pregnant with a history of very poor eating habits

[new york momma]

I'm two months along and feeling challenged by eating nutritionally. Before I got pregnant, I lived on large quantities of diet pepsi, dorritos and hershey kisses. Fortunately, I enjoy long-distance running so I wasn't terribly overweight. I knew I immediately needed to change my eating habits when I got pregnant, but I'm finding it more difficult than I expected. I asked my ob/gyn if she could recommend someone to help me and she said she would check into it and we could discuss it at my next appointment in three weeks. Until then, do you all have any advice for me?

Much gratitude to the forum.

[EricaDoula]

What about a book, or a new cookbook? I just did a quick amazon search and found this book http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Eating.../dp/0696231867 I then realized I have this book on my shelf. It has great reviews and recipes. Looks like a book that could help you get started on your healthier eating habits!

[bronxmom]

Sounds like you like to eat on the run if that's your current diet. I'm assuming that's not just a love of doritos and hershey's as your sole food.

For pregnancy, you need to focus on plenty of proteins and healthy fats. Those are really the key. Get some whole milk yogurt or full fat greek yogurt. Those are good for protein, calcium and fat and can be eaten on the run. Grill up some chicken breasts at the beginning of the week and have it tossed in salads or just on its own. Make a pot of chili and package in to servings you can have in tupperware - you can then eat it with tortilla chips - almost doritos Avocados are good for healthy fats and again can be eaten in a grazing lifestyle. Switch from hershey's kisses to a good dark chocolate bar and have some each night.

I think I remember you being in Harlem. If that's so, go to Fairway (133rd and West Side Highway). They have tons of healthy prepared foods and great cheese and cheap organic milk and they deliver for only $3 or something like that. It's pretty easy to stock up. You can get an organic roasted chicken for $5.49 and then have it bundled with 2 side dishes at their counter for only $1 more. That will get you and your partner a healthy meal plus extra chicken for salads.

Those are just a few ideas for starters. Don't try to "diet" or look at those recommendations. Think high protein, dark greens, whole grains and healthy fats and calcium. Worry more about getting the good stuff vs avoiding the bad stuff; for ex., don't stress so much that you eat doritos or hershey's kisses but focus on getting good stuff you need and gradually your diet will begin to change.