[eternamariposa]

<p>I have hit that point in pregnancy that another poster mentioned where all of sudden I am crazy exhausted.  I am walking for an hour or more every morning that I drop my son off at preschool and feel great doing it, but mid afternoon I crash, hard.  I know that a lot is happening right now with the baby growing, I can even see and feel it, but I also know that home made nacho bell grandes and brownies are not going to get me anywhere either.  I have been eating well until the last few weeks.  I think I am just trying to cope with the exhaustion the wrong way, with sugar and naughty things I am have intolerances too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>SO...any inspiration for high energy, healthy meals would be extremely appreciated.  I feel so foggy headed from exhaustion and poor eating that I can't even seem to meal plan properly.  Part of the problem is the cravings for dairy all the time when I cannot eat dairy without feeling awful.  What are you favorite foods?  </p>
<div id="user_myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>

 

[yippiehippie]

<p>I totally get that afternoon exhaustion! The difference is that I've had it for a while and I am eating decently healthy, so I don't think it's just food. One thing that seems to help is lots of herbal teas (nettle, raspberry are very nourishing to preggos with all the good minerals, but anything you like). I also try to have hard boiled eggs at all times for quick protein.</p>
<p>What about raw dairy or goat's milk/cheese? A lot of people don't have issues with them as much as pasturized cow. If you can't find raw milk where you are you can usually get cheese. Yogurt is the same way, we make our own and I put it in smoothies. I definitely recommend raw, it has the healthy enzymes in it. We do raw goat milk and raw cheese, yum!</p>
<p>It's so hard to motivate yourself to eat healthy when it's close to dinner prep time and all you wanna do is lie around. I feel like I deserve to get taco bell, Lol!</p>
<p>Soups are usually easier and you can get leftovers from them. Red meat is good for the iron and burgers/meatloaf is easy too. I've damn near given up on casseroles and things that are more difficult, but am sometimes motivated to make them when I do have energy and heat them in the evening. Another favorite is black bean soup. I just soak the beans 12 hrs. and stick em in the crock, adding any spices wanted and bacon fat. DH loves it, it's cheap and easy too. Actually, I'm fond of any crockpot dishes, I do lots of bbq chicken in there. The great thing about it is you can through in veggies too and there's a meal you barely had to do much with (like maybe after dropping your son off at school come home and throw it all in, no prep later during tired times)</p>
<p>Breakfast is almost always eggs, we should be getting 2-3/day! Sometimes oatmeal. </p>

 

[TeamGR]

<p>I've been doing a lot of grain/ veggie/ protein mixes in whatever form. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So, pasta with veggies and chicken cut up. Or tofu stir fry with veggies over rice.  Last night, we had quinoa with shrimp, peppers, mushrooms and a bit of raw pesto. Delicious. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Luckily, my husband is good in the kitchen, so he's been cooking a bunch, but I always think the best way to keep eating well is to have a stocked fridge.  So grocery shopping is a family affair.  We're over planning, and just making sure that we spend 30 minutes setting down every meal for the week. There's a list on the fridge and everything.   Less thinking in the time after I get home from work exhausted and more fresh cooking. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good luck!  It's amazing how much better you feel when you can get into better eating.  It made a huge change in my life 3 years ago when I made the commitment. </p>
<p> </p>

 

[eternamariposa]

<p>@yippiehippie,  do you have a good resource for crockpot recipes?  I have one and always think it would be super helpful for us because dh doesn't cook AT ALL beyond scrambled or hard boiled eggs so if I am out on cooking then its a take out night.    I actually do have access to raw goat milk products but I have had a hard time getting dh on board cause they are crazy expensive, like $20 lb cheese you know?  </p>
<div id="user_myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>

 

[bluedaisy]

