--- title: "Pregnancy: Should I Eat for Two? | Sutter Health" description: "While pregnant, should I \"eat for two?\"" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/pregnancy-should-i-eat-for-two-1051061049" --- 1. Home / 2. Pregnancy: Should I Eat for Two? # Pregnancy: Should I Eat for Two? * * * Medically reviewed by - Ask the Expert Team ## Question While pregnant, should I "eat for two?" ## Answer 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. ## Explore related topics Pregnancy ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Are Birth Plans Necessary? Are birth plans necessary? - Health Q&A ### Avoiding a C-Section Birth Are there ways that I can help avoid a C-section delivery? - Health Q&A ### Bonding with Baby After C-Section After a C-section birth, how long will I have to wait before I can bond with my child (breastfeeding, skin-on-skin contact, holding my baby)? - Health Q&A ### Calcium for Lactose-Intolerant Pregnant Women I don't like and can't tolerate milk and dairy products. How can I add calcium to my diet during pregnancy? - Health Q&A ### Fertility Problems: Should I Be Tested? I've been trying to conceive for three months now and no luck. Is something wrong with me? 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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. 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