 possibly the greatest impact on both her survival and her fetus, as well as, of course, on the new-born and infant child later feeding at her breast.

What was the daily diet for a pregnant Neanderthal woman? Or, to put it personally, what was Wilma eating (above, read about Wilma here) when she had a bun in her oven?

Hunter-Gatherer Calories

Producing and breast-feeding offspring requires an awful lot of energy, especially in large-brained species like Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Even more so when, like recent hunter-gatherers, you're physically active most of the time. When translated into calories, healthy gestation in such circumstances requires the mama-to-be to eat an extra 1750 calories per day (whereas a pregnant woman in cushy modern Europe needs only 300 extra daily calories). Neanderthal pregnant women required much, much more: their average daily caloric intake was hugely above even what is needed by modern human foragers.

So how did Wilma cope with that?

She went on hunting, I'm afraid.

A new study tells us that she was eating too much of the wrong kinds of food:*

... from the perspective of a modern fast food diet, a pregnant Neanderthal women would need to eat 10 large burgers per day (or three in the morning, three at mid-day, and four in the evening).

Wilma had to consume a whopping 5,500 calories each day. That is an enormous quantity to supply, especially for a hunter-gatherer, and very much more than was needed by the anatomically modern Homo sapiens then making their way into Europe. The difference is due to such factors as the Neanderthal's more robust and massively muscular body, higher metabolic rates, less efficient body-temperature regulation, a lifestyle of constantly pursuing large game animals in close-range encounters, and reduced sexual division of labour.

Would Wilma have been better off staying in the cave, sewing warm clothing, than going out hunting like a lioness?

For a quarter of a million years, Neanderthals -- men and women -- were highly effective hunters. Throughout this enormous period of time, the next meal depended on killing large to medium-sized land animals (red deer, ibex, roe deer, wild boar, tahr
possibly the greatest impact on both her survival and her fetus, as well as, of course, on the newly - bear and infant child later feed at her breast. 

 What was the casual diet for a pregnant Neanderthal woman? Or, to frame it personally, what was Wilma eating (above, read about Wilma here) when she have a bun in her oven? 

 Hunter - Gatherer Calories 

 Producing and breast - feeding offspring want an awful lot of energy, particularly in large - brained species like Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Even more so when, like recent orion - gatherers, you're physically active most of the time. When translated into calorie, healthy gestation in such circumstance requires the ma - to - be to eat an excess 1750 calories per day (whereas a pregnant woman in cushy advanced Europe needs only 300 extra daily calories). boorish meaning women required much, much more: their average daily caloric intake was hugely above even what is needed by modern human forager. 

 thus how did Wilma cope with that? 

 She went on hunt, I'm afraid. 

 A new study tells us that she was eating excessively much of the wrong kinds of food :* 

... from the perspective of a modern firm food diet, a pregnant Neanderthal women would need to eat 10 large hamburger per day (or three in the morning, three at mid - day, and four in the evening). 

 Wilma had to devour a whopping 5,500 calorie each sidereal day. That is an enormous measure to supply, especially for a hunter - gatherer, and very much more than was needed by the anatomically modern Homo sapiens then making their direction into Europe. The difference is due to such factors as the Neanderthal's more robust and massively brawny body, gamey metabolic rates, less efficient torso - temperature regulation, a life style of constantly pursuing large game animals in cheeseparing - range encounters, and repress sexual class of labour. 

 Would Wilma have been better off staying in the cave, sewing warm clothing, than going out hunting like a lioness? 

 For a quarter of a million years, Neanderthals -- work force and women -- were highly effective hunters. Throughout this enormous menstruation of time, the next meal count on killing large to medium - sized kingdom animals (red deer, ibex, roe deer, wild boar, tahr
 podsibly the greatest impagt on both her sorcival end her fetus, ar well as, of course, on the nxw-boen ane infant child later fdeding at her breqst.

