Best foods to eat while pregnant

Ok, I have come again with some refreshing tips on what to eat during pregnancy. I am not a doctor but atleast I get finger, laptop, internet and time to do small research, post something na! Abeg, make una clap for me...ok, just kidding.

Guess boredom or something forced me into researching...did I mention I'm currently in Enugu on some small something, will be leaving back to base today sha!

Though women have huge appetites during pregnancy, craving things like "Pepper Soup", "Sharwama", "Ice Cream", "Chocolates", "Asun" etc, husbands should do all within their means to advise their wives on eating these foods. Now, check them out:

1. Avocados: Loaded with folic acid (vital to forming your baby's brain and nervous system), potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 (which not only helps baby's tissue and brain growth, but may also help with your morning sickness), avocados are a delicious way to get your vitamins. Spread some ripe avocado on your whole grain roll as a healthy substitute for mayo. Keep in mind that avocados are high in fat (though the very good kind) and calories, so heap them on your plate only if you're having trouble gaining weight.
2. Broccoli: America's favorite cruciferous vegetable, packed with plenty of vitamins A and C, with a calcium bonus (better to build those baby bones with), as well as baby-friendly folic acid. Toss into pasta or casseroles, stir-fry with seafood or chicken, serve steamed (with or without a vinaigrette), or dunk in dip.(I neva see dis one for Naija b4 sha)
3. Carrots: What's up, Doc? Here's what: Carrots are tops when it comes to vitamin A, so important for the development of your baby's bones, teeth, and eyes. They're perfect for munching on the go, but they also shred neatly into almost anything (from salads to meatloaf to cakes to muffins). Carrots are also a good source of vitamins B6 and C, and fiber to keep things movin'.
4. DHA eggs: The old egg is still a good egg, delivering a low-calorie, high-protein punch in a tasty little bundle. But here's news: Science now lets us scramble, fry, or boil better eggs, naturally loaded with DHA, one type of omega-3 fatty acid (the "good fat") that is a primary component of the brain and retina, and is essential for brain development and eye formation in the fetus. Plus, they taste just like the eggs you've always loved.(wetin b dis one, abeg make una research further o)
5. Edamame: These green pods are actually cooked soybeans — and they taste so much better than they sound. Packed with protein, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins A and B, edamame can be scooped up by the handful as a snack (salt them lightly, and you'll never miss the chips), or tossed into just about anything you're cooking, from soups, to pasta, to casseroles, to succotash, to stir-fry. They also make a gas-free stand-in for beans. So don't forget the edamame, Mommy.(abeg who don hear dis one b4. I b bushman sha)
6. Lentils: Branch into beans for folic acid and protein, vitamin B6, and iron. Lentils are the most intestine (and spouse) friendly legume and readily absorb a variety of flavors from other foods and seasonings.(make una nor fall my hand 4 dis one, atleast I mysef knw am)
7. Mangoes: Sweet revenge for any vegetable avoider, mangoes contain more vitamins A and C bite for delicious bite than a salad. This tropical favorite, also packed with potassium, is especially versatile, a perfect complement to sweet and savory dishes. Blend it into smoothies or soups, chop it up in salsas or relishes, simply scoop and enjoy.(dem many for Naija - Opioro mango na d best)
8. Nuts: Nuts are chock-full of important minerals (copper, manganese, magnesium, selenium, zinc, potassium, and even calcium) and vitamin E. And even though they're high in fat, it's mainly the good-for-you kind. So in a nutshell, go nuts with nuts (in moderation if you're gaining quickly, liberally if you're gaining slowly) and toss them into salads, pasta, meat, or fish dishes, and baked goods.
9. Oatmeal: Here's good reason to feel your oats (and eat them often). They're full of fiber, the B vitamins, and iron and a host of other minerals. Fill your breakfast bowl with them, but don't stop there. You can add oats — and all their nutritional super powers — to pancakes, muffins, cakes, cookies, even meatloaf.
10. Red pepper: A super-source of vitamins A and C, with plenty of B6 in the bargain, a red pepper is one of nature's sweetest ways to eat your vegetables. Enjoy their sweet crunch as a crudité, with or without dip (they make the perfect take-along snack). Chop them into salsa, slice them into stir-fries and pasta dishes, or roast or grill them (with a little olive oil, garlic, and lemon) and serve them up in sandwiches, salads, or antipastos.
11. Spinach: Rich in folic acid, iron (which you need for all those blood cells, Baby!), vitamin A, and calcium, spinach now comes completely ready to eat in prewashed bags (free of sand). Eat it raw, in a salad (especially one with almonds and mandarin oranges), or as a wilted bed for fish or chicken, or layered in lasagna. (abeg, dis one dey confuse me. E dey Naija?)
12. Yogurt: Cup for cup, yummy yogurt contains as much calcium as milk — but it's packed with protein and folic acid too. Blend it with fruit into satisfying smoothies, layer with granola in a breakfast parfait, use it as a low-calorie substitute for sour cream or mayo in sandwich fillings, dips, and salad dressings, or simply spoon it out of the carton (no matter where you're headed today, a container of yogurt's always easy to find). And here's another reason to find culture: The active cultures in yogurt (also known as good bacteria) can prevent stomach upset, as well as yeast infections.(abeg na cup yogurt o, nor be Fan Yogo wey water full inside) 

