A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but especially vital if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

The food that a pregnant woman eats is significant for the development of the embryo. Healthy eating keeps you feeling good and gives your baby the essential nutrients they need in the womb. 

Your child is an extension of you. It is necessary for an expectant mother to be mindful of every morsel of food that she consumes.

Following a healthy eating pattern would help get the essential nutrients that are necessary for the baby.

Overall, a woman needs to aim for a balanced diet, with an appropriate blend of all the 5 food groups including vegetables and legumes, bread and cereals, milk, yoghurt and cheese, and fruits. 

Primarily, you need to aim to drink plenty of water every day. Eating healthily often means just changing the quantities of different foods you eat so that your diet is varied, rather than cutting out all your favourites. For example, if you have a healthy breakfast every day it is easier to avoid snacking on foods that are high in fat and sugar. Cutting down on junk will ensure that your baby is healthy and also, the baby is not prone to junk even after birth.

Hence planning or preparation or pre-conception becomes very important. If both the husband and wife are into eating junk, and if they have to plan for a baby two years down the lane, they have a good two years’ time to change their eating habits. 

If you already have healthy eating habits, it shouldn’t be too hard to make slight adjustments to ensure a healthy pregnancy. The key is to avoid certain food and make good choices. 

A woman needs to get the right amount of calories for herself. The difference is that she needs higher amounts to compensate for all the work her body is doing and the baby’s additional needs.

The intake of calories differs in every period of pregnancy. For instance, during the first trimester, most women don’t need any extra calories.

However, the intake of calories might differ during the second and third trimester accordingly. This can be consulted with the doctor. In the initial formative years, it is very important to choose a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet. 

Our brains function best when we eat a nutritious and balanced diet. Similarly, Good nutrition during pregnancy can help ensure that your baby gets the best start possible.

The food that you eat also sets your emotions. To have the right frame of mind, select food accordingly.

Shift from tongue conscious food to health-conscious food.

It is traditionally believed that a child’s mental and behavioural development starts as soon as he is conceived.

According to Garbha sanskar, your baby is able to sense and respond to outside influences. Hence, your mental state of mind will depend upon the food you eat, and eventually, it will affect the baby. There’s nothing more important than the health of your baby.

Thus, there’s no better time than now, to start living healthy.