Nutrition Handout: Pregnancy for Vietnamese Women - WIC Clinic

This assignment is a nutrition education handout designed for pregnant women within the Vietnamese population, created as part of a WIC clinic assignment. The handout emphasizes the importance of balanced nutrition during pregnancy, addressing concerns about weight gain and potential complications such as stillbirth and miscarriage. It provides guidance on incorporating various food groups, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and dairy, while also recommending healthy oils and supplements like iron and folic acid. The handout also advises on foods to avoid, such as specific types of fish, deep-fried items, and alcohol, and encourages mild exercise like walking and swimming. It stresses the importance of regular check-ups, supplement adherence, and the consumption of fresh, homemade foods. The handout concludes with a bibliography of relevant sources. The assignment aims to educate and support pregnant women in making informed dietary choices for a healthy pregnancy, tailored to the cultural context of the Vietnamese population.

Running head: NUTRITION EDUCATION HANDOUT
NUTRITION EDUCATION HANDOUT
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1NUTRITION EDUCATION HANDOUT: PREGNANCY: VIETNAMESE POPULATION
#Vietnamese Population, Scenario 4
HEALTHY BABY, HEALTHY YOU: WHAT TO EAT WHEN YOU AREHEALTHY BABY, HEALTHY YOU: WHAT TO EAT WHEN YOU ARE
PREGNANTPREGNANT
Life is filled with plenty of surprises - and expecting your child soon
definitely tops the charts! But have you wondered why moms-to-be
must be extra careful?
Why should I care about how much I weigh?Why should I care about how much I weigh?
You must have heard how pregnancy is a time of ‘eating
for two’ but did you know that gaining too much weight
can be harmful for your baby? Having a weight which is
more than the normal range (your doctor will help you
identify which range of weight do you belong) can
increase chances of a stillbirth and a miscarriage and
can even make it difficult for you during labor! If your
weight belongs to the heavier side of the range, you
might have to gain 5 to 9 kilos (around 10 to 20 pounds)
after the first three months of your pregnancy. To make
sure you are free from any complications, you might
have to get your weight checked with every session with your doctor.
What should I eat?What should I eat?
Your doctor will be advise you to eat all the food groups in ‘MyPlate’. This
means that during pregnancy, you need to eat a balanced amount of foods
like:
 Whole grains: Cereals, breads, pastas, brown rice (Gao luc or
Vietnamese brown rice is wonderful!)
 Fruits: All types of fresh and frozen fruits, but if you are overweight
try to avoid canned fruits since
they can contain a lot of sugar!
(oranges, papaya, mangosteen,
mangoes!)
 Vegetables: Lots of greens and
colorful vegetables! (Remember
to add plenty of veggies to your
Pho, Canh Chua and Goi Cuon
Rolls)
 Lean protein: Chicken, eggs,
peas, beans, nuts and soy
(cooking in a Kho To with
minimal oil would be a great
idea!)
 Dairy which is low in fats: Low fat milk, yoghurt and cheese

2NUTRITION EDUCATION HANDOUT: PREGNANCY: VIETNAMESE POPULATION
 Healthy oils: Seeds and nuts like flaxseeds, chia seeds, almonds,
walnuts, olive oil and canola oil (Go ahead and add olive oil to your
Goi Ngo Sen and Rau Muong salad).
 Your doctor may prescribe you an iron or folic acid supplement to
meet your iron needs during pregnancy.
What should I not eat?What should I not eat?
 Avoid swordfish, shark, tilefish and red meat (talk to your doctor once
on added shrimp to your Goi Tom salad).
 Avoid foods which are deep fried or high in sugar like cakes, desserts,
salted chips and sauces.
 Avoid alcohol and
smoking.
 Talk to your doctor if you
are on any medications.
Can I exercise?Can I exercise?
Of course you can! Mild
exercise like walking,
swimming and dancing, for 2
to 2.5 hours every week, can
help you lose excess weight
and also help you to deliver a
healthy baby! However, it is
best to consult your doctor and
trainer since they can help you choose an exercise plan which is best suited
for you and your baby. Avoid exercises which may have a high risk of injury
or falls.
WhatWhat should I be careful about?should I be careful about?
 Pregnant women have higher needs of nutrients like iron, folic acid
and calcium. So along with supplements, you will need to have higher
amounts of foods like dairy, leafy greens and dry fruits.
 Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary drinks like soda and packaged
juices.
 Stick to foods which are fresh and homemade instead of junk,
processed, packaged, junk foods and takeaway meals.
 Try to avoid foods which are high in salt – like sauces, mayo and
packaged or canned soups. Get your blood pressure checked regularly
along with your weight.
 Don’t miss out on your supplements and appointments!

3NUTRITION EDUCATION HANDOUT: PREGNANCY: VIETNAMESE POPULATION
Bibliography
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2019). Eating Right During Pregnancy.
Retrieved 17 September 2019, from
https://www.eatright.org/health/pregnancy/what-to-eat-when-
expecting/eating-right-during-pregnancy.
Huffington Post. (2019). Healthy Eating: Seven Reasons Why You Should
Start Eating Vietnamese Food. Retrieved 17 September 2019, from
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/23/healthy-eating-
vietnamese-food_n_5197489.html?
guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvb
S8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANp5_nE4nEu5xc42JvnWIglYxzdZ2Xohl
Ank7rW7kRJwd1s3R1zUKJ2NHTFuViICYi-
Ibk6dXHb3Cx6XCzrDZhuk1ldxmNmHr_XeswbaEOH2koCa0RVZZVbO
_mvZ7S9GCEtoxcyxwtp9IQFlv0cMGT0e4oA9YetwJjFxxswJm7A_.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2019). Pregnancy and Nutrition:
MedlinePlus. Retrieved 17 September 2019, from
https://medlineplus.gov/pregnancyandnutrition.html.
United States Department of Agriculture. (2019). Tips for Pregnant Moms.
Retrieved 17 September 2019, from
https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/wicworks/Topics/PregnancyFactSheet.p
df.