Food question for our pregnant ladies...

[Erin Pavlina]

When I'm pregnant I make an extra special effort to eat whole foods, lots of fruits and veggies, etc. I'm just wondering... what do you ladies eat during pregnancy that you feel really good about?

For example, each day I try to have a big romaine salad with avocado, cucumber, and carrots because it's really full of great vitamins and it's raw, so the nutrients are intact. I call this my "pregnancy salad." Do you ladies have a certain thing you eat during pregnancy because you're pregnant, that you don't tend to eat when you're not?

I also drink fruit smoothies a lot, again because of the vitamins and the food is not cooked so the nutrients are retained.

[sophie]

I have a salad with dinner every night, including lots of rocket (arugula), and loads and loads of fresh vegies and I always make sure there is a protein dish as well. My partner gorws and sells organic vegies so we're lucky to have an abundance of fresh vegies all the time, at the moment we are feasting on fresh tomatoes, corn, lettuce, rocket, beans, swiss chard, zucchini, and garlic, and I feel so healthy!
We always eat pretty good food, so I guess when I'm pregnant I make more of an effort not to indulge in junk food like potato chips or white bread or sweet things which actually drain my energy and make me feel gross. I also stay away from anything that has been sprayed with pesticide, and I limit myself to one cup of tea a day (which I should cut out but I just love my morning cuppa).

[Beate]

salad every day with as many "colors" as possible (peppers, sprouts, avocado...), sprinkle sesame seeds on top for calcium, eath hummus for the calcium, whole cereals with fresh fruit, nuts and seeds and soy-milk or other non-dairy milk. I buy or bake healthy sweet snacks and carry them around so if I should get tempted I indulge in something healthy (self-made granola bars, life cakes from my HFS), I like (non-dairy)smoothies with frozen fruit that's out of season like bluberries or rasperries, ...and I drink lots and lots of water! Ah yes, some green vegetables every day, either broccoli or kale or collard greens or spinach, in addition to the salad (for calcium, folic acid, ...)
In a good and ocnscious way, I'm trying to make the best out of every food I'm putting into my mouth and eat a good variety every day.

[Sylver]

I make a big effort to eat very well, although it became a little difficult when I started to feel nauseated all the time. That didn't last very long, a couple of weeks, now I only feel nauseated every now and then. I am crazy for grains, breads and cereals and potatoes! I gotta get them carbs! I also like eating lots of fruits, and some veggies. I usually make some oatmeal or wheat hot cereal about a half-hour before going to bed. I like it because it's filling enough, but not heavy, and of course good for me and baby! As much as possible the food I eat is organic to avoid GE foods and pesticides, pregnant or not. I can't stand sweets (except for fruit and soy ice cream) because it's just way too sweet, and it makes me feel ill. That's a good thing though! The sad thing is that I am turning my nose up at some of the foods I used to love, like garlic, cauliflower, tomato pasta sauce and sometimes mushrooms. I hope this passes! Mostly I just try to add variety, and add as much nutritional ingredients to whatever I cook, but I have to confess to a Lick's (all vegan including the bun!) burger with onion rings, and I might do it again! :eek:

[Ginarama]

I am crazy for fruit even when I'm not pregnant, so I indulge a lot now that I am. Plenty of whole grains -- hempseed bread is a favorite (it has 8g of protein per slice and ltos of good essential fatty acids). We try to include beans (including garbanzos, hummus, lentils, etc) nearly every day, as well as greens daily and a yellow vegetable almost daily.

Also, I find that getting 50+ grams of protein in a day helps me stay alert, and helps keep my energy level even. (Bradley method recommends 70-80g per day; this is a stretch for most vegans). Lots of seeds or nuts with raisins or dried apricots and carob chips (naturally sweetened -- a good iron source) makes a great trail mix snack.

Finally, a cup of chamomile tea before bed helps me relax, and I find it really soothing.

I definitely steer clear of anything with BHT -- like potato chips or bubble gum, as well as artificial colors & flavors, and soda pop. I do, however, allow myself a treat now and again, like a couple of small squares of organic dark chocolate, or soy ice cream, or these great all-natural Brazil nut burgers we found. That way I don't feel totally deprived.

Gina