I thought that maybe I could use some of this fascinating baby experience to form pregnancy advice. Nothing very out of the ordinary has happened so far (knock on wood), but I have had a lot of adventures in food as a pregnant lady, so here it is! My preggo food list!
1. Coconut Water
In the worst stages of nausea, I would have died without coconut water. I am typically an AVID water drinker, but when you are extremely nauseated, water is the enemy (it tastes really gross). Coconut Water has hydrating effects, and tasted much more pleasant than water during that period. It also has a crap load of potassium, which potentially alleviates restless legs (it def helped with mine). I would get up in the night with restless, achy legs and chug coconut water like it was crack. Potassium also regulates blood pressure which is important during pregnancy as well. My favorite brand is O.N.E. It may be a trendy health beverage, but it is GREAT for pregnancy. I rave about it all the time. I LOVE IT.
2. Lentils
Lentils are an awesome pregnancy food. They contain folate, which is super important for baby's brain and spine development in the early months. For a vegetarian preggo like myself, they also have the benefit of lots of iron and protein. They ALSO have tons of fiber, to keep those bowels-a-workin. I mean, dang, that is a lot of benefits. Try Alton Brown's Lentil Soup.
3. Cherries
Cherries are a food with high natural levels of melatonin, which helps you sleep. They also have a bunch of antioxidants and potassium, and shit, they are delicious, probably my favorite fruit. Unfortunately, they are not available year round, but I also like dried cherries.
4. Peanut Butter
PB was great for me while I was really sick, it was one of the only foods that was bland enough to stomach, but also... I want to say "girthy" for some reason... enough to satiate me. When it's hard to keep food down, the healthy fat and protein in PB was a blessing, smeared on crackers or a banana, or just a spoonful. Smart Balance brand PB also has added flax oil which has Omega-3s, which can lower your triglyceride levels, help with the development of baby's brain and eyes, and healthify your heart (yes, healthify).
5. String Cheese
The ultimate "between meals" snack. Pop one for 20% of your daily calcium, and 7g of protein. I like Frigo Cheese Heads Light string cheese, I actually think the light version tastes better... its sharper tasting and doesn't have that funky dairy after-taste.
6. Cottage Cheese
A half cup has 15 grams of protein, and you can pair it with so many things. My personal favorites are cottage cheese with banana peppers or Frank's Red Hot, but those don't agree with pregnancy heartburn so much :( That's what TUMS are for...
7. Hard Boiled Eggs
Some vegetarians do not eat eggs, I know, but much like string cheese, hard boiled eggs are a portable protein snack. Just the right amount of food to hold your tummy over until the next meal. What better way to nourish a baby than with the stuff made to nourish a chicken baby... actually, ew.
8. Prunes
Believe it or not, prunes have a good amount of iron and protein. They also have vitamin A and of course, poop-inducing fiber. They are really not my favorite texture, but there are so many benefits, it is worth it. WARNING: Prune juice is not meant to be chugged!!! Only drink like 4 oz of it unless you want to feel like you just ODed on laxatives.
9. Lima Beans
You name an important nutrient for pregnancy and lima beans probably have it in abundance. Some people don't like them so much, but I love them with just salt and pepper.
10. And Finally, "Healthy" Cereals with Almond Milk
I have probably eaten cereal almost every day of my pregnancy. Try whole grain, high fiber, low sugar types. Almond Milk tastes great in cereal and actually has more calcium than dairy milk... seriously. I add a teaspoon of chia seeds as well.
Honorable mention: avocados, walnuts, apples, bananas, papaya, berries, and nachos.
I also wanted to mention Deva Vegan Prenatal Vitamins. Other types I've tried have caused constipation or the dreaded neon green pee (caused by an excess of B vitamins). These seem to have a perfect balance.
I am neither a nutritionist nor a pregnancy expert, but so far my doc says baby's growth and health are great! So those who say you shouldn't eat a vegetarian diet while pregnant can shove it!
1. Coconut Water
In the worst stages of nausea, I would have died without coconut water. I am typically an AVID water drinker, but when you are extremely nauseated, water is the enemy (it tastes really gross). Coconut Water has hydrating effects, and tasted much more pleasant than water during that period. It also has a crap load of potassium, which potentially alleviates restless legs (it def helped with mine). I would get up in the night with restless, achy legs and chug coconut water like it was crack. Potassium also regulates blood pressure which is important during pregnancy as well. My favorite brand is O.N.E. It may be a trendy health beverage, but it is GREAT for pregnancy. I rave about it all the time. I LOVE IT.
2. Lentils
Lentils are an awesome pregnancy food. They contain folate, which is super important for baby's brain and spine development in the early months. For a vegetarian preggo like myself, they also have the benefit of lots of iron and protein. They ALSO have tons of fiber, to keep those bowels-a-workin. I mean, dang, that is a lot of benefits. Try Alton Brown's Lentil Soup.
3. Cherries
Cherries are a food with high natural levels of melatonin, which helps you sleep. They also have a bunch of antioxidants and potassium, and shit, they are delicious, probably my favorite fruit. Unfortunately, they are not available year round, but I also like dried cherries.
4. Peanut Butter
PB was great for me while I was really sick, it was one of the only foods that was bland enough to stomach, but also... I want to say "girthy" for some reason... enough to satiate me. When it's hard to keep food down, the healthy fat and protein in PB was a blessing, smeared on crackers or a banana, or just a spoonful. Smart Balance brand PB also has added flax oil which has Omega-3s, which can lower your triglyceride levels, help with the development of baby's brain and eyes, and healthify your heart (yes, healthify).
5. String Cheese
The ultimate "between meals" snack. Pop one for 20% of your daily calcium, and 7g of protein. I like Frigo Cheese Heads Light string cheese, I actually think the light version tastes better... its sharper tasting and doesn't have that funky dairy after-taste.
6. Cottage Cheese
A half cup has 15 grams of protein, and you can pair it with so many things. My personal favorites are cottage cheese with banana peppers or Frank's Red Hot, but those don't agree with pregnancy heartburn so much :( That's what TUMS are for...
7. Hard Boiled Eggs
Some vegetarians do not eat eggs, I know, but much like string cheese, hard boiled eggs are a portable protein snack. Just the right amount of food to hold your tummy over until the next meal. What better way to nourish a baby than with the stuff made to nourish a chicken baby... actually, ew.
8. Prunes
Believe it or not, prunes have a good amount of iron and protein. They also have vitamin A and of course, poop-inducing fiber. They are really not my favorite texture, but there are so many benefits, it is worth it. WARNING: Prune juice is not meant to be chugged!!! Only drink like 4 oz of it unless you want to feel like you just ODed on laxatives.
9. Lima Beans
You name an important nutrient for pregnancy and lima beans probably have it in abundance. Some people don't like them so much, but I love them with just salt and pepper.
10. And Finally, "Healthy" Cereals with Almond Milk
I have probably eaten cereal almost every day of my pregnancy. Try whole grain, high fiber, low sugar types. Almond Milk tastes great in cereal and actually has more calcium than dairy milk... seriously. I add a teaspoon of chia seeds as well.
Honorable mention: avocados, walnuts, apples, bananas, papaya, berries, and nachos.
I also wanted to mention Deva Vegan Prenatal Vitamins. Other types I've tried have caused constipation or the dreaded neon green pee (caused by an excess of B vitamins). These seem to have a perfect balance.
I am neither a nutritionist nor a pregnancy expert, but so far my doc says baby's growth and health are great! So those who say you shouldn't eat a vegetarian diet while pregnant can shove it!
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