Pregnancy: Should I Eat for Two?

While pregnant, should I "eat for two?"

No. It is a myth that a pregnant woman must "eat for two." Although pregnancy increases the body's need for calories and nutrition, the amounts of calories or specific nutrients you need are NOT doubled.

About 300 calories per day are needed above your normal intake during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (500 additional calories a day if you are under 18). As examples,you can easily add 300 calories by eating a piece of bread, an ounce of cheddar cheese, and drinking an eight oz. glass of low-fat milk.

Ask your doctor for the recommended weight gain for you during pregnancy, and follow a plan for eating nutritious foods to gain that healthy weight during your pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a time to lose weight or to "diet" for that purpose.