It is important to choose a wide variety of healthy foods to make sure that the nutritional needs of both mother and baby are met.
You can eat well during pregnancy by:
enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables of different types and colours
increasing your intake of grain and cereal foods to 8-8 ½ serves a day. Choose mostly wholegrain and high fibre options
choosing foods that are high in iron, such as lean red meat or tofu. Iron-rich foods are important for pregnant women
making a habit of drinking milk, and eating hard cheese and yoghurt, or calcium-enriched alternatives. Reduced-fat varieties are best
drinking plenty of water (fluid needs are about 750 to 1,000 ml extra per day)
Foods and drinks that are high in saturated fat, added sugar and salt are not a necessary part of a healthy diet and should be limited.
The table below outlines the number of serves of foods from each food group that pregnant women need to make sure they have enough energy and nutrients for themselves and for the growing baby.