Carbohydrate foods provide essential fuel for both you and your baby during pregnancy. They are broken down into simple sugars like glucose. The brain requires glucose as the main source of energy. Glucose easily moves through the placenta and is required for the development, growth and metabolism of maternal and foetal tissues. As such, carbohydrates should not be avoided during pregnancy. However, low-quality carbohydrates found in processed foods such as cakes, chocolate, biscuits should be minimised. Instead, high-quality carbohydrates found in wholegrain bread, rolled oats, yoghurt, starchy vegetables, beans and legumes should be consumed.