Hi Mama,
I know I haven’t really given much attention to it but it’s a strange time we’re currently living in with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been hard for me personally with a new baby since I can’t get out much and when my husband or I do have to go out I have a huge fear of the virus being brought home and infecting our baby girl.
Being pregnant during this time poses its own anxieties. Not being able to go out and buy healthy foods, avoiding attending monthly check-ups at the hospital, and the fear of whether or not you will have to give birth alone are all very scary and I feel for you if you’re in this situation. I wish had some words of advice but this is really something none of us have ever had to live through. We just have to take it one day at a time, be kind to ourselves and stay the eff home!
Today I wanted to try something new and actually feature and answer a reader question here on the blog. If you like posts like this and have a specific question that you would like me to answer in an upcoming blog post then please either leave a comment on this post or you can send me a direct message on Instagram (@MotherOfFawn).
What Did You Eat During Your Pregnancy?
Q: Hi Audrey, I was wondering what did you eat during your pregnancy? I am trying to be healthy but it’s hard with COVID-19 and there’s limited produce and frozen veggies even! I also noticed that I can’t eat meat without getting terribly sick. Any advice would be appreciated. I don’t have a lot of friends that are/have been pregnant. Thank you 🙏
A: Hi Kim! Thanks for writing with that question. I can imagine it must be hard to maintain a healthy diet in the current situation we are in. Before I give my advice on this topic…
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a nutritionist so please use this advice for informational purposes. If you have questions then you should always consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you make any major changes to your diet.
Now to answer your question. For me I didn’t follow any particular diet but I did have a list of foods I tried to incorporate when I could. Based on the information you’ve given me and my personal experience, here are some pregnancy meal ideas:
1. Greek yogurt with granola or nuts
This can be eaten for breakfast or afternoon snack and gives protein, calcium and healthy calories. I buy the less sugar Chobani yogurts which are still plenty sweet enough, especially if you add sweetened granola. You can also add fresh or frozen fruits.
2. Overnight oats
I mix 3/4 cup almond milk with 1/2 cup of oats and a dash of honey. Throw it in the fridge overnight and then top with berries and nuts in the morning! Almond milk has more calcium than cows milk and doesn’t expire as fast which is good if you can’t get to the store often. I like that you can customize the oats to make different kinds. I’ve done plain with fruits, peanut butter, and even chocolate!
3. Fish
I know you’re having trouble eating meat but can you eat fish? Salmon once a week is something I did to get omega 3s which is great for baby brain development. Just avoid fish high in mercury like tuna (limit to 1 can per week). Fish is also a great source of protein if you’re avoiding animal meats at this time.
4. Apples with peanut butter
I love this snack because both apples and peanut butter last a while (apples have a longer shelf life than most fruits). Also, I personally suffered from constipation during pregnancy so apples are a good source of fiber as well. Peanut butter gives you a dose of healthy fat that can keep you energized throughout the day! Opt for the all-natural peanut butter which contains only peanuts and salt (no added sugars).
5. Avocado
Another healthy fat is avocado. You can either make smoothies with avocado, banana, and condensed milk (Vietnamese style) for a sweet treat or guacamole with avocado, diced tomatoes, salt and pepper for a savory treat. I like to eat guacamole on corn chips but you can also make avocado toast on whole grain bread.
6. Fruit smoothies
Another way to get some good nutrition is to start your day with a smoothie! I used frozen berries, bananas, spinach, almond milk, peanut butter, flax or chia seeds, etc to build different kinds of smoothies. This is great because if you’re like me and get bored eating the same thing you can mix and match different combinations. Plus, you’ll feel good knowing that the very first thing you ate was packed with fruits and veggies (rather than a pastry or granola bar, which I have been totally guilty of doing many times!).
Now that I’ve given some quick snacks/meal ideas, I also want to share a list of meals I made during my pregnancy. I kept a list when I made something so I could make it again in the future. Any time I didn’t know what to make I would just re-visit the list. Here are some of the meals from my list for inspiration.
Pregnancy Meal Ideas
• Avocado toast with tomato
• Ricotta toast with apple and almonds
• Shrimp fajitas with avocado and yogurt cream
• Baked chicken sandwich with hummus, roasted peppers and spinach
• Salmon with mashed potatoes and veggies
• Overnight oats with berries
• Chicken and quinoa salad with roasted veggies
• Beef stir fry with veggies and quinoa
• Baked turkey meatballs with mashed potatoes, veggies, gravy and jam
• Salmon with tomatoes and basil and mashed potatoes and green beans
• Quick ground beef pasta with spinach
• Chicken soup
• Pork chops with roasted potatoes and carrots
• Salmon with sweet potato and broccoli
• Fettuccini with mint-spinach pesto
• Beef curry with rice and green cabbage
• Pork rib soup with noodles and cabbage
• Sweet and sour ribs with rice and cabbage
• Salmon with asparagus and mashed potatoes
• Lemongrass chicken with rice and veggies
The best thing to remember is to just eat a variety of foods. It’s good to have some staple “go-to” snacks and meals but you should try to try a new fruit or veggie once in a while to keep things interesting. For example, I typically gravitate toward berries and grapes for fruits but I would try and buy oranges, pomegranate, kiwi, mangos etc to change it up.
The last advice I want to leave you with is this: try not to stress too much about what you’re eating. Yes, it’s important to have a balanced and healthy diet for your health and the health of your developing baby. But it’s also important to be kind to yourself during this time. You may be more tired than usual, feeling emotional or anxious, or just excited and wanting to celebrate the baby’s upcoming arrival. Enjoy treats and don’t feel guilty. Just make sure you’re taking your prenatal vitamins and doing your best to eat whole foods over processed foods for the most part and you will be just fine.
Congratulations to you, Kim, and all the mamas reading this post. What you’re doing is an amazing thing. You are creating a tiny human who will no doubt steal your heart and become the love of your life in a few short weeks or months. Get ready for a wild ride!
Read next:
5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before My C-Section
If You’re Afraid To Plan Your Own Baby Shower, Don’t Be!
If you’re reading this have other pregnancy meal ideas or healthy eating tips for pregnancy, please leave them in the comments below. I didn’t go into what not to eat during pregnancy on this post since that’s something you should discuss with your healthcare provider but I hope these ideas were helpful.
xo
Mother of Fawn
