Food Diary of a Pregnant Dietitian

A lot of people have asked me if my eating habits have changed since becoming pregnant.  In general, I'd say they're relatively the same, but I'm certainly hungrier for more food than I used to be!

The whole "eating for two" statement is really a fallacy.  Starting in the second trimester and in addition to greater vitamin/mineral requirements, pregnant women need only 300 extra calories per day to support a growing fetus.  That equates to half a sandwich, an apple with 2 T peanut butter, or a large cookie.  Some of these extra calories should contain protein, since protein needs are also increased.

Does this mean I count out 300 calories and make sure to scarf them down?  Nope.  I don't count calories at all, just like before I was pregnant.  I just listen to my body and monitor my weight gain with my doc to make sure I'm getting enough.  My activity levels have decreased a bit since pre-pregnancy and some days the baby seems to be growing more rapidly than others, so it's really hard - and not necessary - to focus on numbers while eating.  I am aware of my hunger and fullness and make sure to have plenty of snacks nearby for when hunger strikes.  Some days I'm ravenous, while other days it seems like there's just not quite enough room in my abdomen to fit much food (which may be true).

By the way, recommended pregnancy weight gain ranges from 25-35 lb.  I will likely gain around 30ish pounds if I gain at the same rate I'm going, but I absolutely don't obsess about it.  Pre-pregnancy I rarely weighed myself, but now I hop on once a week to make sure I'm gaining enough and to check that I haven't gained a really big amount - such as 5 pounds in a week - because that can indicate that the body is retaining too much fluid and preeclampsia may be setting in.

Generally, physicians want pregnant women want to gain 2-5 pounds in the first trimester and about a pound a week thereafter. That doesn't mean that every person will follow this pattern.  I gained 6 pounds in the first trimester and then stayed there for about 4 weeks despite having an increased appetite.  After that, my weight gain pretty much increased by 0.5 - 1.5 lb per week.

What if you gain more in pregnancy?  While there are some potential risks to you and your baby if you gain a significant amount of weight, what I usually advise clients to do is listen to their bodies and not just eat "because they can."  In fact, if you have an intuitive eating mindset, you always "can" eat anything; pregnancy is no different.  Nutrition is perhaps the most critical during this imperative developmental stage, so focusing on nutrient dense foods and hunger/fullness - not necessarily weight gain - is the most important thing.  Some women will just naturally gain more or less weight than is recommended, and as long as your doctor is OK with it then don't stress.

I wanted to share three days of eating with you all so you could check out what it's really like to be a dietitian while pregnant.  I absolutely like sweets and comfort foods just like the rest of us, and I honor my cravings and only eat foods I really like.  As you will see, I still eat a lot of veggies and fruits while making sure to get protein, fat, and fiber in the form of whole grains and beans.  For more info on the supplements I'm taking, check out this post on first trimester nutrition or this post about pre-conception nutrition.  The prenatal vitamin I'm taking is divided into 3 doses per day to spread out the nutrients and not provide so much iron to the system at one time.  I take one with each meal.

For the record, my major pregnancy cravings have been the following:

- Chocolate - any kind, must have some daily

- Salads

- Turkey burgers from Red Robin

- Asian food

- Avocados

- Beans (any kind)

- Any sort of egg (although I make sure they're fully cooked)

Aversions (mainly during first trimester):

- Mushrooms

- Onions

- Peanut sauce on Picazzo's baked chicken wings (my sister and I used to get these all the time, but no more)

- Frozen yogurt (bad experience)

Note: I drink 2-3 cups of herbal ginger tea and 10-12 cups of water each day.  I don't necessarily eat everything on my plate; it just depends on how hungry I am.  When my body says it is full, I stop.

Day 1:

I was really hungry today!  Thank goodness I brought plenty of snacks to work. 

6 am - 45 minute walk with dogs

7 am - Breakfast

Ezekiel English muffin with almond butter topped with sliced banana

Prenatal vitamin, fish oil, probiotic, B complex, and Dr. Ben Kim's Greens

10 am - Snack

Tangerine chickpea and kale salad and an orange

2 calcium/magnesium/zinc + vitamin D (500 mg calcium total)

12 pm - Lunch

Romaine salad with tomatoes and avocado

Figg brand split pea soup topped with crumbled feta

Piece of dark chocolate

Prenatal vitamin

2:15 pm - Snack

Lara bar

2 calcium/magnesium/zinc + vitamin D

4:00 pm - Snack

Brussel sprout and beet salad

5:45 pm - few bites of chicken

6:00 pm - Karve class

7:15 pm - Dinner

Pomegranate chicken on top of quinoa

Salad made with romaine, apples, avocado, feta and homemade vinaigrette

1/2 piece of homemade GF bread with pasture butter

2 Hail Merry macaroons

1 Prenatal vitamin

Day 2:

Officially 27 weeks today!

6 am - 45 minute walk with dogs

7 am - Breakfast

Ezekiel English muffin topped with avocado, sliced tomato and 2 organic eggs cooked in pasture butter

Prenatal vitamin, fish oil, probiotic, B complex, and Dr. Ben Kim's Greens

10 am - Snack

Organic string cheese stick and a pear

12 pm - Lunch

Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen! Gluten-free slice of the day (pesto with ricotta and organic Italian sausage dipped in marinara sauce) and Berry Licious Salad (spinach, strawberries, feta cheese, walnuts, orange segments)

1 Dove dark chocolate Promise

Prenatal vitamin

2:30 pm - Snack

Lara bar

4:00 pm - Snack

Baby carrots dipped in garlic hummus

7:00 pm - Dinner

Cheesecake Factory!  Greg and I ordered off the "Skinny" menu because he's going for lighter fare these days

1/2 piece of "brown" bread with butter

1 Vietnamese Shrimp Summer Roll dipped in sauce (cold, wrapped in rice paper)

1 Mexican Chicken Lettuce Wrap

1/4 Skinny Turkey Burger and a few bites of side salad (ordered with regular vinaigrette instead of "Skinny")

Prenatal vitamin

Day 3:

OB appointment today with the lovely glucose drink (test for gestational diabetes):

6:00 am - 40 minute walk with dogs

7:00 am - Breakfast - had to be low-carb prior to test!

