Eating for Two - Nutrition During PregnancyVegetarianism during
pregnancy Pregnant women who are vegetarian can still enjoy a
carefully planned vegetarian diet. There are many health
benefits to vegetarian diets, but women who are pregnant need to
take extra care to get enough protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin
Protein is essential to promote normal fetal growth, so it is an
important nutrient for a healthy pregnancy. The recommended
daily allowance (RDA) for women and men is 0.80 grams of protein
per kilogram of body weight per day. During pregnancy, most
doctors suggest women increase their daily protein intake by 6
grams (about the amount in one 250 mL glass of partly-skimmed
milk, one cup of broccoli, one egg, or one-third cup of dry-
roasted almonds). Vegetarian sources of protein include grains,
legumes, seeds, nuts, and egg or milk products. Keep in mind
that the protein in vegetables is less concentrated and less
easily absorbed so you may need more or larger portions to get
the required amount of protei