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Pregnancy During the Holidays

Avoiding the Extra Sweets and Treats of the Season

By Alison Gamble

The holidays are here! Being pregnant is confusing enough and during the holidays it can bring a whole new approach to celebrating this joyous season. Basically, a pregnant woman should approach the holidays just as a woman who is not pregnant. You want to make good decisions about foods, so you don't over-do it with calories and gain more weight than is necessary -- and most importantly because you want your baby to be born as healthy as possible!

Here are some tips for you:

• If you are in your first trimester, remember -- you do not need any extra calories.
• If you are starving all the time, stay away from junk food. Mainly select fruits and vegetables to satisfy hunger. Have healthy snacks in between meals to carry you over until your next big meal. Choose foods that offer a lot of nutrients and not a lot of unneeded calories.
• If you are in your second or third trimester you only need consume an extra 300 calories (300 calories is approximately equal to a bagel, an 8-ounce glass of juice, and a couple slices of cheese).
• Never go to a party hungry; you will eat much more than you intended. Before going, eat a light meal or snack. Try an apple with peanut butter and a glass of milk, or have a salad with chicken breast on top, or a cup of cottage cheese and fruit.


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