From the first day of pregnancy, every mom-to-be becomes more conscious of her food intake. We want the best for our babies and being pregnant requires a lot of effort and hard work. We want everything to be in order, follow all doctors’ advice — from routine checkup, to lab test, to vitamin intake and of course, preparing our healthy meal. As we all know what we eat is what our babies get also. When I was pregnant with my son I prepared my own meals, as much as possible I try to avoid fast food to keep my food intake healthy.
Moms-to-be can get nutrition boost from potatoes whether it’s the first child, the second or more, moms like me recognizes that lifestyle and dietary choices will have a great impact on the health of our baby.
During the first trimester of my pregnancy I made sure that what I eat is packed with vitamins and minerals. A US study of women in the childbearing age (19-50 years old), indicated that most fell short of the recommended levels of vegetable consumption. Depending on a woman’s caloric needs, about 2 1⁄2 to 3 cups of vegetables should be consumed daily. With today’s diets, lifestyle choices and distractions, most women go with just a little over a cup of veggies a day. It’s hardly ideal if you have a little one on the way. This means that you’re missing out on important nutrients like potassium, which can help you avoid horrible leg cramps in the middle of the night.
Bananas are good, but did you know that we could also get potassium in potatoes? Potatoes rank highest in potassium content among the top 20 most frequently consumed vegetables. A medium-sized US potato at about 5.2 ounces packs 620 mg of potassium, way more than a banana. At that size and prepared with the skin on, you’ll get only 110 calories. Potatoes also have no fat, sodium or cholesterol. It also contains vitamin C and B-6, iron and fiber that help in digestion and lower blood cholesterol.

Potatoes are also high in folate, which is important in pregnancy for normal fetal brain and spinal cord development. Folate is needed for the development of DNA and other genetic material. As our baby grows, he or she will gain energy in our womb through glucose. This may explain why your blood sugar levels may drop and cravings for starchy food begin.
I find potatoes to be convenient and delicious at the same time, it helps you not to crave much, and it make you feel fuller faster. Did you know that a serving of mashed potatoes could help reduce gastric acidity?

As a Mom we should always keep in mind that pregnancy nutrition is a careful practice. Eating right, especially during pregnancy, entails not just consuming the right foods, but the right amounts prepared the right way. Let’s should avoid deep fried preparations, and choose less processed dishes like boiled potatoes seasoned with spices, olive oil and vinaigrette.
Plan your best pregnancy diet with your doctor or nutritionist. So remember to increase your veggie intake in general, and take a good long look at how potatoes can help your nutritional needs. The humble spud could be the answer to the nutrient gaps so many women are experiencing.
Potatoes USA, an organization that has thankfully brought US frozen, US table stock (fresh) and US dehydrated potatoes to our shores, offers a lot of options for potato meals.
Click on www.potatogoodness.com/potato-recipes for an amazingly wide array of potato recipe options. High quality US potatoes can be purchased from major supermarkets and groceries nationwide. For more information on US potatoes, you can get in touch with the local Potatoes USA-Philippines office at +632.534.8534 and info@synergyasia.biz.
You may also visit www.potatogoodness.com or like and follow Potatoes USA-Philippines on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines.