Pregnancy and Food

I love food, I mean who doesn’t? I love to cook for my family, I love to eat out, I love to gather with friends and family and enjoy tasty meals… Its just a happy time of day, and makes me feel good. I think its probably why at certain times in life I can also be an emotional eater, but unfortunately it is a part of life that suffers significantly too when I am pregnant. For the last few (10) weeks, food has not been my friend, not at all. My sickness has been terrible and there was very little that I could stomach – it was all rather depressing and the part of pregnancy I think I detest the most!

Normally in life I am good at eating healthy, whole foods and the majority of our meals tend to be “clean” and from scratch – That’s just our norm with the odd take out and pizza thrown in on a date night or treat day. But, when it comes to pregnancy, especially in the 1st trimester when I am battling nauseousness and vomming, there are certain foods that I always go to that usually stay down and certain combos that just scream to me “you are pregnant”, and it has been these that have kept me alive (functional) and out of hospital:

1. Cheese and Tomato (or onion) Toasties with Salad cream
2. Cheese and coleslaw sandwiches
3. Rice Krispies
4. MEAT / Steak
5. Lemonade
6. Tuna
7. Fresh Orange
8. Bagels

I am so glad that in the last week or 2 my sickness has just about diminished and I can cook again, enjoy normal food again and not worry about stuff staying down. It is so refreshing to be having variety and healthier meals in my diet again and to overall be enjoying food. I did go through a phase in this pregnancy where takeaway curry and chapatis were the only thing that stopped me feeling sick (it was a rough phase), but now I am well and truly into my second trimester I have gone completely off meat, it just makes me feel ill – which happened with Ethan and is making me wonder if there is another little man in there, and I am back to wanting smoothies, fresh fruit salads and fresh tasty food with little grease factor, but mainly I am swayed to a vegetarian / fresh diet because it makes me happier.

I hope as things progress I don’t fall into the trap of “oh I’m eating for 2” or “ahhhh I’m preggers I’ll just eat whatever”. I find it so weird how much our bodies likes and dislikes switch up during pregnancy and how something so vital as food can cause so much havoc day to day! How happy I am to be feeling a little more normal and able to eat for enjoyment and balance!

Ps My nose looks bigger than my bump in this pic – how did that happen? Pass the Chocolate!