We discussed keeping your kids healthy but what about moms? Well, for the next few weeks, I will dedicate this blog to Moms and keeping moms healthy. This week we will start with keeping healthy during pregnancy.

A weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds is considered desirable for healthy women of normal weight. This means a pregnant woman needs about 300 more calories a day then before pregnancy. These added calories will help supply the extra energy needed.

Here are some tips to eating healthy during pregnancy:

1. Make sure to get a good amount of protein (about 60 grams per day) thru lean meats, poultry and fish. Other good sources are beans, lentils, nuts, eggs and cheese.

2. Make sure calcium is part of your daily diet. Milk, yogurt and cheese are calcium rich foods. Other good sources are: Leafy vegetables, calcium fortified soymilk, OJ and some cereals.

3. Iron - your body needs additional iron as a result of increased maternal blood volume. So, here are some good food choices that are rich in iron: Red meat, fish, poultry, whole grain breads and cerals, leafy green veggies and legumes.

4. Folic acid - You have the option of taking a multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. The vitamin, in addition to eating foods rich in folic acid like leafy green veggies, citrus fruits and juices, peanuts and whole grains will give you what you need.

 In conclusion, food requirements during pregnancy are not that different from a normal well balanced diet. The key is variety, balance and moderation. Always remember, your diet affects your baby- EAT HEALTHY!