3 pasture eggs cooked in 1 tsp. pasture butter

1/4 avocado, sliced

4 slices tomato

Sprinkles of feta cheese 

Prenatal vitamin, fish oil, probiotic, B complex

7:20 am - Yummy (terrible) "Fruit Punch" glucose drink

9:00 am - Decaf latte from Starbucks (2% milk, added stevia and cinnamon)

11:30 am - Lunch

Salad with romaine, cucumber, avocado and hummus

Leftover chicken and a little quinoa

Piece of dark chocolate

Prenatal vitamin

2:30 pm - Snack

Lara bar

2 calcium/mag/zinc + vitamin D supplements

4:00 pm - Snack

Carrots and hummus

Organic string cheese

6:00 pm - Karve class

7:15 pm - Dinner

AJ's salmon, veggies and a few bites of mac & cheese (so heavy it hurt my tummy!)

Piece of healthy fudge 

Prenatal vitamin

So there you have it!  Each day I am for variety as much as possible, and I only eat foods I really love while getting in as much produce as possible.  I have been cooking less lately due to a very busy schedule, so there is less homemade food here than normal.  Sometimes I finish my plate, but most of the time my fullness tells me to stop.  That's the wonderful thing about our bodies - even when pregnant, we can listen to the signals our bodies give us to know when we have had enough.  And you know what?  If we really, really want something but we are full, we can save it for the next meal (or snack!).

*M*

No Bake Dark Chocolate PB Oatmeal Bars

I did it!  I developed my own recipe!  (OK, I usually tweak any recipe I use to make it more Meg-a-fied, but this time I developed it on my own!)  I wanted to make a healthier no-bake cookie or bar that could also sub as a pre- or post-workout snack and had the two flavors I love the most: chocolate and peanut butter.  The result?  These fun little oatmeal bars that are great as a dessert, sweet snack, or even breakfast on the go.  Chocolate for breakfast, you ask?  Better (and more satisfying) than a chocolate doughnut!

This recipe is made up of some of my favorite nutrient-rich foods:

Cocoa powder and dark chocolate - full of phytochemicals (flavonoids, theobromine) that are cardio-protective and lower blood pressure.  Most of us love chocolate, and combining cocoa powder with coconut oil and a bit of stevia forms a nice chocolate "sauce" that's also super healthy.

Coconut oil - this once demonized oil has been heavily researched in the past decade and is now understood to be quite health-promoting.  We now know that it is beneficial to your heart and thyroid, and it may boost your metabolic rate and immune system strength.  Coconut oil is made up of medium chain triglycerides, which are preferentially metabolized and used for fuel by the liver.  (Polyunsaturated fats are made of long-chain fatty acids, which are harder to metabolize and are preferentially stored for fuel.)  Much of the research vilifying coconut oil was performed on oil that was partially hydrogenated; virgin coconut oil is what you want to reach for.  It is solid at room temperature but melts easily, especially if kept in an Arizona kitchen (mine is usually liquid after a few days in my pantry).

Peanut butter - great source of protein, adds satiety to meal, and thought to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  Plus, it's just plain awesome.

Oatmeal - full of soluble fiber, which is thought to bind to LDL cholesterol and "sweep" it away from arteries.  This makes oatmeal heart healthy and a good whole grain option, if you eat grains.  Oats are naturally gluten-free, but many crops are cross-contaminated with wheat, rye or barley, or they're processed in facilities that also process gluten.  If you are gluten intolerant, opt for gluten-free brands like Bob's Red Mill, Holly's Oatmeal, or GF Harvest.  The less processed the oats, the more slowly they will be digested, so opt for traditional oatmeal or steel cooked oats whenever possible.  You can make oatmeal overnight in the crockpot to save time.  I used old fashioned oats for this recipe.  

Honey/stevia - I only used a small amount of honey, which has antimicrobial properties and is high in B vitamins, in this recipe, but I recommend it (and stevia) over other sweeteners because of its health benefits and minimal processing.  Plus, if you buy honey made in your local region, it may help you manage seasonal allergies a bit better.

This recipe is pretty dense and "oat-y" but has a strong chocolate peanut butter flavor.  If you don't like oats as much, you can reduce the quantity.  You can also make this lower in carbohydrates by reducing the honey (increasing stevia), eliminating the chopped dark chocolate, and swapping out 1 - 1 1/2 cups dried coconut for the oats.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 tablespoons honey
Few dashes of stevia (to taste)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup smooth peanut butter
2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
3-4 ounces dark chocolate chopped (optional; about 1 bar)

Instructions:

Add 1/3 cup coconut oil, honey, stevia, and cocoa powder to a small saucepan and heat until gently boiling.  

Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla extract and peanut butter until well combined.  

Fold in oatmeal and chopped dark chocolate.  Drizzle with 1 tablespoon coconut oil to help bind the mixture.  

Spread evenly into an 8x8" baking dish and refrigerate to set.  

Cut into 12-16 squares and served once set.  Look how dense and yummy these are!  

I am considering freezing a few pieces to see how that goes, too!  Greg and I love having these in the fridge to satisfy our sweet tooth without a ton of sugar.  Let me know how you like them!

Enjoy!
*M*