Written By: Tavishi Dogra | Updated : October 27, 2023 10:26 AM IST
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The time of pregnancy is a time of great joy but also a time of lot of uncertainty for mothers. The to-be-mommies get a lot of pampering (and rightfully so) from their husbands, families and friends. They also get a lot of advice and even conflicting advice from well-meaning people in their circle. There are also many doubts and questions in the minds of mothers as they want to do what is best for their babies but are still determining what the right thing to do is. Many mothers need help with such questions as what diet to follow and how much to eat. Our society has a long-standing myth that mothers must "eat for two".
In this article, Pooja Kedia, Executive Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bengaluru, Whitefield, discusses whether this is so, the increased diet required, and the ill effects of over-eating or under-eating.
Research and expert advice suggest that there is no need for extra calories in Trimester 1, and during Trimester 2 and 3, an additional 300 to 350 kcal is sufficient. Daily, 350 Kcal is equivalent to eating one extra paneer sandwich, two slices of vegetable soya cutlet, etc. These are also healthy ways to add incremental calorie needs to your diet.
