Trying to eat healthy while expecting!

fitmek
fitmek Posts: 277 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Why is eating so difficult when you are in the early stages of pregnancy? I generally eat healthy but the ONLY thing that sounds good right now is any type of heavy type of meat dish, like nachos, pizza---and basically the bad things. Some times i can steer myself away from those cravings, but sometimes I can't. I gained 50 pounds (though over half of this was fluid) with my last child and I REALLY want to gain 10-15 pounds less this time. I am trying to stay active, wheather its just 3 sets of lunges and some bicep curls, or a 2 mile walk 2 or 3 times a week on the treadmill.
On top of the food cravings and aversions and feeling sick, then you have the ever present "is this safe to eat" concern. Subway is healthy, but my doc told me to stay away from it. Sugar free jello and diet coke has no calories, but i'm trying to stay away from sugar substitutes. Sushi is healthy, but you cant have that either. All the recipes I was making from Hungry Girl.com I have to make less healthy now by adding real sugar, or regular pudding, etc.

ahhhh, what are some healthy, stay with you snacks I can always safely eat that won't pack on the pounds?

Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If you crave nachos or pizza, why not just make yourself healthy nachos or pizza?
  • fitmek
    fitmek Posts: 277 Member
    For dinners, I could do that. Even "healthy" nachos are heavy in calories though. I was really aiming to eat even healthier than that. Just kinda stinks!
  • Xenophonica
    Xenophonica Posts: 79 Member
    Ask your doctor exactly why on sushi : I posed the question to mine, and was told to mainly stay away from tuna because of mercury levels. I only had "raw" once a month and didn't eat tuna. My normal sushi meal was eel or shrimp rolls, with the occasional smoked salmon while pregnant.

    My son wouldn't allow me to keep down pizza or greasy stuff early on, haha, so I got lucky there. Find something that satisfies those cravings? I wanted ice cream, but a fat free frozen yogurt shop opened up in my town about 2 months in, and it was a lifesaver!

    Just don't starve yourself!
  • fitmek
    fitmek Posts: 277 Member
    When I am not expecting, I try to stay around 1400 calories. Minus a day or two during the week, I try to stay around 1600 calories a day. However, as strong as I thought I could be this time around about eating healthy, these cravings are horrendous! I was hoping they wouldnt be so bad this time. :) I think I'm going to ask my doc a ton of questions when I go, pertaining to food!
  • fitmek
    fitmek Posts: 277 Member
    And, does anyone know of any lower sodium salad dressings?
  • amwoodruff
    amwoodruff Posts: 54 Member
    All I could stomach during the first trimester were McDonalds fries. Seriously. I did ok, I only gained 20 lbs while I was pregnant (I was obese, so I didn't have to gain that much.)
  • amwoodruff
    amwoodruff Posts: 54 Member
    Yes, ask your doc! Keep the calories where they need to be to make that baby's brain!
  • schell81
    schell81 Posts: 187 Member
    My belief while pregnant was that if I was seriously craving something, my body probably needed it. I wanted cheeseburgers and steak all the time. My doctor found that my iron was low and that was likely why I wanted red meat. I would drink 4 litres of milk every 2 days in my second trimester, my first I drank orange juice by the litre.
    I wouldn't fight your cravings but try to make them healthier. I make pizza at home that has half the calories, low fat cheese and lots of veggies. Even nachos you could do with chicken breast and lots of veggies and low fat cheese.
    I don't know if you're getting sick but if you can keep down pizza but a salad makes you throw up... the pizza is the healthier choice :wink:
  • sarahstrezo
    sarahstrezo Posts: 568 Member
    My belief while pregnant was that if I was seriously craving something, my body probably needed it. I wanted cheeseburgers and steak all the time. My doctor found that my iron was low and that was likely why I wanted red meat. I would drink 4 litres of milk every 2 days in my second trimester, my first I drank orange juice by the litre.
    I wouldn't fight your cravings but try to make them healthier. I make pizza at home that has half the calories, low fat cheese and lots of veggies. Even nachos you could do with chicken breast and lots of veggies and low fat cheese.
    I don't know if you're getting sick but if you can keep down pizza but a salad makes you throw up... the pizza is the healthier choice :wink:

    ^^ I agree 100%
  • fitmek
    fitmek Posts: 277 Member
    Not physically getting sick, just feel really queasy most of the day. So far today the thing that has sat the best on my stomach was a couple teaspoons of peanut butter. Again, something I normally wouldnt do a lot of, because of the calorie content. But, it sounded good and settled well, so thats encouraging!
    I'm just so short (5'3 on a good day), so any weight gain shows up fast, so i'm just trying to stay proactive and eat decently small portions and healthy (which is turning out to be an epic fail haha).

Categories