Eat Your Carbs!
My wife, Cathy, and I are expecting our second child this coming November! We’re so excited, and we’ve been reading, again, everything on what to do and not to do—Cathy, mainly. So, while the other writers and I post items for Kids Cuisine about kids’ proper eating habits, I thought I’d quickly mention an important topic Cathy and I recently ran across: if you’re pregnant, be sure not to cut out too many carbs from your diet.
While carbs tend to put on weight, many women try to maintain a low weight during pregnancy by eliminating their intake of carbs—not a good idea. A pregnant women’s calories should come from three energy sources: proteins, fats and complex carbs. Without proper carb intake your body will burn proteins and fat for fuel. By limiting carb intake during pregnancy you can put the fetus at risk—there’s the possibility of developing defects of the brain and spinal cord. There may not be enough protein available for the fetus’ developing brain and nervous system. Burning fat can release ketones (an acid by-product of fat metabolism) that can harm fetal brain cells and the delicate acid-base balance of the fetal system.
If you really want to maintain or control weight gain, exercise is a better choice, and something that everyone should do pregnant or not.
The best sources for carbs come in breads, cereals, rice, potatoes, pasta, fruits, and vegetables. Now, this list is a combination of simple and complex carbs; the FDA suggests that 55% of your daily intake should come from carbs, but they don’t say what the breakdown is between simple and complex.
Pregnancy is one of the most nutritionally demanding periods of a woman’s life, so eating properly should not be taken lightly. My advice would be to talk with your physician about where you should get your carb intake.
