A pregnant woman will welcome the monsoon with open arms since it can make the entire journey of pregnancy a wonderful experience. Staying snuggled in a blanket, with a warm drink for comfort, and binging on some snacks as well as movies can feel like an extended holiday. But pregnancy diet in monsoon needs to adhere to certain standards. Sticking to a few tips can make it easy for you to enjoy the season without risking yourself.

1. Do not rush to your local street food vendor when you have a craving

This is of foremost importance. Pregnant women tend to crave for specific foods at odd hours of the day. Remember that street foods may not be prepared in a hygienic manner that could be harmful to both mother and child. Typhoid, cholera etc. tend to spread through contaminated food and water. It would be best if someone could prepare the dishes you crave at home, or at least look out for restaurants with good standards of hygiene.

2. Eat Your Meat With Caution

Your requirement for protein is quite high in pregnancy and seafood or meats are the best way to get them. But these food items need to be eaten with care as well. Make sure you get your meat from a healthy source since improper storage of meat can result in various microbes and parasites breeding inside it. Fish products are highly susceptible to it in this season and consuming any raw preparation should be avoided at all costs. When opting for meat-based dishes or any seafood preparations, choose the ones that involve elongated and intense cooking procedures, which will ensure that any bacteria present in it will be killed. Balance it out with other protein-rich vegetarian options as well.

3. Stay Hydrated Throughout the Season

Humidity during monsoon is high and less intake of water will interfere with proper flushing of toxins from the body. We understand that you may not feel thirsty because of the lower temperatures this season. Nonetheless, the 6-8 glasses of water a day rule stands. You can also increase fluid intake through fresh fruit juices, coconut water etc., which will additionally provide electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals. 

4. Stay away from raw fruits

Quite a shocker this one, isn’t it. Fruits might be one of the most core elements of your diet since they are natural, mostly safe, and provide tons of nutrients. As much as truth there might be to it, consumption of raw fruits might cause certain issues. Fruits do tend to have a water content within them, which automatically becomes one of the best locations for microbes to thrive in. Cutting open a fruit and leaving it in the open can attract those microbes within it, which transfer into your body when you eat the fruit. Therefore, whenever you want to eat a fruit, eat it fresh by cutting it and consuming it right away. Orange, kiwi, sweet lime are some of the best foods to eat in rainy season while pregnant. These contain numerous vitamins and many substances that work towards boosting your immunity, taking care of any toxins in your body, and providing your foetus with the elements it needs to take care of the baby. Fresh fruit juices are a better bet than the boxed items.

5. Avoid eating raw vegetables

Cut vegetables tend to absorb the moisture from the air which can lead to bacterial growth. This can be risky during pregnancy as it poses a threat to the health of the fetus. Instead, opt for boiled or cooked vegetables and that too which have not been lying out in the open for a long time. Certain raw vegetables have enzymes that lead to difficult digestion. Leafy vegetables and raw salads can also get contaminated easily in the humid weather. These can lead to digestive malfunction which can be difficult to deal with especially during pregnancy. The key is to refrain from any such thing. You can eat anything as long as it is freshly cut and properly cooked. Having soups is another way of getting ample nutrients without any health risks. However, always prepare food at home in clean environment and avoid outside food

Source: Parenting Firstcry, Being The Parent, NDTV food

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