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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Public Health and Safety>Food and Nutrition |
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Feeding You and Your Family - Moms to Be
Planning for Pregnancy
Did you know you can influence your baby's health even before you conceive your baby?
Healthy Eating Today for a Healthy Pregnancy Tomorrow
If you are planning on having a child, it's never too early to start eating healthy.
Healthy eating during pregnancy will:
- directly affect your baby's growth and development
- help you stay healthy throughout your pregnancy
- help you gain a healthy amount of weight
- help you and your family develop healthy eating habits for a life time
Important Food and Nutrients
Canada's Food Guide helps you to eat well by suggesting amounts and types of food and beverages to eat and drink. You can build your own personalized food guide so you will know what the right amount of food is for you!The Facts about Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin that is very important for the normal growth of a baby's brain, spine and skull. Taking folic acid before pregnancy and through the first trimester can help reduce the risk of having a baby born with a neural tube defect (NTD). A neural tube defect affects the baby's spine, brain and skull.
All women who could become pregnant should take a multivitamin containing 0.4 mg of folic acid every day. Some women may require more folic acid. If you have any of the following, speak to your doctor about the amount of folic acid that is right for you:
- Family history of neural tube defects
- Have had a previous birth affected by a neural tube defect
- Epilepsy
- Poorly controlled diabetes
There is also too much of a good thing — women are advised to not take more than 1 mg of folic acid daily in the form of a supplement unless under the care of a physician.
All women should eat a healthy, well-balanced diet according to Canada's Food Guide. It is especially important to include foods that are a good source of folic acid such as dark green vegetables, corn, dried peas, beans, lentils, oranges and orange juice.
The Facts about Fish
Fish is an excellent food, especially for someone planning a pregnancy – it is a good source of protein, healthy fats and other nutrients that are important to a healthy diet. However, certain fish contain levels of mercury that can be harmful to your health. The key is to eat a variety of fish and to choose wisely. A Guide to Eating Fish contains information about safe fish choices for you and your family.
Additional Informatio:
A complete listing of all fact sheets and resources on nutrition before, during and after pregnancy is available on the Nutrition Services Fact Sheets and Resources Page.
Folic Acid Alliance of Ontari: A website dedicated to folic acid awareness and education for women and health care professionalsPublic Health Agency of Canad: Information about folic acid for women of childbearing age and health care professionals
Motheris: Canada's experts on the safety of medications, infections, chemicals, and exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A service provided by the Hospital for Sick Children
Canada's Food Guid: Eating well with Canada's Food Guide
Sign up for a prenatal class by calling York Region Community and Health Services Health Connectionat 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933
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