mom the everyday athlete
Pregnant Mom You’re training for the race of a lifetime and paying closer attention to your health than ever before. While your body changes, so do your eating habits and nutrient requirements. As life continues at full speed, you’re planning for the future, keeping your household afloat and managing your career or community responsibilities. You are an everyday athlete. Fuel up and reach for the gold! To download a PDF version of this page, please click here.

Download weekly shopping list now to incorporate the below meal plan into your active, everyday life!”
Grain Training

What are grains?
  • Grains are plants such as wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn and rice.
  • Wheat is the most commonly used grain in the United States.
  • Foods made from wheat can be enriched, made from one part of the wheat kernel with added vitamins and minerals, or whole, made from the entire wheat kernel.
  • Wheat-based foods include baked goods, bread, cereal, crackers, pasta and tortillas.

Why does wheat keep me energized?
  • Wheat provides carbohydrates, the preferred source of fuel for your body.
  • Both whole grain wheat and enriched wheat foods provide important vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins that help your body convert food to energy.

How much do I need?
  • Aim for at least 6 ounce equivalents of grain foods each day and choose whole grain foods for at least half your grain servings.
Did You Know?
...nearly 70 percent of moms recognize that their busy lives make them comparable to an athlete. ...when your body is in need of energy, carbohydrates are its primary choice for fuel. Wheat is a premier source of carbohydrate fuel. ...the insoluble fiber found in whole wheat products promotes regularity and helps keep your digestive system healthy.
...enriched grains, like white flour, contain twice the amount of folic acid of whole grains. Folic acid is a vitamin essential for your baby's healthy development. ...pregnant women need an extra 425 daily calories during their third trimester. A slice of hearty whole wheat toast with strawberry jam, an apple, a handful of almonds and a glass of milk can meet this additional calorie need. ...iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the U.S. for women of childbearing age and wheat foods contain iron!
Fuel Up! Recipes
Start
  Wake up
  Shower and dress
  Read the newspaper while eating a quick breakfast
  Put a load of laundry in the washing machine
  Leave for work
  Walk to the bus stop
9:00AM
Arrive at the office
  Quickly scan email messages
  Conduct a conference call
  Participate in an office meeting
12:00PM
Lead a working lunch to discuss the budget for next year's program
  Prepare documents for meeting the next day
3:00PM
Rush out to the doctor's office for a prenatal check-up
  Stop at the bookstore for the latest pregnancy book
  Call husband to coordinate dinner plans
  Ride the bus home
  Walk home from the bus stop
6:00PM
Prepare dinner and eat with husband
  Change clothes and pack gym back
  Hop in car and head to yoga class
  Participate in class and drive home
  Pack snacks for the next day
  Research the benefits of breastfeeding on the internet
  Turn in for the night
Finish
Create a healthy at-home parfait. Top ready-to-eat cereal with your favorite yogurt, sprinkle with almonds and sliced bananas. (grain serving = 1 cup)
Whole grain crackers and cheddar cheese make a tasty morning snack. (grain serving = 5 crackers)
Switch up your lunch routine. Try a tortilla roll-up with turkey and fresh salsa. (grain serving = 1/2 tortilla) recipe>>
Sneak a snack. Pair a whole wheat pita with hummus. (grain serving = 1 small pita)
Top whole grain pasta with a hearty tomato sauce, seasonal vegetables and fresh parmesan cheese. (grain serving = 1/2 cup pasta)
Pack an orange and a bag of pretzels in your gym bag to refuel after class. (grain serving = 9, 3-ring pretzels) Download weekly shopping list now to incorporate this meal plan into your active, everyday life!
Download weekly shopping list now to incorporate this meal plan into your active, everyday life!
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*Did You Know? References:

  • American Diabetes Association

  • American Obesity Association

  • Sundquist K, Li X.
    Differences in maternal and paternal transmission of coronary heart disease. Am J Prev Med. 2006 Jun;30(6):480-6. Epub 2006 Apr 25.

  • American Heart Association

  • American Academy of Family Physicians