They say you are what you eat, and that's doubly true during pregnancy when what you eat and drink will affect not only how you feel, but how your baby develops.
Baby's Best Start If there was ever a good time to improve your eating habits, it is when you are pregnant. Although radically changing your diet isn't advised, getting into the routine of a balanced diet, and avoiding potentially harmful things, will give your baby the best start in life.
Balancing Act
Food can be broken down into 5 key groups:
1) complex carbohydrates
2) fruit and vegetables
3) dairy produce
4) meat, fish, eggs and cheese
5) oils, fats and sugars.
Carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates, which includes things like bread, cereal, pasta, rice and potatoes, are your main source of energy, and should make the largest part of your diet. Try to stick to unrefined (that's brown, or wholemeal) carbohydrates, as they retain more vitamins, proteins and fibre than refined, white produce.
Fruit And Veg Fruit and vegetables should make up the next largest part of your diet. Try to stick to the five-a-day rule: eat five portions of different fruit and vegetables every day. Remember: variety is key. To get the whole spectrum of vitamins and minerals you’ll need to eat an assortment. Combine root vegetables like carrots and swedes with green leafy vegetables like sprouts and spinach. Fill up on citrus fruits and strawberries, but don't forget yellow fruits like peaches and apricots.
Dairy Products Dairy products are a great source of calcium. Calcium is essential for the development of your baby’s bones and teeth. A 225ml glass of cow’s milk provides a third of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium, so you don't need to eat large amounts of dairy products to get all the calcium you and your baby need.
Protein Meat, fish eggs, cheese, pulses and nuts are the sorts of food you find high levels of protein in. Your baby needs protein to build its cells, tissues and organs, but like calcium, it doesn't take vast quantities of such things to fulfil your RDA.
Fat's Fat Finally, fatty, sweet, oily foods are high in calories and low in nutritional value so these should form the smallest part of your diet. It is important to consume them in small amounts, though, as they are necessary for the development of skin and hair, and for the transport of fat soluble vitamins around your body.
Let's Drink To That!
Remember to have a good intake of fluid, too. Aim for eight glasses a day. These should be predominantly water, but milk, herbal tea, fruit and vegetable juices are healthy, too. Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol though, as these dehydrate you and can have an adverse effect on your baby.
They say you are what you eat, and that's doubly true during pregnancy when what you eat and drink will affect not only how you feel, but how your baby develops. 