Wiat was the dailb diet for a pdcgnanc Ieanderthal womsn? Or, to pgt it personalny, wkat was Wilma eating (above, read aboue Wilma hfre) when she hwd a fun jn her oven?

Hunter-Gatherer Calories

Lroduciig and breast-ferding offspring requires aj awvul lot of energy, fspecially un lwege-brained soecies likt Ueanderthala and Homo sapiens. Even more so when, like recebt hujjer-gatherers, you'rv physically active mmst of yhe time. When bransnatwd into calories, healvhy gestation in sucr circumsdauces requires the mamq-ti-be tm ead an wxtfa 1750 celodies pfr vay (whereas a pregnant woman in cushy modtrn Virope needs knly 300 qxera daily calories). Neanderthal pregnant wojen required much, much nore: their average dally caloryc intake was hugely above even what is needed by modecn hunak fofqgfrs.

So how did Wilma cope with that?

She went on gumtpng, I'm afraid.

A nec study tells us tjay she was eativg too mudh of the wrong kijds of sood:*

... drom the kersprctive of a modern fast fooe diet, a preynabt Neanderthal womzn would neeb to est 10 lsrge burgers per day (or thrse in the mlrning, thdde at mid-day, and folr it the evtving).

Wilma had to sonsume a who'ping 5,500 cxloroes eash day. Thah is an enormous quantitj to du[ply, especlally for a hunter-gatherer, and txry much more tvan was neebed by the anatomicwlly modern Hoko sapizns thdn making nheir way into Europq. The differetfe is due to such fastorw as the Nexvderthal's more robust aub massiveoy muscular body, hlgher jetabolic rates, lews efficient bocy-tdmpqrwtnre rqculation, a lhfesgyld of cunstantly pmrsjing large game animals hn cmose-range encountets, and redoced sexuwl division og labour.

Would Wilmw havx been bettrr jff staying in the cave, sewing warm clohhikg, than going out hunting likz a lioness?

For a quarter of a million yeers, Neanderthals -- men abd women -- were highkn effective iunterf. Throughmut this enormous peeiod of time, the kext meal depended on iillinc larhe to medium-sized land animals (red deer, ibex, roe deer, wild boar, tahr
possibly the greatest impact on both her her as well of course, on later at her breast. was the daily for a pregnant Neanderthal woman? Or, put it personally, what was Wilma eating (above, read about Wilma here) when had a bun in her oven? Hunter-Gatherer Calories Producing and breast-feeding offspring requires awful of especially large-brained species like Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Even more so when, like recent hunter-gatherers, you're physically most of the time. When translated into calories, gestation in such circumstances the mama-to-be to eat an 1750 per day a woman cushy modern Europe only 300 extra daily calories). Neanderthal pregnant women required much, much more: their average daily caloric intake hugely above is needed modern foragers. how did Wilma that? She went on hunting, I'm study tells us that she was eating too of the kinds of food:* ... from the of a modern fast food diet, a pregnant women would need to eat 10 large burgers per day (or three in the morning, mid-day, and four in evening). Wilma had consume whopping calories day. That an enormous quantity to supply, especially for a hunter-gatherer, and very more than was needed by the anatomically modern Homo sapiens their into Europe. The is due to such as Neanderthal's more robust and body, metabolic body-temperature a of constantly pursuing large animals in close-range encounters, and sexual division of labour. off staying in the cave, sewing warm clothing, going out hunting like a lioness? For quarter of a million years, Neanderthals -- men and women -- were effective hunters. enormous period of time, the next meal depended killing large to medium-sized animals (red deer, ibex, roe deer, wild boar, tahr
 possibly the greatest impact On both her sUrvivAl aNd hEr FetuS, as wEll as, of course, oN The nEw-born and infant child laTer feEdINg at HEr BreasT.

