Trouble eating healthy?

[tempestjewel]

I was eating SO well before I got pg. I ate about 90-95% vegan with lots and lots of produce. But now, the thought of eating a salad makes me want to gag. How are you ladies eating???

I've tried making fruit smoothies, to get some fruit in me at least. I feel like its important to eat well, but I am just having the worst time with it.

What sounds good... right now its McDonalds and I don't even LIKE McDonalds and don't eat there normally AT ALL!

It certainly doesn't help that I don't have much energy to cook. I've been using my crockpot for beans and that helps (when the beans actually sound good enough to eat...).

Help! I'd love suggestions!

[cpop]

I have been having trouble with this too.
I think when you are craving junk, you can give in a little, but try to choose "healthier" junk over less healthy.
Like pizza rather than McD's. Since pizza at least has calcium in the cheese and you can get a vegetarian one. Stuff like that. Nuts instead of chips, since they have good oils even though they have too much salt.
That's what I'm trying to do, and then on my non-morning sickness days I try to cram as much good stuff in as I can.

[bemommy]

Hi Naomi!

It's really tough. Food aversions and craving are sooo difficult. I find it (and when pregnant with DD) that if I broke food into the smallest bits it was a little easier. I'm convinced that when we have a craving it's because our body (or in some cases our mind) needs something in particular. If you crave McD's try to break the tastes down. . Is it the salt, the meat, the fat? (personally, I was having a difficult time staying away from the filet o'fish and few days ago. . which was also true when I was preg with DD) And then just fulfill the craving for that single taste in the best way possible.

I also feel that somethings it's best to just give in fully on occasion. For me it totally ends the craving almost all of the time.

[earthie_mama]

I feel your pain. I just made the switch from veg to vegan, like right before I got pregnant. What helps me is to research what I am eating, before I eat it, or just to research the vegan lifestyle in general. Being reminded how important it is and why makes a big difference to me. Also being able to find vegan versions of my old favorites, like chocolate cake, mac and cheese etc. If you need help with finding recipes PM me. I just bought a wonderful new cookbook!

[Cooking4Love]

Popping in from Dec DDC, I also feel like it was easier to eat healthy before I got pregnant even though I know it is even more important now. Thanks for sharing that I am not the only one experiencing this.

I am trying to curb the bad habits by planning cheating times and trying to make myself eat as well as possible in between. For example, I have been craving fettucini alfredo all week long. So instead of eating it everyday (which would have been soooo yummy) I tried to be good all week and planned for a date night at my favorite Italian restaurant with dh last night.

I have also been trying to have snacks ready to eat so I can just grab them.

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by bemommy

If you crave McD's try to break the tastes down. . Is it the salt, the meat, the fat? (personally, I was having a difficult time staying away from the filet o'fish and few days ago. . which was also true when I was preg with DD) And then just fulfill the craving for that single taste in the best way possible.

It is the Filet O' Fish that's been calling out to me Wouldn't surprise me if it has some chemical compounds in it that work with your body's craving systems :

I really think its my body craving the pure calories (probably fat) and the salt. I've been throwing up for the last few days so it would make sense.

I stocked up on some "healthy" snacks- quick grab granola bars with nuts, brown rice cakes with salt, cereal bars. I'm not used to eating so much processed food, but figure the "healthy" processed foods would be better then giving in to my cravings for junk.

I made a big pot of Chinese Egg Drop soup last night (with free range, organic eggs) and the broth had ginger in it. Soothed my stomach, satisfied my craving for salt, and got some protein/fat into me easily. I figured it may not be vegetables but it was the best thing I could think of to eat.

Its nice to hear I'm not alone. Hopefully we can all support each other through this!

[bemommy]

Originally Posted by tempestjewel

It is the Filet O' Fish that's been calling out to me Wouldn't surprise me if it has some chemical compounds in it that work with your body's craving systems :

I had always assumed that it was a comfort food craving for me. I grew up in New Bedford, MA and there was a Frionor plant at the foot of the hill (they processed the fish for the McD's sandwiches). I often left for school in the morning with the smell of filet o'fish in my nose.

[Kritto]

I've found that I keep coming up with weird cravings, but when DH suggests something different (yet similarly salty, sweet, protein-filled by his figuring) it seems to satiate whatever need I had, and the craving goes away. I'd say definitely try to get whatever it is about the McD's food your body's craving, but with much less of the processed grossness of actual McD's food.

Good call on the Egg Drop Soup, btw. I just made some last week, and ravenously ate it all (a large batch) in two days. Good stuff!

[BlissP]

Definitely going to try the egg drop soup....

I had a major salad aversion last pregnancy (and I normally eat a salad virtually every day.) I don't have it quite yet, but I think it's coming. I actually found that cooked veggies worked better for me last time. So i've bought large bags of organic frozen veggies, for a quick meal/snack. And fruit, though I have to be careful - I had a really wild case of gestational diabetes last time, so I am trying to eat a diabetic friendly diet right from the start this time so I have to be careful with fruit. I have been eating cheese and crackers, peanut butter (I know, some people say don't because of allergies, but my son shows no sign of any food allergy, and I ate my weight in peanut butter during that pregnancy I swear.)

It is tough. No doubt about it.

[jessjillbolyer]

I am actually craving healthy foods. But if I do want something bad I try to just have a little of it and not a lot.