Dietary Suggestions for Pregnant Women Following a Vegan Diet

Recently, someone asked about dietary recommendations for pregnant women following a vegan diet. For pregnant women following a completely vegan diet, the basic dietary principles are the same as for everyone else. Whole grains and other grains should form the staple food and should be included in every meal, but the diet should not be overly refined. Some coarser grains are also important, such as millet, corn and cornmeal, as well as various types of beans and legumes.

Apart from these general principles, I have a few suggestions for some common symptoms that may occur during pregnancy.

During early pregnancy, if morning sickness is quite pronounced and there are clear signs of heat, you can have one preserved plum (huàméi) in the morning, or drink a little lemon water. If signs of cold are more prominent, you can drink ginger and brown sugar water, or stir-fry various vegetables with shredded ginger. If the signs of cold and heat are not particularly pronounced, you can make a ginger and lemon fruit jam and have a small amount of it.

After around the seventh month of pregnancy, many women experience difficulty urinating and edema. At this stage, eating some sunflower seed kernels every day may be helpful. You can also add a small amount of sunflower seed kernels when making bread, steamed buns, or other flour-based foods. They may help support the development of the baby’s muscles while also promoting urination and bowel movements.

However, it is important not to consume excessive amounts of sunflower seed kernels during the first three to four months of pregnancy.

If the edema is more pronounced, winter melon can also be used to make soup. Whether using winter melon or ginger, it is important not to peel them before cooking or eating.

Of course, these dietary suggestions can only play a preventive and supportive role. If the symptoms are significant, appropriate professional treatment should still be sought.