Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor and her husband, entrepreneur Anand Ahuja, became parents for the first time earlier this year. They were blessed with a baby boy, Vayu Kapoor Ahuja, on August 20. Ever since Sonam became a mother, she has been sharing her journey from mom-to-be to motherhood on social media with her fans and followers. After all, pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life that not only changes her emotionally, but also brings about a significant change in her body. Sonam too went through the same, and she decided to chronicle the journey on social media. It has tips and insights from her pregnancy period to her transition to motherhood. And if you are a new mother or a mom-to-be, Sonam’s posts can come in handy for you.
Recently, Sonam revealed snippets of Vayu’s nursery in Mumbai, which was followed by a complete low-down on her skincare, body, diet, as well as dos and don'ts, which she followed throughout her journey into motherhood. She listed the food items that should be avoided during pregnancy, and also the food items that helped her sail through.
Sonam shared a long list of foods to add to a pregnant woman’s diet and wrote, “Prenatal foods to add”. Starting with vegetables, Sonam listed carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, cooked greens, tomatoes and red sweet peppers, which she said was a great source for Vitamin A and potassium. She then moved on to fruits that included exotic honeydew, cantaloupe, mangoes, prunes, bananas, apricots, oranges, and grapefruit.
She further revealed that she is lactose-intolerant, and so her choice was fat-free yoghurt, oat milk, soy milk, and coconut milk. She, then, suggested ready-to-eat cereals and cooked cereals for the much-needed iron and folic acid. For protein, the actor went the good old way with lots of dals, beans, peas, and nuts that our dadi-nanis have always suggested. For non-vegetarian options, Sonam opted for chicken, lamb, salmon, trout, and more.
An important morning ritual for Sonam was to have a big tablespoon of ghee, followed by warm water and lemon. Ghee has been an integral part of Indian culture and cooking. It is a household staple, and more often than not, our loved ones have often suggested that we eat a spoonful of ghee to combat common ailments like stomach aches, cough, and cold. But do you know why it is advised to consume ghee during pregnancy? According to experts, ghee eases digestion by facilitating bowel movements. It is an effective but gentle means of relieving constipation.
Sonam also listed out a whole lot of dos and don’ts, here are some of them:
- Fluids are the most important thing. Have more and more water.
- Source clean, organic produce and avoid exposure to pesticides.
- Avoid anything raw during pregnancy including raw meat, fish, or salads. This can lead to a bad tummy, which is dangerous for the baby’s well-being.
- Avoid unpasteurised drinks, including dairy and juice.
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine.
Sonam also bashed the popular notion that a pregnant woman should eat for two. “It’s a myth”, Sonam wrote adding, “Please be sensible while eating. If you’re carrying a single baby, you need only 350 calories more!”.
The new mommy also shared details of a few products, nutritionists, and fitness experts, who helped through the pregnancy. She ended the stories with a question box for people to drop queries regarding her prenatal journey, if any.