Most women in the United States do not meet the recommendations for healthy nutrition and weight before and during pregnancy. Women and health care providers often ask what a healthy diet for a pregnant woman should look like. The topic has been the subject of much debate, and has produced inconsistent and sometimes confusing advice for pregnant women who are trying to do the right thing.

In a new paper, three OHSU researchers, along with 12 other national and international researchers, came to consensus about nutrition in pregnancy and during breastfeeding. The paper was birthed, so to speak, out of the 2019 Nutrition in Pregnancy Conference, hosted by the OHSU Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutrition & Wellness. The paper, The Importance of Nutrition in Pregnancy and Lactation: Lifelong Consequences, was published May 6, 2022 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Eat better, not more
The author’s core message, “eat better, not more,” can be achieved by eating a diet based on a variety of nutrient-dense, whole foods that include fish, fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids and whole grains — in place of poorer quality, processed foods and beverages — to enhance nutritional quality without excessive energy intake.

Read a brief review of the article, or read the open-access article in its entirety.

From Moore Institute for Nutrition & Wellness, Spring 2022 | Moore Report