What should you eat when you are 5 months pregnant (17-20 Weeks)?

It is safe to say that one of the most important things for expecting mothers to do is to stick to a good diet. Naturally, the diet should be balanced and properly nutritious, because what you eat while pregnant will have a direct effect on the health of the child. As important as picking a proper pregnancy diet is for expecting mothers, it is important to understand that the parameters of a good pregnancy diet will change over the course of the pregnancy. A pregnant woman’s dietary needs actually expand during the woman’s fifth month of pregnancy.

Read on to see how the 5^th month of pregnancy affects your diet.

The 5^th Month of Pregnancy Diet

During the 5^th month of pregnancy, about halfway through the second trimester, a woman’s necessary caloric intake changes pretty drastically. Typically, an expecting mother needs to consume a minimum of 340 extra calories a day, starting during the 5^th month. It will definitely result in weight gain, but that is to be expected during pregnancy. Make sure these extra calories are not coming from fatty additives, carbohydrates, and sugars. The extra calories should ideally be coming from protein and calcium sources.

What to Eat When 5 Months Pregnant

1. Lots of Protein
   Your developing child needs the amino acids contained in protein as they are the building blocks of the body. You can find the majority of amino acids in meat hat comes from animals, but you can find some of the amino acids in plant based protein products too.
2. Whole Grains
   Whole grains are much more nutritious than refined grain products like white bread. They have lots of magnesium, iron, B complex vitamins, and vitamin E.
3. Calcium Rich
   Calcium is one of the most important minerals for a developing fetus. The mineral is responsible for building strong bones and improving your developing child’s skeletal system.