<p>I don't have much advice but I can sympathize - I crash hard in the afternoons too which makes cooking dinner seem like so much more work.  DH isn't really any help in the kitchen.   I find I get really hungry too around 3 or 4, so I try to have some good easy snacks on hand - apples and peanut butter has been my favorite lately and gives me a little energy.   I definitely crave chocolate more than usual these days - I have some dark chocolate chips that I let myself indulge in - not healthy by any means but a lot better than the other processed candies with HFCS and other additives.  Usually the chocolate chips help with my chocolate craving and I'm not tempted to eat anything even worse.  Hot chocolate helps me too - I make my own with milk, unsweetened cocoa, sugar, and vanilla.  Again, not healthy but better than the prepackaged hot chocolate or other processed sweets and it helps get rid of the cravings and gives me a little boost.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also try to lay down a little on days I am completely exhausted - i'll read dd books on her bed and let her play in her room while I lay there.  I usually get 20-30 minutes of rest in before DD gets cranky.  It really helps me get through the rest of the day and have energy to cook dinner.  I am seriously considering buying some videos and letting DD watch them in the afternoons when I'm totally exhausted so I can sleep on the couch.  I really don't like her watching TV though so I'm waiting until things get really bad and then I'll cave <span><img alt="redface.gif" id="user_yui_3_4_1_7_1321835713429_161" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/redface.gif"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>I also try to cook enough for at least 2 meals when I do cook, so I have times when I can just heat up leftovers.  I keep staples on hand for easy meals - peanut noodles is my staple when I have no food and not much time.  I use whole wheat pasta and add whatever veggies I have on hand (I usually have at least carrots and some frozen peas).  I also try to keep cut up chicken in the freezer so if I have any chicken I'll throw it into the boiling water with the noodles for extra protein.  Then I make a peanut sauce from peanut butter, water, flour, salt (or soy sauce), and red pepper flakes.  It takes about 15 minutes - I've also done this with leftover brown rice instead of pasta if I have any leftover brown rice. </span></p>

 

[yippiehippie]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>eternamariposa</strong> <a href="/community/t/1336749/help-me-stop-eating-like-such-a-buttt-head#post_16756161"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><p>@yippiehippie,  do you have a good resource for crockpot recipes?  I have one and always think it would be super helpful for us because dh doesn't cook AT ALL beyond scrambled or hard boiled eggs so if I am out on cooking then its a take out night.    I actually do have access to raw goat milk products but I have had a hard time getting dh on board cause they are crazy expensive, like $20 lb cheese you know?  </p>
<div id="user_myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>No, I just tweak recipes for the crock a lot of times, but allrecipes.com is a favorite of mine b/c they have so many reviews. Another thing I make in there is bone broth: chicken carcass, splash of vinegar, 3 qts of water and let it simmer on low for about 20 hrs. Then I strain it into jars, freezing some and use it for soups and give it straight to DS. Making it this way gets TONS of minerals from the bones, it's super healthy, and much better than store bought.</p>
<p>Wow, that's a lot for cheese, the only place i've found a decent price is Trader Joe's, if you have one. They have raw and goat milk and grass fed cheeses for 5/lb so it's about the same as anywhere else. My friend has goats and I get the milk for 8/gallon which isn't bad and can make yogurt or soft cheese from it. There's no way we could afford 20/lb - I love cheese too much it'd be gone!<br>
 </p>
<p> </p>

 

[Gunter]

<p>i second the vote for big cups of hot tea all day long and soups.  I put lentils on in the morning and just add veggies.  it makes an easy leftover for mid-afternoon, too. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I avoided sugar naturally in Bali but we just got back to the USA and I have already hit up two different vegan bakeries on our drive home.  The cinamon roll was DELICIOUS but I felt so sick after and my youngest actually threw it all up in the car!  I am gonna have to be extra careful.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Coconut milk yogurt, soy milk yogurt or almond milk yogurt may leave you less bloated than cow's milk if you want to avoid dairy but need an easy snack.  There are lots of alternatives to dairy out there.  I can only eat about half as much, portion wise as I once did or I get so bloated and feel big.  So, I eat less at each meal but have a second bowl of soup later in the day or some leftovers for 2nd dinner. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[MarineMommy]

<p>Before I got preggo, I had great success on the Paleo diet.  My energy levels were always good and I could keep going all day.  If I deviatied from the diet (ate any grains, potatoes, sugar) I immediately felt sleepy.  When I got preggo, I wanted to stay on the diet, but found it very hard as all fruits, nuts, and veggies mad me nauseous.  Bread was my friend and helped me not feel so sick, but I was soooo tired all the time.  I know, that I know, that I know grains slow me down and leave me feeling terrible.  I recently took a nutritional typing test from dr. mercola's website.  Confirmed for me what I shouldn't be eating.  Here is the link.  <a href="http://nutritionaltyping.mercola.com/Login.aspx" target="_blank">http://nutritionaltyping.mercola.com/Login.aspx</a> Give it a try.  And don't beat yourself up if you have a brownie!  They are sooo good!!</p>
<p> </p>