Table 4.
Salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs for meeting dietary recommendations during pregnancy (N = 189)
| Nutrition | N | % | Participant quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behavioral beliefs—advantages | |||
| Health benefits for baby | 133 | 70.4 | Good start for baby |
| Manages weight gain | 98 | 51.9 | Helps keep weight gain in the optimal range |
| Health benefits for mother | 70 | 37.0 | I feel healthier and have more energy |
| More energy | 30 | 15.9 | Giving me more energy throughout the day |
| Prevents health complications | 27 | 14.3 | Less chance of certain diseases for mom and baby |
| Feel better | 21 | 11.1 | Feel better when you eat better |
| Psychological advantages | 11 | 5.8 | Eating fresh and healthy makes me feel good about myself and what I am providing to baby |
| Behavioral beliefs—disadvantages | |||
| Unable to indulge in cravings | 56 | 29.6 | Not being able to enjoy cravings |
| Requires more time and effort | 36 | 19.0 | Can be time consuming (trips to store and meal preparation) |
| Higher cost | 30 | 15.9 | It can be a lot more expensive to eat fresh produce and locally sourced foods |
| Enjoyment of unhealthy foods | 14 | 7.4 | Sometimes junk food just sounds better than veggies |
| Normative beliefs | |||
| Husband | 152 | 80.4 | If my husband doesn’t eat well, it makes it more difficult for me |
| Doctor | 68 | 36.0 | Midwives and Ob/Gyn involved in my care |
| Parents | 45 | 23.8 | My parents |
| Friends | 30 | 15.9 | My friends |
| Other children or baby | 26 | 13.8 | My toddler (I don’t want him eating junk so I won’t eat junk in front of him) |
| Control beliefs—barriers | |||
| Cravings | 81 | 42.9 | Cravings for unhealthy foods |
| Lack of time | 66 | 34.9 | Sometimes my schedule is hectic and I grab food that is convenient |
| Cost | 37 | 19.6 | Price of healthy foods |
| Lack of energy | 22 | 11.6 | Too tired to prep food and cook |
| Negative influence of others | 19 | 10.1 | Influence of others who think that because you are pregnant it’s okay to eat unhealthy foods |
| Nausea | 17 | 9.0 | Morning sickness made it hard to eat most foods during the first trimester |
| Control beliefs—enablers | |||
| Planning ahead | 43 | 22.8 | Keeping pantry stocked with healthy snacks |
| Support from others | 35 | 18.5 | Having someone else help out and cook healthy meals |
| Access | 27 | 14.3 | More access to healthy food options |
| Thinking about benefits to baby | 20 | 10.6 | Focusing on how eating healthy is the best thing to do for the baby |
| More money or cheaper cost | 20 | 10.6 | More affordable fresh foods |
| Enjoyment | 20 | 10.6 | I enjoy eating healthy foods |