Prepare for Mommy's first Mother's Day

If diamonds are a girl's best friend, than health is a mother's. Which means the best way for new mommies to treat themselves this Mother's Day is by taking care of themselves and their babies. Mommies must alter their lifestyle to ensure a healthy baby from day 1. But with so much information out there how can a first-time mommy expect to know the right prenatal vitamins or foods to be eating?

Tips on Eating for You – And for Two

• Foods high in fiber

Keep your body moving with high fiber foods including beans, whole-grain breads, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and high fiber cereals. The USDA recommends pregnant women eat 6-11 servings of grains and 4+ servings of vegetables a day.

• Dairy (or non-dairy alternatives)

Drink your calcium! Whether you choose cow's milk or non-dairy drinks like rice milk, soy milk, or almond milk, make sure you drink at least four servings a day so that you reach the necessary 1000-1300 mg of calcium that your body needs during this time. Yogurt and cheese are other excellent sources of calcium, but be aware that some yogurt is loaded with sugar.

• Iron-rich foods

Enjoy iron rich foods that are also high in protein including meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, but make sure they are fully cooked or pasteurized (see Foods to Avoid, below). You should be getting 27 mg of iron each day. Take your iron with vitamin C rich foods to ensure good absorption.

• Foods high in vitamin C and vitamin A

Did you know that a green pepper has more vitamin C than an orange? To get the daily recommended 70 mg of vitamin C, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Orange vegetables and green vegetables will help you meet your vitamin A requirements.

• Folic acid

Many cereals are fortified with folic acid, but you can find it naturally in beans and dark green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach. It is vital to start taking folic acid before you conceive to decrease the risk of birth defects.

• Prenatal Vitamins

Even if you do eat a healthy diet, the USDA and doctors recommend taking a prenatal multivitamin every day. A prenatal vitamin like Rainbow Light's Prenatal One™ Multivitamin or Complete Prenatal System™ Multivitamin provides the extra folic acid, iron and other nutrients that support the important nutritional needs that your growing baby requires.