Throughout your pregnancy, you and your baby will need sufficient nourishment to stay healthy. This means that you must maintain a well-rounded diet with a regulated consumption of calories. More than ever before, you will need to control your diet and to exercise discipline over the quality of the foods that you eat.

Unfortunately, too many mothers-to-be have developed poor eating habits. Studies of pregnant women indicate that these “starvation” diets can have serious consequences for the next generation. The fast food craze which is made up of burgers, French fries, pizza and soft drinks does not provide adequate nourishment for the pregnant women and her fetus. If you have fallen into the habit of relying on such a diet, your pregnancy is a good time – in fact, a necessary time – for you to develop new and healthier eating habits. Here are three good reasons for you to maintain a healthy diet:

1. Your body will be building new tissues in the fetus, and your body will also be losing some cells to the new life that id growing within you. You need adequate nourishment for both building new tissues and replenishing those lost cells.
2. Both you and your fetus need a supply of vitamins and minerals.
3. Certain foods are necessary to keep your kidneys and intestines functioning properly and to keep you well. Both kidneys and intestines are overworked during pregnancy.

Controlling your diet here mean eating a balanced daily diet of foods from each of the basic food groups. It also mean consuming enough calories for you and your fetus but not an abundant quality of calories.

Recommended weight gain in pregnancy