ORGANIZATIONS
American Dietetic Association (ADA). 120 South Riverside
Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. 1-800/877-
1600.http://www.eatright.org.
American Society for Nutrition (ASN). 9650 Rockville Pike,
Bethesda, MD 20814. (301) 634-7050.http://
[http://www.nutrition.org.](http://www.nutrition.org>.)
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of
Health. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Maryland 20892 USA.http://ods.od.nih.gov.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
Information Center. National Agricultural
Library,10301 Baltimore Avenue, Room 105, Beltsville,
MD 20705. (301) 504-5414. Phytochemicals Data-
base:http://www.pl.barc.usda.gov/usda_chem/
achem_home.cfm.
USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP).
3101 Park Center Drive, 10th Floor, Alexandria, VA
22302-1594. (703) 305-7600.http://www.cnpp.usda
.org.
Monique Laberge, Ph.D.Polynesian dietseePacific Islander diet
Pregnancy diet
Definition
A healthy diet during pregnancy is essential to
provide all the nutrients needed by a mother and her
growing baby. It is a common misconception that preg-
nant women need to ‘‘eat for two’’. In fact, most of the
additional nutrients needed during pregnancy can be
obtained by selecting appropriate foods and eating a
high quality nutrient-dense diet. However there are
some specific recommendations, which include taking
folic acid supplements in early pregnancy to reduce the
risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. It is also
important for pregnant women to be adopt good food
hygiene practices to minimize the risk offood poisoning
from harmful bacteria and to avoid substances in foods
and drinks that might be potentially harmful to them or
their growing baby.
Origins
The need for a healthy, balanced diet during preg-
nancy is well recognized and most dietary recommen-
dations date back several years. For example, in the
UK the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy
(COMA) set specific recommendations for nutrient
intakes amongst the population as a whole and for
pregnant women in 1991.However, in recent years
there has been heightened concern about the potential
risks from exposure to certain substances, for example
caffeineand alcohol, and greater support for the role
that some nutrients can play in ensuring a successful
pregnancy outcome. For example, it is now well recog-
nized that folic acid supplements before and in the first
trimester (first 12 weeks) of pregnancy can help to reduce
the risks of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida).DescriptionAlthough pregnant women do not have to ‘‘eat for
two’’, a healthy, balanced and varied diet that is rich in
vitaminsandmineralsis important for both a mother and
her baby. The mother’s diet must provide sufficient energy
(calories) and nutrients to meet her usual requirements, as
well as the needs of the growing fetus, and enable the
mother to lay down stores of nutrients required for the
baby’s development and forbreastfeeding.
Pregnant women, as well as those planning for
pregnancy, should follow a healthy, balanced diet.
This can be achieved by following the usual guidelines,
which are based around the five main food groups:
Bread, other cereals and potatoes. Foods in this
group include breakfast cereals, pasta and rice.
These foods should make up the main part of the
diet. They are good sources of carbohydrate, protein
and B vitamins, low in fat and filling. Whole-grain
varieties contain more vitamins and minerals and
breakfast cereals that contain added iron and folic
acid are a good choice during pregnancy.
Fruit and vegetables. This includes fresh, frozen,
tinned and dried varieties and fruit juice. It is recom-
mended to consume at least five portions of different
types each day (although fruit juice counts as only
one portion however much is drunk in a day). Fruit
and vegetables provide a number of important nutrientsRecommended weight gain for pregnant womenIf you are: You should gain:
Underweight About 27 to 40 pounds
Normal weight About 25 to 35 pounds
Overweight About 15 to 25 pounds
Obese About 15 pounds or less
SOURCE: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of
Health and Human ServicesGeneral weight-gain recommendations for women who are
expecting only one baby.(Illustration by GGS Information
Services/Thomson Gale.)Pregnancy diet