Here's Why You Should Be Eating Eggs During Pregnancy

Eggs are a staple of any healthy diet, but it might surprise you to learn they're also a must-eat food during pregnancy. As The Daily Meal advises, when it comes to eating for two, it's not just an excuse to stuff our faces with everything we're craving for nine months (though that's good too), but an opportunity to ensure our diets are as nutritious and healthy as possible. It's imperative that your pregnancy diet is loaded with enough nutrients and energy to power your baby's growth accordingly.

Eggs are incredibly easy to include in your diet, and it's unlikely you'll get bored of them either since there are so many options from scrambled, to eggs Benedict, poached, or even as an omelette with lots of veggies thrown in for good measure. If you're still unconvinced, allow us to do our best to assuage any doubts you may have about eating eggs during pregnancy.

The Daily Meal notes eggs are packed full or protein and essential nutrients, so they're an ideal addition to any pregnant woman's diet. Choline, an overlooked nutrient contained in egg yolks, is actually vital to the development of your baby's brain. It can also aid in the prevention of birth defects. Registered dietician, nutritionist, and author of Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom's Healthy Eating Guide, Frances Largeman-Roth, advises choline could even help your baby's memory and learning ability.

Ideally, pregnant women should get at least 450 milligrams of choline every day. An egg has 147, so you're well on your way even if you just boil one and eat it with toast. Consider too, that eggs contain 6 grams of protein and 0.8 milligrams of iron. WebMD even advises that eggs contain more than a dozen different vitamin and minerals — just be extra careful to cook your eggs thoroughly, since getting a food-borne illness during pregnancy is especially dangerous (via FoodSafety.gov).

Healthline goes even deeper, describing eggs as "the ultimate health food," containing a bit of basically every nutrient you need. Eggs are low-calorie too, boasting only 77 each. A dietary study found that more than 90 percent of people are getting less than their RDA of choline so, even if you're not pregnant, now may be the time to start including eggs in your diet regardless.

Eating up to nine eggs a day while pregnant could actually make your baby smarter, too. The Deccan Chronicle reports on a study, conducted by Cornell University and published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, that found expectant mothers who eat plenty of eggs are more likely to give birth to babies with higher IQs. This is mostly due, again, to that magical choline. Nine eggs is a lot to consume in one day, though, but hey, if you're hungry...