Many women feel much hungrier during pregnancy -- particularly in the latter trimesters once the morning sickness has passed. This, coupled with the common perception that during pregnancy you're "eating for two," can lead you to crave foods that you might not eat routinely when you're not pregnant, such as pizza. Depending upon the kind of pie you're eating, pizza can either be healthy or unhealthy during pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Weight
During your pregnancy, your weight is of significant importance. This is because if you gain too much weight, you're at risk for pregnancy complications. If you gain too little weight, however, you're at risk for pre-term delivery and a small birth weight baby. It's best to gain between 25 and 35 pounds, assuming you started your pregnancy at a normal weight, explain Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz in their book "You: Having A Baby." Selecting a healthy diet can help you meet these weight goals.
Healthy Diet
The best pregnancy diet for women who need to gain a normal amount of weight during pregnancy is one that's high in nutrients and low in added sugars and fats, explains Dr. Miriam Stoppard in her book "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth." Fruits and vegetables should be the staple of such a diet, and you should also shoot for consuming plenty of whole grains, lean sources of protein, and plant-based fats.
Pizza
Done the right way, there's a place for pizza in any diet -- even that of a pregnant woman who needs extra nutrients without many added calories. A thin-crust pizza -- especially if the crust is whole grain -- with lots of vegetables and not much cheese, will provide lots of nutrients. Thick crust, greasy pizzas with lots of cheese and meat provide far more calories than they do nutrients, making these pizzas acceptable as an occasional treat, but not healthy for routine consumption during pregnancy.
Considerations
If you do choose to consume pizza during your pregnancy, it's very important to avoid many of the common pizza meats. Pepperoni, bacon, and some ham are all cured with nitrate and nitrite salts. These salts can cross the placenta and cause damage to your unborn child, explain Drs. Roizen and Oz. Most sausage isn't preserved with nitrate or nitrite salt, making it safer, though it's still high in fat and calories.
Expert Insight
It's worth remembering that the common maxim that a pregnant woman is "eating for two" is a bit deceptive -- the second person for whom you're eating weighs less than two pounds through the majority of your pregnancy. Drs. Roizen and Oz note that you only need an additional 300 or so calories per day to sustain your pregnancy in a healthy manner. As such, pizza is healthy for pregnancy as long as you're eating moderate amounts of generally healthy pizza.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth"; Miriam Stoppard, M.D.; 2008
