Plant-Centric Nourishment During Pregnancy

A plant-based diet generally involves renouncing meat, fish, and animal products. However, the scope of the exclusions may vary, so we can distinguish between a lacto-vegetarian diet (most often referred to as vegetarian), which eliminates the consumption of flesh, fish, and seafood, while allowing the use of dairy products and eggs, and its two variations: dairy diet (it does, however, plan to eat protein, but renounces animal diet) and egg diet (more than egg-based diets). A diet that consists exclusively of vegetable ingredients from pregnant women and contains all the components of plant health foods from the diet of vegans and vegans. However, the applied nutritional model is often somewhere between all the described types. According to the statement of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a well-planned plant-based diet (both vegetarian and vegan) is safe to use at every stage of life – including during pregnancy and lactation (V. Melina et al. 2016). The data on the course of pregnancy and the health of newborns of women on a vegetarian and vegan diet compared to toddlers of mothers eating traditionally are limited. However, based on available research, no evidence has been found that the use of the plant model is associated with an increased risk of complications and side effects that pose a threat to mother and child. It has been noted, however, that children of vegetarians and vegans more often have a lower birth weight – these are not, however, dangerous values for health and life. This could be related to a lower intake of protein and some nutrients by pregnant women, which additionally indicates how important proper meal planning is (G. B. Piccoli et al. 2016; S. F. Yisahak et al. 2021). So what should one pay attention to and how can one meet the demand for nutrients?