Ok, una don hear now...abeg pass this information.

I'll try and dig up more info and post sha when i get time! See ya!

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

Long time my avid readers...Chai!

Was nosing around the internet and found the following information which could be useful to anyone around you who's pregnant. Truth is, you actually don't need to be a doctor to get, use, apply or help anyone around you with this information. So just sit back relax and enjoy:


There are some foods women should avoid during pregnancy because they can cause food poisoning or even harm the unborn baby. Please see below:

a) Cheese: Avoid:

• mould-ripened soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert and others with a similar rind this includes mould-ripened soft cheese made with goats’ milk
• soft blue-veined cheeses, such as Danish blue, gorgonzola and roquefort

Cheeses like this are made with mould and can contain listeria bacteria that cause listeriosis. Although an infection with listeria is rare, even a mild form of this infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby.

b) Eggs: Avoid raw or undercooked eggs and any foods that contain them, such as homemade mayonnaise. Make sure that eggs are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid. This prevents the risk of salmonella food poisoning.

c) Milk: Do not drink raw (unpasteurised) milk, including unpasteurised goats’ or sheep’s milk or any food that is made out of them, such as soft goats’ cheese. If only raw or green-top milk is available, boil it first.

d) Meat: Do not eat raw or undercooked meat. Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly so there’s no trace of pink or blood. Take particular care with sausages and minced meat. Some countries advise pregnant women not to eat cold meats (for example, salami, chorizo and parma ham) or smoked fish because of the risk that the food may contain listeria bacteria. In the UK, pregnant women are not advised to avoid these foods because the risk of infection is so low. However, if you’re concerned, you may choose to avoid them.

e) Liver: Avoid liver or liver products, such as liver pâté or liver sausage, as they may contain a lot of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can harm your baby.

 f) Vitamin A: Don’t take:

• high-dose multivitamin supplements
• fish liver oil supplements 
• any supplements containing vitamin A

g) Fish: There are some types of fish you should limit, such as tuna and oily fish, and some types of fish you should avoid completely, such as shark. Also, don’t eat raw shellfish, as it can cause food poisoning.

h) Alcohol: You should avoid drinking alcohol if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect your baby's development...make I add cigar too though nor be food sha! lol

i) Caffeine: You should limit caffeine during pregnancy - avoid having more than 200mg of caffeine a day. High levels of caffeine can cause babies to have a low birth weight. Too much caffeine can also cause a miscarriage. Caffeine is found naturally in some foods and is added to some soft drinks.

j) Reducing the risk of toxoplasmosis: Wash fruit, vegetables and salads to remove all traces of soil, which may contain toxoplasma, a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis

Now, let's flip the script. Here are some foods you should eat when pregnant...Okay, in order to make this less boring, I'll put this up in my next post.

Please pass this message on o!