Food guidance for healthy eating has been around since the 1940s. From the Basic Four, to the Seven Food Group Plan
Steps to a Healthier You to the Food Guide Pyramid and now the April 2005 MyPyramid, government officials, advocates, nutritionists and researchers have all contributed to these government guidance systems in hopes of encouraging the general population to take:
The newest component of the MyPyramid website, released October 25, 2007, is the:
When you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you have special nutritional needs. This section of MyPyramid.gov is designed just for you. It has advice you need to help you and your baby stay healthy.
First — visit your health care provider if you haven’t already. Every pregnant woman needs to visit a health care provider regularly. He or she can make sure both you and your baby are healthy. Your provider can also prescribe a safe vitamin and mineral supplement, and anything else you may need.
Next — get your own MyPyramid Plan for Moms. Your Plan will show you the foods and amounts that are right for you. Enter your information for a quick estimate of what and how much you need to eat.
Then — learn more by choosing a topic from the menu below. The “Sources of Information” will take you straight to the government’s best advice on pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Menu of Topics- MyPyramid Plan for Moms
- Pregnancy—Nutritional Needs
- Pregnancy—Weight Gain
- Dietary Supplements
- Special Health Needs
Eating for two is important but does not mean doubling the caloric intake.
During pregnancy and lactation women need extra calories to provide the developing baby nutrients while in utero and to promote healthy growth and development after birth.
~300 extra calories a day during pregnancy 340/day 2nd Trimester 452/day 3rd Trimester
~500 extra calories a day while breastfeeding
Healthy weight gain during pregnancy breaks down as
2-5 lbs First Trimester
¾ to 1 lb / week During the 2nd and 3rd Trimesters Gradual & consistent gain
Recommended weight gain during pregnancy is related to prepregnancy weight
Standard Weight - BMI 18.5-24.9 - 25-35 lbs
Underweight - BMI < 18.5 - 28-40 lbs
Overweight - BMI > 25-29.9 - 15-25 lbs
Obese - BMI > 30 - 15 lbs minimum
Twin Pregnancy - 25-45 lbs
In addition to adequate calories special attention needs to be focused on the following nutrients:
Protein Carbohydrate Vitamins D Folate Iron Calcium Zinc Fluoride
Food intake and caloric needs are very individualized depending upon the woman’s prepregnancy weight and nutritional status and her post pregnancy weight loss plans. No one plan fits all women.
This new site will allow for the creation of a personalized “MyPyramid Plan for Moms”.
A pregnant woman can enter her:
- Age
- Height
- Pre-pregnancy weight
- Physical activity level
- Due date
A breastfeeding woman can enter similar information, plus
- Baby’s birth date
- Feeding practices
- breast milk only
- or supplementation with formula.
The resulting Plan shows what and how much to eat from each food group during each trimester or breastfeeding stage. It can be viewed on-screen or downloaded as a full-color printout. In conjunction with early and consistent prenatal care, the MyPyramid for Moms will provide pregnant women and their family/caregivers with useful and reliable information for optimum nutrition during pregnancy.