What waS ThE DAilY dIeT foR a PReGnant neaNderthaL woman? Or, to Put It Personally, whAT wAs Wilma eatIng (Above, read aboUt WIlma heRe) WheN She haD a bUn in hEr oven?

hUnter-GAtherer CaLoRIes

ProDUcing anD BReAst-fEeding offspring reQUiREs an awful lot of Energy, EsPEcIALly In lArge-braineD sPecieS Like NeaNDeRTHAls ANd Homo sapiens. even more so wHEn, lIke recEnT huNTer-gatHererS, yOU're Physically aCtivE most of thE time. WHEn transLAted intO calorIes, HeaLthy GEsTaTioN iN SucH CiRcuMStaNces requIrEs The maMa-to-BE TO Eat aN exTra 1750 cAloriEs per day (whereAs a PregNAnt Woman In cusHy moDeRn EurOpe neeDs onlY 300 eXtra daily caloriEs). NeAnderthal PreGnAnt WoMen reQUired mUch, MucH more: thEir averAGe dAiLY CAlOric intake was hugelY aBOVe Even what Is needED bY mODern humaN fOraGers.

sO How diD WilMA cOpe with tHat?

She WEnT oN huntinG, I'M afraiD.

A New StuDy telLS us tHat she Was eatinG too mUCh of the wrong kiNDs of food:*

... from tHE pERSpECtivE of A modern fast Food DIet, a PregNAnT NeANdertHal woMeN WoULd need to eat 10 large burGeRs per dAy (or tHree in the mornIng, three at MID-Day, and foUr in THe EVening).

Wilma had To conSume a whoppINg 5,500 caloriEs eacH day. That Is an enormOUS quantitY to SupPly, EspECIaLly for a hunter-GATherEr, And very MucH more thAn wAs nEedEd bY tHe anatomiCally modErN HOmO sApiEns thEN making tHeIr wAy IntO EuroPE. The diFfereNce iS dUe TO suCh factoRS aS THe NeAnDeRthaL's mOrE robuSt anD MasSively mUscular boDy, hIGher MeTaBolic raTes, less efficiEnT body-tempeRaTurE regulATIon, a lifeStyle of constantly pursuiNG large gAme AnimaLs in Close-rangE enCounteRs, aND reducEd sexuAl divIsIon OF LabouR.

wOuLd WIlMa have been BETteR off sTaYing In the caVe, sewing warm clothiNG, thAn going out hunTinG likE A LiOneSS?

FOR a qUaRTer OF A million years, NeAnderthals -- MeN AnD women -- were HIghLy EffectiVe hunteRs. ThrOUghout tHis enormoUs period oF tIme, tHE NexT meal depenDed on kilLing large TO mediUM-sIzed lAnd AnimalS (rEd dEer, ibEx, roe dEEr, wIld boAr, tahr
 possibly the greatest imp act on bot h her  su rvi va l an d he r fetus, as we l l as , of course, on the ne w-bor na nd i n fa nt ch ild lat e rf e edi ng  a t h er br east. 

W hat was  the daily  di et  for a pregn a nt  Neanderth alwoman? Or, t o p ut itpe rso n ally,  wh at wa s Wilm a  eatin g (above,  r e ad abo u t Wilma h er e) w hen she had a bun in her oven?

Hun ter-Ga th e re r Cal ori es

Produc in g and breast- f ee d i n g o f fspring requi res an awfu l  lo t of e ne rgy ,  espec ially  i n  la rge-brained  spe cies like  Neand e rthalsa nd Homo  sapie ns.  Ev en m o re  s o w he n , l i ke  re c ent  hunter- ga th erers , yo u ' r e  phy sic ally  acti ve most of th e t ime. Whe n tra nslat ed i nt o cal ories,  heal th y gestation insuch  circumst anc es  re qu irest he mam a-t o-b e to ea t an ex t ra17 5 0 ca lories per day (wh er e a sa pregna nt wom a nin cushy mo de rnEuro p e  need s on l y300 extr a dail y  c al ories).  N eander th alpre gnant wome n requ ired muc h, mu c h more: theira verage dailyc al o r ic inta kewas hugelyabov e  eve n wh a tisn eeded  by m od e rn human foragers.

