I Thought I Knew How to Eat Healthy—Until I Planned for Pregnancy

When my partner and I decided to start a family, I thought it would just be about tracking dates and maybe taking a folic acid pill. I’ve always eaten “healthy” by Indian standards—plenty of veggies, home-cooked meals, avoiding junk. But as I started digging into pre-pregnancy nutrition, I realized how much I didn’t know.

It turns out, what we think of as a balanced Indian diet can still have serious nutritional gaps. Vitamin D deficiency, for example, is incredibly common even if you live in a place that gets plenty of sun. I stumbled upon an article from AskDocDoc (https://askdocdoc.com/articles/780-diet-chart-for-planning-pregnancy--a-complete-guide-for-indian-women) that really opened my eyes. They broke down how micronutrients like iron, folic acid, and even protein can often fall short in daily meals, especially for vegetarians like me.

What really struck me was how many myths I’d been carrying around. My grandma always said eating ghee would “strengthen the womb,” but then I read a post on Threads (https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DM0UbveKImO) explaining how unbalanced fat intake can actually disrupt hormones. It’s not that traditional foods are bad—it’s about understanding how much and why we eat them.

Pinterest is usually my go-to for recipe ideas, so finding a visual guide (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279436691161) showing how dal, paneer, and nuts can meet protein needs was super practical. It’s all about planning combinations correctly. That got me thinking about how many times I assumed I was eating “enough protein” just because I had dal with rice.

Another helpful insight came from an Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DM0Ub3XNv2A/) where a nutritionist explained that “eating for fertility” isn’t the same as “eating for pregnancy.” Fertility-focused diets aim to balance hormones and improve ovulation health, while pregnancy diets support fetal development. This difference had never crossed my mind before.

But it’s not just food choices—how we eat matters too. A Facebook post I came across (https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122135475650743210) talked about mindful eating habits, like slowing down during meals to improve digestion and absorption. Simple but powerful.

I also appreciated a Twitter thread (https://x.com/1881713393369030656/status/1951304514604007819) that shared tiny daily tips for building a fertility-friendly lifestyle, like adding an extra seasonal vegetable to every meal. It made the process feel less overwhelming—small steps, not a massive diet overhaul.

And then, of course, there are the larger conversations around nutrition myths. A LinkedIn post (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/askdocdoc_nutritional-gaps-and-diet-myths-are-among-activity-7357070261969473537-DJ6K?) I read pointed out how even well-educated folks fall for outdated diet advice. It made me realize that while our elders’ wisdom is valuable, we need to blend it with modern nutritional science to get the full picture.

All of this research has made me more mindful about what’s on my plate. Planning for pregnancy isn’t just about eating more—it’s about eating smarter. I’m still learning, but at least now, I know what to look for.