Nutrition and Diet

So, I am no saint when it comes to my diet during pregnancy and, like anyone, I occasionally indulge in sweets and "naughty" foods. But, even before pregnancy I generally tried to eat healthy. I’m grateful that I’m one of those people that actually enjoys fruits and vegetables, so it doesn’t take as much effort for me as it might for others.
I’ve not had any weird cravings so far, but I am hungry more consistently then I was before I joined the ranks of the preggos. (Though, slightly less so now that I am in my second trimester.) So, I usually eat five to six small meals and snacks throughout the day.
In one of my first posts, I mentioned using a calorie tracker. This wasn’t to keep me from eating too much—it was the opposite! But I have since stopped using that. First of all, it was difficult to remember. Second, I found it more stressful than helpful.
So, instead I try and keep a food journal. Now that I no longer have a problem getting enough calories, my goal has been just to make sure that I am getting the variety of foods that I need. My midwife gave me a guideline of how much fruit, veggies, calcium, and protein I should be aiming to get in a day. (I can share that chart with you if anyone is interested.)
While I am certainly not perfect, I do my best. Here is an example of what my diet looked like for the last three days.

DAY ONE​:

Breakfast: Half an avocado on a slice of 100% whole wheat toast with a fried egg on top

Mid-Morning Snack: Plain Cheerios with Honey Oat Cluster Granola added, a banana, blueberries, and fat free organic milk (see pictured to the left)

Afternoon snack: Apple

Lunch: Banza Chickpea Pasta with olive oil, garlic, avocado, spinach & kale, onion, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, and a little parmesan on top (see pictured below)

Dinner: I went out to eat with my dad and my brother and they had a craving for wings, so I did the best I could with the menu and I got a turkey club sandwich on a ciabatta bun with fries. And I ate a couple of their wings

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DAY TWO​:

Breakfast: 2 fried eggs and a banana

​Snack: a small bowl of the same vegetable pasta I had made the day before (see pictured to the right)

Lunch: pan-seared salmon with a honey, garlic, jalapeno, turmeric, and lime sauce (see pictured below)

After-lunch Snack: orange

Late afternoon snack: I finished off what was left of the vegetable pasta

Dinner: oven-roasted chicken with roasted potatoes

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DAY THREE:

Breakfast: plain Cheerios with Honey Nut Oat Granola clusters added, strawberries, blueberries, banana, and fat-free organic milk (see pictured below)

Lunch: Half an avocado on a slice of 100% whole wheat toast with a fried egg on top

After-lunch Snack: Apple

Late afternoon snack: bowl of creamy chicken corn tortilla soup with about a third of a mini baguette

Dinner: romaine salad with carrots, peas, tomato, quinoa, red onion, black olives, and I was feeling a little bad so I didn’t have my usual balsamic and oil for dressing and I used about two tablespoons of green goddess dressing instead

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As you can tell, I don’t hit every button every day. Protein and, especially, calcium are the areas where I usually fall a little short. But I am pretty good about getting my fruits, vegetables, grains, and good fats. Writing it all out helps me see that more clearly. For instance, seeing this, I might decide to add a glass of skim milk a day or maybe some pinto beans to my pasta on the days I don’t eat fish/lean meat… that should do the trick.

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To make up for what I don’t get in my foods, I take supplements as well. In addition to my daily allergy medicine, I take:

• Vitamin D3
• Calcium/Magnesium: it was recommended I take one that is 500mg of calcium (which helps me get 50% of my DV) and 1,000mg of Magnesium
• Choline: it is supposed to be very good for fetal brain and spinal cord development
• Prenatal vitamin (of course): the one I’ve chosen is Garden of Life’s myKind organics Prenatal Multi. My midwife recommended any of the ones that said it came from whole foods, which this does
• Probiotic: I am currently using RAW probiotics Ultimate Care
• Fiber supplement—as I am sure you all well know, pregnancy can block you up! So this helps with that. I am bad about using powder supplements in drinks, which are the most popular form of fiber supplement. I buy them, but then I won’t use them! So, personally, I need a capsule. I’ve been using RenewLife Triple Fiber and have gotten good results
• Magnesium: I only take this on the days when the fiber alone isn’t enough to keep things moving. This almost always does the trick! But, careful not to take too much as this will cause some unwanted diarrhea, and that never feels productive!
• Digestive aid: I had my gallbladder removed shortly before I became pregnant, so I often take this before or with my meals. It is not necessary, but I feel like it helps
• Plus: an amino acid supplement from Mannatech that I have used for YEARS! It supports optimal endocrine health
• Omega-3 Fish Oil: I use Ultimate Omega by Nordic Naturals
• Zinc: At first, it was just because it was winter and the flu season, so I wanted to keep my immune system strong. But, then I read that it plays an essential role in the construction of the baby's cells and DNA...so I now I take it everyday!

Obviously, I am not a doctor or a licensed medical professional in any way. I just listen to my body, my midwife, and I do my own online research (which I then verify with my midwife who, by the way, has so many different medical degrees and doctorates I can’t keep count—which is just my way of saying she is very well-educated and certified.)
But, I hope this is maybe of use to at least one person out there! Please do consult your doctor or midwife to find out what is best for you.
As usual, I would love to hear from you! What does a day in the life of your stomach look like? Do you take any extra supplements besides the normal prenatal vitamin?