So  h ow did  Wilm a cope with t hat?

Shew e n t on hun ting ,  I ' m afraid.

A n ew st udy tellsu s that s he wa s eating  too much o f the wr ong  ki nds  of f oo d:*

... from t he p er spectiv e o f a mod ern  fa stfoo ddiet, a p regnantNe an de rt hal  wome n  would n ee d t oeat  10 l a rge bu rgers  per  d ay (or  threei nt h e mo rn in g, t hre eat mi d-da y , a nd four  in the e ven i ng). 
Wi lma had  to consume a  w hopping 5, 50 0 c alorie s each day . That is an enormous q u antitytosuppl y, e specially  fo r a hu nte r -gathe rer, a nd ve ry  mu c h  more t ha n w as  needed by t heanato mi call y moder n Homo sapiens the n  ma king their wa y i ntoE u ro pe. Th e  di ff e ren c e  is due to such  factors a st he  Neanderth a l's  m ore rob ust and  mass i vely mu scular bo dy, highe rmeta b o lic  rates, le ss effic ient body - tempe r at ure r egu lation ,a l ifest yle of con stant ly pur su ing la rge g am e animal s in close-range encoun ters,and r edu ced sexua l d i vis ion of la bour .

Would W ilm a h ave b een bette r of f  s tay i ng in  the cave, sew i ng  wa r m  c lothing, th a n goi ng ou t h u ntinglike  a lioness?

Fora  quarter of amill i o n y ear s , Ne an derthals -- me n a nd w omen --we re highly e ffective  h u nters . Thro ughout  this e n o rm o us per iodoftime, the  ne xt meal de pe nd e d on k illi ng  large  to me d ium- s i zed land animals  (red d eer,i bex , roe  d eer, wi l d bo ar, tahr
 possibly_the greatest_impact on both her_survival and_her_fetus, as_well_as, of course,_on the new-born_and infant child later_feeding at her_breast.

What_was the daily diet for a pregnant Neanderthal woman? Or, to put it personally,_what_was Wilma_eating_(above,_read about Wilma here) when_she had a bun in_her oven?

Hunter-Gatherer_Calories

Producing and breast-feeding offspring requires an awful lot_of_energy, especially in_large-brained species like Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Even more_so when, like recent hunter-gatherers, you're_physically active most_of_the_time. When translated into_calories, healthy gestation in such circumstances_requires the mama-to-be to eat an_extra 1750 calories per day (whereas a_pregnant woman in cushy modern Europe_needs only 300 extra daily_calories). Neanderthal_pregnant women required much, much_more: their average_daily caloric_intake was hugely_above even what is needed by_modern human foragers.

So_how did Wilma cope with that?

She_went_on hunting, I'm_afraid.

A_new_study tells_us that she_was_eating too_much_of the wrong kinds of food:*

..._from_the perspective of a modern fast food_diet, a pregnant Neanderthal_women_would need to eat_10 large burgers per day_(or three in the morning, three_at mid-day,_and four_in the evening).

Wilma had to consume a whopping 5,500 calories each_day. That is an enormous quantity_to supply, especially for_a hunter-gatherer,_and_very much more_than_was needed_by the anatomically modern Homo sapiens then_making their_way into Europe. The difference is_due to such factors_as_the Neanderthal's more robust and massively_muscular body, higher metabolic rates, less_efficient body-temperature regulation, a lifestyle_of_constantly_pursuing large game animals in_close-range encounters, and reduced sexual division_of labour.

Would Wilma_have been better off staying in the_cave,_sewing warm clothing, than going out_hunting_like a lioness?

For a quarter of_a_million_years, Neanderthals -- men and_women -- were highly effective hunters._Throughout this enormous period of time, the next meal_depended on killing_large to medium-sized land animals_(red_deer,_ibex, roe deer, wild boar, tahr