The food quandry... « Back to Group Discussions

[StartingAllOver]

I have been having trouble eating enough.

My life was stressful before I got pregnant, and the stress levels are not likely to die down anytime soon. Largely due to the stress, I have lost nearly 50 pounds since July. So yay! But...it is mostly because of not eating/lack of appetite. Not so good.

Now I go through daily difficulty wanting to eat. Much of it seems connected to the pregnancy (food aversions, funky appetite), but some is still stress related. 

My biggest problem is that when I actually DO feel hungry, there is little or nothing on hand that is palatable/convenient to eat. Consequently, I skip meals and/or barely nibble on something. I have lost 5 pounds since finding out about this baby 4 weeks ago. I am starting to scare myself a bit. 

I want to have some inexpensive, healthy, protein rich foods on hand that I can snack on or eat easily when my appetite shows up.  
My DP has taken to asking me if I have eaten anything and he is very willing and helpful about getting things just for me, I just have been drawing a blank. 

Any ideas? 

[g&a]

Mmmm... Protein rich snacks:

handfuul of cashews

cup of soy milk or almond milk

cheese

almond butter (sandwich or crackers or on bananas)

edamame

hummus (if the garlic is appealing right now)

Boiled egg (keep them in the fridge for quick snacking)

I'm finding I don't want to eat either but that's probably not recommended so I'm having lots of snacks instead of meals.  I feel grosser if I eat large amounts at a time.

Good luck.

g.

[talldarkeyes]

Here is what I have been able to stomach since I am also having the same problem: PB&J, bean and cheese burritos, chips and mild salsa, cold chicken sandwiches with homemade Mayo, pumpkin pie, bananas, apples with peanut butter, pretzel sticks or soft pretzels, sourdough bread, cold cereal and goat kefir strawberry banana smoothies.

[wrenmoon]

If you can tolerate meat, in the past my husband has made steaks and sliced them thin and left them in the fridge so I don't have to smell it cooking before I eat it.
I personally stay away from unfermented soy because of its hormonal qualities, it has been linked to hyperspadia in infant boys and there are a lot of questions about actual available nutrition.
This time around I am gluten and dairy free so it's more complicated. But these were my favorites:
Cream cheese sandwiches with arugula
HB eggs
Trail mix with dried fruit
Hummus wrap with shredded carrots, cheese and salad greens
Salad with nuts, cheese,beets, hb eggs, leftover baked chicken, turkey or steak.
Cottage cheese
Keifer with greens powder and maybe protein powder too.
Yogurt or yogurt drinks

All those things were easy to assemble once I had everything in the fridge. If you aren't confident in your nutrition right now a good food based prenatal would probably be worth the investment until you feel like eating again. Not a replacement but some backup.

And not to worry too much. You will be hungry again soon. Ravenous probably.

[heyitskalista]

I think the not wanting to eat is pretty normal at this stage. I'm there. And the only things I feel like I can eat are cheeseburgers and chips. Not exactly healthy.

I like some of the suggestions the girls have given.

I try to eat toast with peanut butter, Greek yogurt with cashews, kefir and raspberries, chicken breast in my salads. Lots of soups with homemade broth. Cheese melted on sliced tomatoes.

[StartingAllOver]

These are great ideas! Thank you!

Hummus! I can't believe I didn't think of hummus. lol I love hummus, and even have a recipe for homemade. What a silly I am...
 

[dayiscoming2006]

LOVE this thread. Thanks for the ideas. I've been flailing out there trying to think of what to eat sometimes. I have managed to gain 8 lbs none-the-less... LOL 

[BlueMonday]

yup to above, rice crackers or baby carrots and hummus are my go-to meal. i love kind bars or bananas, that's also my pre-workout fix. honeydew melon with cottage cheese, i remember eating that in bed after my first was born and i remain convinced it's the best tasting treat ever. i often carry nuts in my bag, pistachios, cashew and almonds, just to avoid getting hungry and because both my kids are in nut-free classrooms so they're always jonesing outside of school. and i usually have a spare apple kicking around too. also stay hydrated.

i'm still happy about my delicious lunch: awesome local italian deli homemade turkey slices, muenster cheese, edamame hummus and mashed avocado with baby spinach on gluten free bread. that second half of avocado is just staring at me too...

[yallcomeback]

I have been gluten free the last few months and have given it up lately since there's so few things I can stand to eat already.
I've been eating cottage cheese and fruit, Greek yogurt, rice pudding, oranges and apples with sun butter, English muffins, dried fruit and veggie bars, string cheese...
No one judge me LOL but there has been boxed macaroni and frozen pizzas thrown in there too. Cooking has been nearly impossible

[lolliegee]

I am so with you guys. I am supposed to be about 95% carb free for my blood sugar, but I keep eating them because it's the only thing that helps keep the nausea at bay. Bleah. I've decided that I'm going to be good again starting tomorrow (after date night with hubby tonight) and just suck it up with the nausea. No fun, though.

[talldarkeyes]

I found that I can stomach romaine lettuce salads with chopped hardboiled eggs and lemon juice. LOTS of lemon juice! That is the only way I am getting down any vegetable. Also was able to eat a baked potato with butter and salt and a cinnamon raisin bagels with cream cheese.

[MonkeyPrincess]

I am eating whatever I can stomach, with no guilt. I constantly snack on nuts, yogurt, cheese and fruit. Other than that, its whatever I can tolerate.

Just got done a local grass fed flat iron steak and organic carrots, now waiting for my husband to get back from Wawa with a Milky Way. =)

[DanceGina]

All I could handle for 2 weeks was whole milk, wheat crackers with cheese, or yogurt on banana slices.  The milk really helped with nausea, even though it is not something I normally drink all day!

[talldarkeyes]

I just ate a whole bag of tortilla chips.

[StartingAllOver]

talldarkeyes~ the only thing that I could stand toady was tortilla chips! lol

I did force myself to take in some protein in the form of cheese though. And I am gearing up to a granny smith apple. 


Over all I think I am doing ok. My weight is steady now~ not losing anymore for the time being. :)

[dayiscoming2006]

Mmm...tortilla chips. I've been eating those with salsa and sour cream mixed together. LOL

I get the big bag of organic ones from Costco.

[talldarkeyes]

It sucks because I am allergic to cow dairy but only became allergic in the last two years. My main morning sickness survival foods were dairy based and now I am suffering because I keep eating cheese. I can eat goat cheese but the flavor is too strong at the moment.

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by talldarkeyes 

It sucks because I am allergic to cow dairy but only became allergic in the last two years. My main morning sickness survival foods were dairy based and now I am suffering because I keep eating cheese. I can eat goat cheese but the flavor is too strong at the moment.

I like goat cheese mixed in with a baked potato or mashed potatoes. That dampens the strong flavor some too.

[wrenmoon]

Originally Posted by talldarkeyes 

It sucks because I am allergic to cow dairy but only became allergic in the last two years. My main morning sickness survival foods were dairy based and now I am suffering because I keep eating cheese. I can eat goat cheese but the flavor is too strong at the moment.

This is me too. I have been gluten and dairy free for 2 years and have been constantly ravenous and ate pizza twice this week. But I'm just so HUNGRY, and part of me says I'm sick and tired anyway... Can't hardly get worse.

[ChelseyS]

How about Larabars? I like them because they're gluten-free and minimally processed. I always have one or two in my purse. Different flavors for whatever I'm in the mood for at the moment.