Health
During pregnancy, shopping right becomes nothing less than a challenge. Often you might be overwhelmed, standing at your grocery store or the supermarket, looking at the various options of ‘healthy foods’ placed in front of you. However, all foods present in the market are not pregnancy-friendly. So, you need to put some thought before you pick up stuff and put them in your shopping cart.
Updated : Apr 15, 2015, 08:43 PM IST
During pregnancy, shopping right becomes nothing less than a challenge. Often you might be overwhelmed, standing at your grocery store or the supermarket, looking at the various options of ‘healthy foods’ placed in front of you. However, all foods present in the market are not pregnancy-friendly. So, you need to put some thought before you pick up stuff and put them in your shopping cart.
Here is a shopping guide for you to do your regular grocery shopping during those nine blissful months.
Foods you should not miss
Tip: Keep in mind that leafy green vegetables perish soon. Refrigerating it for too long isn’t a wise idea. So buy limited stock and use it promptly. Avoid preserving them for too long. Here is how you need to preserve cut vegetables the right way. Know the right way to store your cut vegetables.
Tip: Your cart should have a mix of sour and sweet fruits. So while apples, pears and bananas get a place in the cart, remember to pick up the sweet-sour lime, oranges and berries too. With fruits, you are just spoilt for choices, and the good thing is you can eat them to your heart’s content.
Tip: Root vegetables like potatoes, beetroots, carrots and even onions are loaded with essential nutrients, minerals, and some of them are also a rich source of carbohydrates. Add them to your vegetable preparation or prepare a green salad with root vegetables to reap benefits.
Tip: There is no amount restriction while picking up vegetables as they are light in calories and dense with nutrients. Remember to have at least two variety of vegetables every day during your main meals.
Tip: If you are a vegetarian, make it a point to include at least two bowls of pulses or lentil preparation in your main meals. Even if you prefer non-vegetarian food, it isn’t a good idea to give protein from plant sources a miss.
Tip: Avoid storing them or stocking them in your refrigerator for too long; instead shop for them fresh. It is best to have fish or chicken grilled, and eggs boiled to reduce chances of contamination. Also limit your fish intake to twice a week as some fishes might be loaded with mercury (especially sea fishes), which could be detrimental to fetal development. Here is what you need to know about consuming fish during pregnancy.
Tip: Consuming few soaked almonds early in the morning can help in fetal brain and spine development.
Tip: To ensure that you don’t just have rice as your main cereal, pick up wheat, nachni, soya, bajra and jowar too. Also, remember to pick up oats, muesli or cornflakes to start your breakfast with a boost of energy.
Tip: The only thing that you should remember with oils is that use it sparingly to cut down on calories and stay on the healthy side of your pregnancy.
Originally published on www.healthsite.com