The connection between food and pregnancy is a captivating topic all over the world. There are stages in pregnancy when women don’t think about food, and when they can’t resist the urge to eat.
As we know, pregnancy is a blessing and needs all the care and protection it can get. They also need the maximum discipline to protect the little being in them.
5 Delicious But Healthy Nigerian Food To Eat During Pregnancy
These women need nutrient-dense foods if they eat less and be guided on how to eat if they eat much so as not to gain weight.
In these pregnancy times, you’ll notice pregnant women crave for a lot of foods. Despite these cravings, some of these foods aren’t safe for them and the baby.
Almost every food is safe for the pregnant woman except for processed foods and alcohol. Carbohydrates shouldn’t be taken much rather it should be more of proteins and vitamins.
This is because Carbohydrates would increase the baby’s size in the womb and this adds to the burden of child bearing.
Below is a list of some Nigerian foods to eat during pregnancy.
Protein like Beans, Egg, etc Most proteins like eggs, fish, beans, etc are very much consumed in Nigeria. Foods rich in protein are a go-to remedy to anaemic conditions.
Eat proteinous Nigerian foods like boiled eggs, fish, beans porridge, eat boiled beans, chicken and meats in your stews and soups, and other sea foods. Eggs contain over 12 vitamins and minerals.
Beans are the best choice for pregnant women who don’t eat meat because they are high in protein. They’re inexpensive and widely available throughout the world, including Nigeria.
Beans are a good source of these minerals and helpful to vegetarians as they don’t have to be concerned about missing out on important nutrients.
Preterm birth, low birth weight, and prolonged labor are all avoided as a result of the zinc in this supplement
These proteinous foods have a way to increase your Packed cells volume in anaemic cases.
Vitamins from fruits or vegetables
The importance of vitamins can’t be overemphasized. You and your unborn kid get these vitamins by the intake of fruits and vegetables.
Vegetables like ugu (Fluted pumpkin), green amaranth, water leaf, spinach, tomatoes, and pepper can be quickly prepared. This gives us the popular Nigerian vegetable stew/soup (depends if you add tomatoes).
Eat a balanced diet while pregnant. Water melons, bananas, apples, and others are great for vitamins.
Vitamins in oranges, tangerine, pawpaw, berries, apples, pear, avocado, onion, garlic, turmeric, spring onion, cabbage, etc are essential for the baby.
Nigerian vegetable soups, Nigerian tomato stews, vegetable sauces, fruit salad, vegetable salad and other foods rich in vegetables and even fruits.
Fat and oil foods like Chicken pepper soup
Unlike carbohydrates, they don’t make the baby grow big. Fats and Oils food, like avocado, fish and even chicken are the best.
Although, fat and oil foods don’t add weight like carbohydrates, you should avoid vegetable oils that are made by bleaching palm oil.
Eat foods like groundnuts (peanuts), catfish, salmon, croaker, sardines, mackerel, and soya beans that are rich in oils.
The delicious fish pepper soup is also healthy for you and your baby. Chicken soup, chicken pepper soup are good too.
Fibrous foods and fruits like Wheat bread, pineapples, etc
Intentionally eat foods that contain fibre. For example, tigernuts, coconuts, etc. These fibrous foods aids bowel movement and avoids being bloated as this is very uncomfortable for humans and more so for a pregnant woman.
Most of the enjoyable foods like pap and akara, moi moi, etc don’t contain fibre. After consuming them, you don’t get around the toilet so easily.
If you’re a lover of beverages, you could consider taking whole wheat bread. Eat these fibrous foods before or after your meals. These fibres help put pressure in the anus while defecating.
Sweet potatoes
This is another delicious meal that can be prepared with ease.
Sweet potatoes are important to pregnant women as they contain fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, iron, copper, and beta-carotene, all of which are essential nutrients during pregnancy.
During early pregnancy, it’s an ideal meal to consume due to these nutrients. They contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A through the process of photosynthesis.
Vitamin A is very important to a pregnant woman because it aids the development of a baby’s eyes and bones as well as his or her skin. Sweet potatoes also contain iron and copper, which are important for the body’s ability to absorb iron from food.
Don’t forget to be hydrated and nourished by these listed meals. Drink lots of water as it helps the baby, helps flush out toxins from the system.
With the constant urination during pregnancy, you need to stay hydrated. Water can be gotten from fruits too. Drink water especially during the third trimester of pregnancy.
You deserve a stress free pregnancy so get around these meals and have an adventurous pregnancy journey.
