Pears are safe to eat during pregnancy; they are low in calories and contain several nutrients that are especially important for expecting moms. Add variety to your daily diet with the many pear varieties available, including Bosc, Bartlett, Anjou, Starkrimson and Comice.

Whey protein and lean meat both provide dietary protein. Whey proteins are a group of proteins found in cow’s milk, where they make up 20 percent of the total milk protein, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

Ice cream cakes are made of layers of ice cream of different flavors, sometimes with baked cake layers or other ingredients mixed or layered in. Frosting choices for ice cream cakes are whipped topping, soft-serve ice cream or other topping that does not crack when frozen.

Most foods marketed as microwavable can be cooked in more traditional ways as well. Microwavable rice is no exception. This is the same type of fast-cooking rice that has been around for decades, long before microwaves were a common appliance in homes.

Gluten-free flours, such as almond, rice and coconut flours, don't behave the way traditional, wheat-based flours do.

When phytic acid reaches your digestive tract, it interacts with bacteria and releases a substance called inositol. Inositol helps your liver process fats and has a role in muscle function. In spite of these benefits, phytic acid is called an antinutrient because it interferes with the absorption of minerals.

Melted chocolate serves as an irresistible dip for strawberries, sugar cookies, marshmallows and chunks of pound cake, or as a topping for ice cream. But if the chocolate hardens, you can no longer dip into it or pour it -- and the magic is lost.

Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food into energy. Simple carbohydrates such as white rice are easy for your body to break down and digest, so they metabolize rather quickly.

If you have recurring pain in your big toe after drinking red wine or other alcohol, you may have gout, a type of arthritis. While gout typically affects the big toe, you can develop it in any joint, even if you never drink alcohol.

Cravings during pregnancy may cause you to want sweets such as cake and candy. While an occasional sweet treat is not problematic, too much of a good thing can be bad. Your diet is especially important when you are pregnant and most cakes offer little in the way of nutritional value.

If you enjoy baked goods but have a yeast allergy do not despair – you can substitute a formulation that contains baking soda instead when making breads, rolls and other baked goods. Also seek “quickbread” recipes that call for baking soda and eschew the use of yeast.

Whether acute or chronic, the indigestion and pain associated with gastritis may lead you to make changes to your diet. Separately, rice, coconut milk and aloe vera may offer some relief, from ease of digestion to possibly protecting the lining of your stomach.