Happy (day after) Valentine’s Day to each and every one of you lovely ladies!
Around these parts we like to turn holidays into multi day celebrations ;) Since yesterday was a day of love, today we’re going to talk about how you can love your body and love your baby during pregnancy by eating well and taking the time to do what makes you feel most loved. We’re going to be talking about how to take control of cravings, deal with morning sickness, and offer you some delicious and easy meal options to help you get the nutrients you need to love your body and baby well.
Loving your body through cravings:
The truth is… most women will have food cravings or aversions at some point during their pregnancy. The specific cause of these cravings is not necessarily known, but research suggests they may be related to hormone levels during pregnancy. The surge of hormones you feel in each trimester may cause you to be more sensitive to certain smells or tastes. This can lead to new cravings or a distaste for food you enjoyed prior to pregnancy. While some expecting mothers may crave sweets or salty foods, some experience pica during pregnancy. Pica is an eating disorder that can occur during pregnancy when one craves substances such as dirt, coffee grounds, chalk, laundry detergent, etc. These bizarre cravings can be a sign that your body isn’t getting enough iron or calcium, so if you experience these cravings we recommend you should talk to your doctor immediately.
How can I control my cravings?
How can I control my food aversions?
Loving your body through morning sickness and heartburn:
You have probably already been warned about morning sickness or you may have experienced it first-hand. Morning sickness is most common during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and is accompanied by feelings of nausea and often vomiting. This is due to the increased levels of hormones running through your body during pregnancy. Even though you might feel so nauseated that you don’t want to eat, it is important that you still get the nutrients you need so that you can support your health and your baby’s growth and development.
Here are some tips to help combat morning sickness and make sure you get enough nutrients in your diet:
Heartburn is another uncomfortable condition that can occur during your pregnancy. This is caused by the hormone progesterone, which can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax, letting stomach acid reach your esophagus, which results in that awful sensation you feel. This is most common during the third trimester because the uterus is putting pressure on your intestines and stomach during this period. While this feeling of heartburn and discomfort may make you not want to eat, remember it is still important to make sure you are eating nutritious foods to support your baby. Here are a few tips to help you try to control heartburn naturally through your diet:
Finally we offer you 5 delicious and nutritious fun meals for you to make that your taste buds and your body will LOVE!
Mexican Breakfast Burrito - a great (and tasty!) way to pack in good protein and veggies to start your morning
2. Watermelon, Arugula, Feta, and Mint Salad - for a fresh take on a salad that helps with feelings of nausea and bloating and tastes great too!
3. Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Barley and Dried Apricots - grilled pork tenderloin is a great source of lean protein with a nutrient- rich side containing vitamins and fiber for your diet.
4. Crockpot Chicken Veggie Quinoa Soup - just throw it in the crockpot and kick your feet up! You deserve the rest and yummy food! And just look at the rainbow of veggies here!
5. No-Churn Blueberry and Lemon Ice Cream - a sweet treat that is low in calories, requires little work, and is packed with antioxidants from the berries!
We hope you enjoyed this blog and hope you’ll tune in next week as we dive deeper into essential nutrients to help you have a happy and healthy diet during your pregnancy.
Warmly,
Lauren