A survey commissioned on behalf of Aptaclub’s Eating For 2 education campaign found that eight in ten mothers believe they can excessively overeat during pregnancy, which could be putting their babies at risk.
Almost half (46%) of women claim to be receiving conflicting dietary advice resulting in a third (34%) admitting they have stopped eating certain foods because they simply didn’t know whether they were safe or not.
A staggering 23% of UK women wrongly think they should be consuming a whopping 21,960 extra calories over and above the recommended amount across the term of their pregnancy. This is a huge disparity compared to the recommended calorie increase during pregnancy which is 200 calories per day in the final trimester only.
Foods causing particular confusion include; raw or partially cooked eggs with 60% of women saying they would avoid despite them being safe to consume if they are Lion Code certified; shellfish (47%) which is fine if cooked; Stilton cheese (44%); prawns, a third (36%) claiming they would avoid eating despite them being safe when cooked and even cold pre-cooked prawns are fine; sushi, two thirds (65%) of women believing it should be avoided despite proven to be safe if pre-frozen.
To help pregnant women with their diet during pregnancy, Aptaclub has teamed up with celebrity Chef Lorraine Pascale to develop a selection of pregnancy friendly recipes providing exciting food inspiration.
The recipes, which have been nutritionally balanced to help women follow a healthy diet during pregnancy include a spiced prawn lunch box, sesame-crusted tuna steaks with quinoa and a beetroot, garden pea and feta risotto.
“When women are looking for advice on nutrition, the medical part is always at the forefront but sometimes they’re just looking for some inspiration. The conflicting lists of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ when it comes to what you can eat can be very uninspiring for those who want something healthy for themselves and baby. Just because you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean the meals need be boring – I would say, far from it! My seven recipes are not only quick, easy and nutritious, but also designed to be enjoyed,” commented Lorraine Pascale.
Keep following our posts to find out more about Lorraine’s recipes!
