Thanksgiving and Pregnancy

For moms-to-be expecting during the holidays, temptation lurks around every corner. Whether it's the stuffing and gravy, sweet potato casserole or assortment of cakes and pies, every woman has her weakness. While old wives' tales note that pregnancy means you should "eat for two," that's not literally true. Pregnant women only need about 300 additional (healthy!) calories per day. 

Whether preparing the meal yourself or attending someone else's Thanksgiving feast, read on for ways to eat healthfully so you don't walk away feeling like a stuffed turkey.

Thanksgiving may conjure up images of countertops and tables covered in every rich food imaginable. But if you are preparing the meal at your home, don't take on too much in the way of food preparation. If other guests offer to bring a dish, let them. And for people who don't, politely ask them if they would mind bringing something along, like salad or a dessert, so you won't feel pressured to spend all day on your feet in the kitchen when you should be resting.

Dawn Saks, a registered dietitian in private practice in New York City, suggests you serve turkey instead of ham because it is leaner. To appease all your guests, make gravy on the side for those who want it even if you plan to avoid it yourself. Instead of coating the turkey with butter before baking, cover it with a few tablespoons of olive oil and apple juice instead.

Janet Crane, also a registered dietitian in New York City, warns that self-basting turkeys are pumped up with a lot of fat and recommends that you buy a regular turkey and baste it yourself. She also says that fat will drip into the stuffing if you put it in the turkey, and the stuffing may be undercooked and cause food poisoning. For these reasons you should cook the stuffing separately from the turkey.

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