5 no-stress ways of eating for two when you're pregnant

When you’re pregnant, it’s like you’re eternally hungry. You could probably clear out the entire contents of the fridge in a flash at the peak of your pregnancy-hunger.

But eating during pregnancy can be quite complicated. Regardless of all those midnight hunger pangs, you can’t just stuff your face with that delectably creamy ice-cream, screaming to be eaten.

You have to also think about your developing baby’s nutrition, which means thinking about what you eat. What’s more, nutrition experts recommend that pregnant women add just 300 calories to their regular diet. Which is basically one snack!

Now if you’re pregnant, hungry and starting to panic, stop right now. The tips in this gallery will help you stay full through your pregnancy – even through the worst of your hunger – and most importantly, ensure both your little one’s and your good health.

1. Avoid plastic-wrapped food

Plastic wrap contains phthalates, that potentially have cancer-causing properties.

Because phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastics they're added to, they're continuously released into the air or food or liquid.

The phthalates in plastic wrap can possibly leech in to food, and are increasingly being linked to a host of developmental issues.

2. Calcium all the way

During pregnancy, you need around 1000-1300mg of calcium in your daily diet. To meet this requirement, medical experts suggest that you eat and drink at least four servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day.

Some delicious sources of calcium to enrich your diet while satisfying your cravings are boy choy, tofu and roasted almonds.

3. Avoid too much vitamin A

Vitamin A is really good for you when you’re not pregnant. But when you’ve got a bun in the oven, it’s best to really cut down on your vitamin A intake because too much of it can lead to liver toxicity and even birth defects.

We usually think of carrots when talking about vitamin A, but it is also found in many animal products such as liver and fish oil.

The vitamin A found in these animal products is known as retinol, or preformed vitamin A, while that found in fruits and veggies is called carotenoids. You need to watch out for the preformed vitamin A during pregnancy.

The Health Promotion Board of Singapore strongly advises pregnant women to avoid eating vitamin A rich foods such as liver during pregnancy, and also avoid cod liver oil supplements or other regular vitamin supplements which may contain too much of this kind of vitamin A.

4. Satisfy your cravings with strawberries...

Or other fruit containing the goodness of vitamin C! When you’re pregnant, medical experts say you need 70 mg of vitamin C a day. With this in mind, choose at least one good source of this vitamin on a daily basis.

Here are some delectable options for you: honeydew, strawberries, oranges, broccoli and green peppers. While you’re at it, give this yummylicious "prenatal strawberry banana smoothie" a go.

5. Minimise or cut out deli meats

Oh, what wouldn’t you do for a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel? Sadly, smoked salmon falls in to the category of foods you should be avoiding because may be host to a bacteria called listeria.

Listeria can be found on various uncooked and unpasteurised foods, as well as on certain deli meats.

The USA's Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that pregnant women have the highest risk of contracting the listeria-caused disease listeriosis, which can result in health complications, including premature delivery or miscarriage.

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