanced diet are available every day.

Another website that provides a nice healthy eating guide is The March of Dimes website. Like the first, this diet is nothing strict, rather it serves as a guideline.

Enjoy those healthy snacks!