Pregnant women should follow Health Promotion Administration (HPA) nutrition guidelines, the agency said on Thursday ahead of Mother’s Day today.
Among Taiwanese women aged 19 to 44, 35.9 percent dine out 14 times or more per week, the agency said, citing a report it prepared on dietary habits in Taiwan from 2017 to 2020.
Only 5.8 percent of women eat the recommended three daily servings of vegetables, the study showed.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Time
Common nutritional problems during pregnancy include excessive calorie intake, a lack of nutrients needed to properly support pregnancy and insufficient fiber that could lead to constipation or hemorrhoids, the agency said.
Pregnant women should avoid eating too much, eat more boiled food, make sure they are getting enough high-quality protein, fiber, calcium, iron and folate, and limit caffeine, it said.
Pregnant women should eat to about 70 percent full at restaurants, the report said, citing Serine Li (李婉萍), a nutritionist at Reshining Clinic.
Shrimp, sea cucumber, squid, beef shank and chicken are recommended because they are high in protein and low in fat, while deep-fried, sweet-and-sour or velveted dishes are best avoided, Li said.
Green vegetables and a fistful of fruit per meal can help with bowel movement and promote gut health, she said, adding that spinach, red spinach and kale are healthy vegetables commonly served in restaurants.
Maternal sucrose can be absorbed through the placenta to negatively affect fetal health by increasing the risk of macrosomia and low blood sugar, so for dessert, cheesecake, which tends to have less sugar and is calcium-rich, purple rice or red bean porridge, which are rich in fiber and iron, should replace items such as cream puffs, she said.
Tea and coffee should be drunk in moderation, with a 300cc cup of coffee being enough, Li said, adding that freshly squeezed kiwifruit or pineapple juice, and black bean or barley tea are good sources of hydration.
More information is on the HPA’s maternity care Web site: https://mammy.hpa.gov.tw/ or via its nutritionist’s hotline, 0800-870-870, the agency said.
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