How do I manage my appetite during pregnancy?

The constant feeling of hunger during pregnancy is not uncommon. So the relevant question is how do you manage your appetite during pregnancy?

If you feel that you are always hungry while you are pregnant, there is a good reason: Your body is working hard to provide your developing baby with the necessary amount of nutrients. On top of that, eating contributes to changes in your body during pregnancy, which include much larger blood volume, growing breasts and uterus, and increased fat stores.

Pregnancy hunger is a perfectly normal and healthy reaction to the conception of a child. However, there are a few tips to help manage hunger during pregnancy:

1. Eat often. Eat something about every three hours so that you don't get hungry enough to overdo it in one meal. Try six small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
2. Include foods that contain protein, fiber, and unsaturated fats at every meal. These will keep your blood sugar levels normal and suppress hunger.
3. Avoid foods that do not contain nutrients. Sugary drinks, as well as fast food and packaged, highly processed foods (such as cookies, white bread, chips and fizzy drinks) add calories without benefiting you or your child.
4. Drink enough water. Try to drink eight to twelve glasses of water a day. Water helps with digestion and helps distribute nutrients throughout the body.
5. Eat slowly and don't get distracted while eating. Eating quickly while watching TV or using your smartphone can make it less likely that your brain will notice the signals that you are feeling full.