One of my good friends LOVED potatoes except during her pregnancy. During those 10 months potatoes just rubbed her the wrong way and made her feel sick. Fast forward a few years and my pal's daughter hates potatoes - she just won't eat them. Is it a coincidence or maybe something more?
I just read a great article that focused on
babies and food preferences and points out that there may be something more to the story above. The piece points out that research shows that babies can indeed get a taste for various food items while still in the womb. That's fascinating when you think about it. Noted in the piece - A baby still in the womb is exposed to the flavors and smells of food the mother eats through the amniotic fluid. Because by the last trimester, your baby is inhaling and swallowing larger amounts of amniotic fluid the senses are heightened plus the sensory systems (such as smell and taste) have kicked into gear. Not only is this interesting news but it's also important. As a mama you may directly be able to influence your baby's like or dislike of
veggies,
sweets, and other flavors simply by the foods you eat. This means a varied and healthy diet during pregnancy is a must. If you need help planning a healthy pregnancy diet talk with your prenatal care provider or read
sample meal plan for pregnancy. Oh, and don't forget your influence doesn't end with the birth. Babies also form
taste opinions from your breast milk so follow a
healthy diet while
breastfeeding too!
