Tips for Eating and Pregnancy

Eating is something I'm definitely passionate about, pregnant or not. I love great tasting food! Over the past 10 years I have fine-tuned my taste buds and found that not only do I love delicious food, I also love to eat healthy and if they fall into both categories, even better.When I'm not pregnant, I tend to eat on the lighter side. Lots of fish, chicken and turkey; high-protein, lots of veggies and low carbs. However, as 'healthy' as I may sound to you, I will always splurge. I'm a huge fan of pizza and pasta and seem to always find time for those throughout the week. Sorry I'm not sorry.

The main difference between my eating styles when I'm not pregnant and when I am pregnant is that I'm a whole lot hungrier when I am. Eating for myself and someone else is much more complicated than it sounds unfortunately. Every-single thing I choose to put in my mouth directly affects my baby too, talk about pressure! Especially with me being so much hungrier.

The good news? There is a plus to pregnancy and eating which is I give myself permission to carb out during those 9 months, sticking to whole grains as much as possible. Can you blame me though? Especially during the first trimester when all I want is bland, stomach coating foods.This pregnancy I was able to find a way to eat fairly balanced; lots of whole grains, fresh fruits, veggies, low-fat protein and good fats (fish) a few times a week. With that said, following a nutritious diet and being hungrier than normal, I have had nooooo problem gaining weight to support my growing baby inside my belly. With my pregnancy with Brock I weighed myself constantly and it did nothing positive for my psyche. I made a pact with myself that I wouldn't do that with this one and I haven't, except for when I visit the doctor of course. The amount of weight that I gain during my pregnancy doesn't matter to me.  I trust myself to know that I'm constantly making smart choices, all in moderation of course.  I get to walk away from this pregnancy feeling like I did my part (and even enjoyed myself) with no eating regrets.

What about splurging? Let's be real, I'm human and I have cravings. As much as I try to stick to a 'pregnancy healthy balanced diet' all the time, I'll admit it, I do indulge more when I'm pregnant than I typically do. I will sometimes choose a sandwich over a leafy green salad, or have a side of pancakes occasionally on a weekend. When possible I try to satisfy my pregnancy sweet tooth with fresh or dried fruit instead... but will not turn down dessert when we go out from time to time. One thing I will not splurge on? I never drink juice or soda, water all the way, everyday.

Top foods for the first trimester

The first trimester can be a tough one. It's a time of rapid growth and change yet it's a time when many women find it hard to stomach most things. I found a handful of things that were both nutritious and easy on my stomach. Folate (supports fetal growth and development) should be king during the first trimester and should be at the top of your list when considering what foods to eat during these months.

Almonds

Applesauce

Bananas

Brown Rice

Cream Cheese (pasteurized)

Multigrain Cereal

Oatmeal

Peanut Butter

Popcorn

Soup Broth

Sweet Potatoes

Watermelon

Foods for a healthy second trimester

Most women have lost the morning sickness bug at this point and can start to really enjoy eating! There are many healthy foods to enjoy during this trimester. I tried to eat a diet that had a variety, balance and of course moderation to make sure that at I was getting sufficient amount of all nutrients. These were some of my favorite foods during the second trimester.

Avocado

Basil

Carrots

Chia Seeds

Chickpeas

Romaine Lettuce

Tuna

Turkey

Healthy foods for the third trimester

These foods are rich in nutrients needed for your body's third trimester growth and changes these last few months. Of course, I still ate foods from my first and second trimester lists but these ones were also added as I got further along.

Black Beans

Celery

Cranberries

Eggs

Green Peas

Nuts

Red Raspberry

Leaf Tea

Swiss Cheese 

A favorite snack of mine especially when I'm pregnant are smoothies! They taste good and are easy to stomach during all three trimesters. I found that for both of pregnancies, it seemed like I could never get enough fruit into my diet. This smoothie recipe is so simple, easy to make and delicious I thought I would share.

Banana Split Smoothie (Makes 1 Smoothie)

1 cup almond milk

1 frozen banana

1 handful organic kale or spinach, stems removed

1/2 cup frozen organic strawberries

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

In a blender, combine the almost milk, banana, kale/spinach, strawberries and protein powder until smooth and creamy. Pour into glass and enjoy. So there it is! In no way do I consider myself a "nutritionist" lol,  I just really wanted to break down and share my thought process with you all because it really helped me enjoy my experience rather than be fixated on the number on the scale. Focusing on the types of food I ate each trimester (and satisfying my hunger of course) were the most important ingredients to me finding my peace with eating and pregnancy.

Bon appetit!

** Source: The 100 Healthiest Foods to Eat During Pregnancy by Allison Tannis and Jonny Bowden