Pregnancy Weight Gain

How Much Extra Food Should I Be Eating?

The average pregnant woman needs an extra 300 calories a day. That may sound like a lot, but it's equal to the number of calories in a Snickers bar or a small bowl of ice cream. Be sure to make those extra calories count by adding one or two healthful snacks to your diet, such as a bowl of high-fiber cereal and milk, or a fresh-fruit and yogurt shake.

Even if you find that your appetite remains low, you still need to eat well. Studies show that women who gain less than the recommended amount are at increased risk of delivering low-birth-weight babies. Low birth weight in infants has been connected to higher infant mortality and a host of childhood developmental, physical and psychological problems.