{"id":37393,"date":"2020-11-19T13:32:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T19:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/?post_type=nutrition_article&p=37393"},"modified":"2023-06-26T13:39:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T18:39:49","slug":"easy-ways-to-enjoy-eggs-during-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"nutrition_article","link":"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/nutrition\/articles\/easy-ways-to-enjoy-eggs-during-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy Ways to Enjoy Eggs During Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Egg Nutrition Center partnered with Jessica Ivey, RDN, LDN<\/strong><\/a> to write this blog post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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During pregnancy, good nutrition is as important as ever, but with the accompanying symptoms (hello fatigue and nausea!), it can be a challenge to prepare and consume nutritious meals throughout the day. Fortunately, eggs are a naturally nutrient-rich food that are convenient and easy to prepare for any meal or snack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Why Eat Eggs During Pregnancy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Eggs provide eight essential nutrients, including those that are critical during pregnancy like high-quality protein, Vitamin B12, iodine and choline.1<\/sup> Choline<\/a><\/strong> plays a vital role in brain health throughout our lives but it is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding women.2,3<\/sup> During pregnancy, choline helps the baby\u2019s brain and spinal cord develop properly and helps to prevent birth defects.4<\/sup> New research shows that consuming adequate choline during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy can improve measures of brain function in babies and may have lasting benefits on brain development and health.5,6,7<\/sup> Unfortunately, about 90% of Americans and 92% of pregnant women fail to meet the daily Adequate Intake level for choline.8,9<\/sup> The daily recommended intake for choline is 450 mg\/day for pregnant women and 550 mg\/day for breastfeeding women.10<\/sup> Eggs are one of the most concentrated food sources of choline in the American diet, with two large eggs providing more than half of a pregnant woman\u2019s daily needs.11 <\/sup>In fact, it\u2019s quite difficult to reach the Adequate Intake levels for choline without consuming eggs or taking a supplement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Egg Food Safety During Pregnancy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Food safety is important for everyone, but it\u2019s especially important for expectant moms.  Cooking eggs until the yolks and whites are firm and cooking egg dishes, like quiche, until the internal temperature reaches 160\u02daF will kill any possible Salmonella bacteria. Consider enjoying your eggs hard-boiled instead of soft boiled and over hard instead of over-easy during pregnancy. In addition to safe preparation, be sure to wash your hands after handling raw eggs. To enjoy a favorite recipe that calls for raw eggs, like homemade Caesar dressing or raw cookie dough, purchase pasteurized eggs.12<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Easy Ways to Enjoy Eggs<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Eggs can quickly and easily be prepared in a variety of ways for any snack or meal. Here are some recipe ideas:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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