Pregnant Vegetarian Needs

It is clear that your nutritional requirements increase when you are pregnant. However, you only need about 300 more calories than normal at this time, so it is imperative that you wise food choices and eating nutritious foods.

A good start is to ensure that you eat a lot of protein. Your need for protein increase of about 30 percent during pregnancy, but most women vegetarian eating more than enough protein in their normal diet. Soybean proteins, beans and pulses are delicious vegetarian source of protein.

You should also step up your calcium intake. Every day you should eat at least four servings of calcium-rich foods such as broccoli, calcium-fortified soy milk, tofu and dark green leafy vegetables.

Sunlight stimulates your body to naturally produce vitamin D, and it is probably the easiest way to ensure you get a decent amount per day. You need only about 20 minutes directly on your face and hands two to three times per week, when the sun is weakest. If you aren� � � t have access to outside in the sun, be sure to take vitamin D-rich foods in your daily diet by choosing fortified cereals, or by using a supplement.

Take a look at your intake of iron, because it is an essential mineral during your pregnancy, especially the last half. Choose beans, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, or enriched breads and cereals. You might also want to consider filling to ensure you get the required amount.

Vitamin B-12 is also an important nutrients during your pregnancy, but it is difficult to find in most plant-based foods. Select fortified cereal or soy milk, yeast brewer, and to consider a multivitamin containing a sufficient level to ensure that your body gets the amount they need.

And although zinc is hard to come by in a strict vegan or vegetarian diet, the need for the increases during pregnancy. The whole grains and legumes are sensible choices for obtaining these nutrients, but again you may need to supplement to make sure you're again get what you need.

As long as you eat a variety of nutritious foods that provide the right amount of calories for a healthy weight, you should not shock to the vitamins and minerals that your body needs in this wonderful time. And although many women do opt for a prenatal vitamin each day, they should not be a substitute for good nutrition. Develop a partnership with your healthcare provider that supports your vegetarian lifestyle, and to consider in consultation with a nutritionist if necessary.