How to Choose Fruits for Pregnancy
- 1). Choose fruits that are organic. This will ensure that the fruits are free from pesticides. Your local farmer's market may have a variety of organic fruit, and there are many grocery stores that now have an extensive selection of organic produce.
- 2). Take in as much natural vitamin C as you can while pregnant. Vitamin C is necessary during pregnancy, since it will help you and the baby absorb iron properly. It can reduce your chances of developing anemia while pregnant. Vitamin C is also necessary for healthy gums and teeth.
Citrus fruits--such as oranges, grapefruits, and limes--contain vitamin C; other fruits--such as peaches and apples--are fairly rich in this vitamin as well. Drink a cup of grapefruit or orange juice in the morning with breakfast, or squeeze some fresh lemon and lime juice in your water to consume more vitamin C during the day.
Tomatoes have high amounts of vitamin C as well, although this fruit is most often eaten like a vegetable. Green leafy vegetables can provide you with a healthy amount of vitamin C as well. - 3). Eat lots of fruits and foods that are rich in folic acid. Folic acid is found in a number of dark yellow fruits, such as apricots and nectarines. Eating dried apricots in your morning granola is a great way to get folic acid. This nutrient is essential for the forming of protein. It can assist the enzymes in digesting food, making it an important component of prenatal development. Peas and beans are also rich in folic acid.
- 4). Increase your daily servings of fruits and vegetables during pregnancy as well. The National Women's Health Association suggests that pregnant women eat 7 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, preferably 3 fruits and 4 vegetables. Apples and bananas are recommended as healthy sources of carbohydrates; these fruits also have potassium, iron, fiber and calcium, which are necessary for bone strength and healthy bowel function.