Meal Plan to Support your and your Baby’s Bone Health during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are important times during life when what we eat not only affects our own nutrition and health, but our baby’s as well. Both pregnancy as well as postpartum are incredibly important for the development and maintenance of healthy bones.

Calcium is a mineral stored in our bones and teeth that helps keep them strong.¹ Vitamin D is also important to bone health, enhancing the absorption of calcium in your body. In fact, research shows that if you have chronic and/or severe vitamin D deficiency, the body is often not able to absorb as much calcium, which may lead to weakened bones.^2,9

Why are calcium and vitamin D important for both you and your baby?

While you are pregnant and breastfeeding, having enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet is important to help your developing baby build their skeleton and teeth.³

But even your own bone health is at higher risk during pregnancy and breastfeeding.⁴ During both of these times, your baby needs a lot of calcium, and some of this calcium comes from your own bones (which double as your calcium stores).⁵ The less calcium you take in from your diet, the more of this mineral will be taken from your bones to meet you and your baby’s heightened needs.

What foods are rich in calcium?

Calcium containing foods include:

• Dairy products (yogurt, cheese, milk, cottage cheese)

• Fortified orange juice and fortified plant-based milk alternatives

• Canned sardines and salmon with bones

• Tofu made with calcium sulfate

• Dried figs, almonds, sunflower seeds, kiwifruit

• Fortified breakfast cereals

• Soybeans, spinach, kale, pinto beans, broccoli, and chia seeds1

Read more: Why Does Calcium Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?

What foods are rich in vitamin D?

There are not many foods that are naturally rich in vitamin D.

• Vitamin D containing foods include:

• Fatty fish such as trout, salmon, and sardines

• Fortified cow’s milk and fortified plant-based milk alternatives

• Fortified breakfast cereals

• Egg yolk⁶

Our biggest source of vitamin D is exposure to the sun’s UVB light. The amount our body can make from the sun depends on the time of year, cloud cover, sunscreen application, and skin tone, among other things.⁶

Read more: Why does Vitamin D Matter for Babies, Tots, and Mama?

Pro tip:

Breastfeeding and Vitamin D: Even if you’re getting adequate vitamin D from the sun and your diet, breastmilk alone will not provide enough vitamin D for your baby.⁷ If your infant is exclusively breastfed, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends supplementing your infant with 400 IU of vitamin D starting within the first few days of life.⁸ Always be sure to discuss supplements for you or your baby with your health care provider.

Exercise for bone health: In addition to calcium and vitamin D, exercise is also important for your bone health. Weight bearing exercises put pressure on the bones, which causes them to be stronger.³ Weight-bearing exercises that are usually safe during pregnancy include:

• Walking

• Climbing stairs

• Dancing

• Resistance exercises or weightlifting

Chat with your healthcare provider before starting any exercise routine to make sure it’s safe for you.

Read more:

9 Pregnancy Exercises that Help Prepare for Delivery

Strengthening and Protecting your Core while Pregnant

Meal Plan for Bone Health during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Choosing meals and snacks from the below-listed options will help you choose foods that provide calcium and/or vitamin D.

Breakfast

• Option 1: Plain low-fat Greek yogurt topped with chopped figs and sunflower seeds

• Option 2: Fortified whole grain cold cereal with banana and low fat milk or fortified plant-based milk alternative

• Option 3: Hard-boiled egg with a side of whole grain toast topped with nut or sunflower butter and sliced strawberries

• Option 4: Scrambled eggs with sautéed spinach with fortified orange juice

• Option 5: Fortified instant oatmeal with low fat milk or fortified plant-based milk alternative topped with berries and chia seeds

Lunch

• Option 1: Shredded Kale salad tossed with chopped chicken, almond slivers, dried cranberries, lemon juice, olive oil, and shredded parmesan cheese

• Option 2: Tuna wrap: whole grain tortilla stuffed with canned salmon and spinach

• Option 3: Fajita bowl: layer brown rice, pinto beans, chopped tomatoes and diced peppers. Top with guacamole, shredded cheese, and plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

• Option 4: Whole grain pita stuffed with canned salmon, lettuce, tomatoes, lemon juice, and dill with a side of sliced apple and kiwi

• Option 5: Tofu stir-fried with zucchini, peppers, yellow squash. Serve over quinoa

Dinner

• Option 1: Whole grain pasta with ground chicken, marinara sauce, and spinach or collard greens

• Option 2: Grilled turkey burger or salmon burger with cheese on whole grain bun, steamed broccoli

• Option 3: Grilled or baked salmon, oil-massaged kale salad with feta cheese, roasted butternut squash

• Option 4: Whole grain or corn tortilla tacos stuffed with sautéed shrimp and white beans. Top with salsa and shredded cheese

• Option 5: Egg hash: Sauté diced sweet potatoes, broccoli, onions, and white beans. Top with over-hard eggs.

Snacks

• Option 1: Hardboiled egg and a kiwi

• Option 2: Almonds and dried figs

• Option 3: Cottage cheese topped with sliced almonds and berries

• Option 4: Greek yogurt topped with chia seeds and berries

• Option 5: Turkey** and Swiss Cheese Roll-Up with apple slices

*Pregnant women should eat no more than 6 ounces of high mercury fish per week¹⁰

**If pregnant and using deli turkey, be sure to heat in pan or microwave until steaming ¹¹

Let's Chat!

We know parenting often means sleepless nights, stressful days, and countless questions and confusion, and we want to support you in your feeding journey and beyond.

Our Happy Experts are a team of lactation consultants and registered dietitian nutritionists certified in infant and maternal nutrition – and they’re all moms, too, which means they’ve been there and seen that. They’re here to help on our free, live chat platform Monday - Friday 8am-6pm (ET). Chat Now!

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For more on this topic, check out the following articles:

Can I Have Caffeine while Pregnant and Breastfeeding?

What Should I Know about Iron Deficiency Anemia During Pregnancy?

Food Safety during Pregnancy

Our meal plans offer recipe and meal suggestions. They are not designed to replace your doctor’s recommendations, nor do they take into account special nutritional needs or allergies. The meal plans suggest serving sizes that may or may not be appropriate for you. Please consult your doctor to determine what is best for you and your child.