It’s that time of year when you think about what you can do better. Is eating well one of them?  Should pregnant women make resolutions to eat more veggies, take their prenatal supplements on a regular basis, and avoid cookies, cake, and chips? That depends.

Pregnant women are the most motivated people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and I’ve been coaching people about healthy lifestyles for more than 20 years.  Generally speaking, when you’re expecting, you try your hardest to eat what’s right for you and your baby.

Yet, nobody eats an exemplary diet every day, which is why New Year’s resolutions are so popular.  The good news is that you don’t need to eat perfectly to have a healthy baby.

No, every bite does not count when you’re pregnant. But most bites, do, however.

The dietary recommendations I make on this blog and in my books are based on scientific research.  For example, no matter what ANYONE, including your doctor, says, there is not a shred of evidence that says that any amount of alcohol during pregnancy is safe.  In fact, there’s a lot of new research proving quite the opposite, particularly that the effects of modest alcohol consumption during pregnancy shows up many years later in delayed mental development and unruly behavior.  Did that one glass of wine you had in the first trimester ruin your child for life? No, but if you keep it up, you could permanently damage your child’s brain and body.

You’re smart. Ultimately, you’ll make up your own mind about what to eat before and during pregnancy, and after delivery.  Just be sure that your New Year’s resolutions are safe and based on reliable information.

By the way, have you made a vow to eat better this year? Let me know.