On of the sitcom "I Love Lucy," a very pregnant Lucy repeatedly sends her husband Ricky out to buy whatever foods she craves. In one episode, Lucy inhales a dill pickle dipped in a papaya milkshake. In another, she chows down on pistachio ice cream topped with hot fudge and sardines.

It’s funny, and not entirely unrealistic.

But occasional cravings aside, it's important for a pregnant woman to eat foods that provide the nutrients she and her fetus need for good health. 

Unfortunately, according to a meta-study published in the journal Maternal & Child Nutrition, a majority of women who are hoping to conceive or are pregnant aren't eating enough vegetables and whole grains, and are taking in too much saturated fat.

As a result, they're deficient in vital nutrients such as folate, calcium, and iron.

Folate helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida; calcium is essential for preventing high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and preterm birth; and iron is needed for a healthy red blood cell supply, fetal brain development, and to guard against low birth weight.

The solution? Talk with your doctor, get a blood test to check for essential nutrient levels, and upgrade your daily diet to eliminate all red and processed meats, added sugars and syrups, and any grain that isn't 100% whole.

In addition, women who are or may become pregnant should take prenatal vitamins with the omega-3 DHA.

Remember, a healthy pregnancy is your best assurance of a healthy baby, and you can do a lot to make sure that happens.