How Many Calories a Day in Pregnancy?

You will need to add extra calories to your diet while you are pregnant. The exact amount of extra calories you need will depend on your weight before pregnancy. Check with your health care professional to determine the right amount of calories for you.

First Trimester

Throughout your first trimester, it is not necessary for you to increase your caloric intake. You may need to make adjustments to your diet such as eliminate alcohol, reduce caffeine and increase whole grain consumption.

Second and Third Trimester

If you were at a normal weight before pregnancy, you only need to consume an additional 300 calories per day during the last 6 months of your pregnancy. If your normal calorie consumption is 2,000 calories each day, you need to increase your calories to 2,300.

Food Ideas

There are several foods to eat in order add 300 calories to your diet during the last 6 months of your pregnancy. As a snack, enjoy a slice of whole wheat bread with 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter. For lunch, warm up with a cup of beef and bean chili sprinkled with .5 oz. of cheddar cheese. You may also want to slightly increase some of your portion sizes throughout the day.

References

• American Pregnancy Association: Pregnancy Nutrition
• Mama's Health: Pregnancy and Calories