If you have been pregnant before, then you are acquainted with things that pregnant women face in and around holidays. If this happens to be your first pregnancy, then let us guide you. People around you will think that they are more qualified regarding you and your body than you. Everyone will chime in with their “personal opinions”, which would basically ask you to stay cooped up at home because that is apparently the right thing to do. The real deal is that as long as you are careful and surrounded by helpful people, there is no reason as to why you should miss out on holidays and other social occasions.
If thanksgiving is a family tradition for you and you’re pregnant this year, then this article is for you. In this article, we will discuss 9 thanksgiving tips for pregnant women. Read on!
9 thanksgiving tips for pregnant women
Turn up the temp on the turkey
If your pregnancy craving is turkey for thanksgiving, choose it-just make sure the bird is thoroughly cooked to avoid salmonella and e.coli. Cook the stuffing outside the bird to be on the safe side. The ideal turkey temperature is at least 165-degrees when you take it out of the oven. Don’t forget this crucial step.
Rethink the hors d’oeuvres
Cheese and pâté are known for being common hors d’oeuvres for thanksgiving as well as other holidays. If you’re pregnant, strictly avoid soft cheeses, which include ones as brie, camembert, chevre, blue cheese, and gorgonzola. Chances are, the offered cheeses are pasteurized and they’re fine, but the concern is that they might have listeria, which may be dangerous for pregnant women. Go ahead with the hard cheeses though.
Drink carefully
While you’ll skip imbibing alcohol during pregnancy and reach for egg nog instead, watch out. Pregnant women are advised to not drink raw, unpasteurized apple cider or egg nog to avoid salmonella exposure. Again, if it’s pasteurized (and store-bought ciders and egg nogs usually are), it is okay. For a change, try out amazing non-alcoholic drinks. They taste amazing too and are safe for you as well.
Make your plate colorful
Eat all the vegetables you would like on the thanksgiving table this year. Yams, green beans, cranberry, broccoli, spinach, brussels sprouts, pumpkin, apples, turnips, rutabagas-fruits, and vegetables deliver so many good nutrients for your pregnant body and your growing baby. If you’re getting to run the danger of eating too much at Thanksgiving, this is often where you ought to do it!
Go ahead and have a bit of pie
Pumpkin is particularly good for pregnant women, so go ahead and eat a bit of pie with none guilt whatsoever. Even better an option is to make a pumpkin soup for your thanksgiving dinner. Pumpkin helps regulate blood glucose (well, when it’s not in a very sweet pie!) And should help reduce swelling and cramps in your legs during pregnancy. Plus, pumpkin is rich in calcium and zinc. These are the things which are good for your baby.
Stay hydrated
Increasing your water intake is vital for pregnant women and during the holidays there’s another benefit. Drinking lots of water throughout the day, but especially before your thanksgiving meal, can help you feel more full so you’re less likely to overindulge. Plus drinking water is always good for you and your baby, so you should never skip it.
Watch out how many you eat for at thanksgiving
Speaking of overindulging, you ought to watch your portions at the vacation table. In addition to having an equivalent risk of adding 5-10+ holiday pounds as non-pregnant eaters, eating large meals while pregnant causes you to vulnerable to heartburn and other digestive discomforts. Digestion slows during pregnancy. Try to keep your body safe through thanksgiving by eating smaller portions. So you don’t miss out on those great vegetables and grandma’s holiday pudding, consider dividing the thanksgiving offerings into two plates for yourself and saving one to nosh on a few hours later.
Go nuts
In some families, bowls of mixed nuts are always available before the thanksgiving dinner. If this isn’t a part of your family tradition yet, consider making it one or least introducing nuts to your pregnant thanksgiving this year. Nibbling on a handful of nuts gives your baby healthy, nutritious fatty acids that aid in brain development.
Be prepared for heartburn
Plenty of pregnant women experience heartburn. As mentioned above, eating an excessive amount of can cause heartburn flare-up, but so can eating many of the heavier, fattier foods that appear to crop up on thanksgiving tables.
Happy Thanksgiving!
