2000 calorie a day?

annieoakley05 · April 2012

ok so at my last OB visit, i lost some weight, which prompted my doctor to tell me that i need to be eating between 1800 and 2000 calories a day. for someone who has been grazing pretty much the entire pregnancy i seem to be having an issue with it. so i guess i was just wondering what you other moms-to-be out there are eating, and if you're getting that many calories a day. i'm at a loss as to what to eat that is healthy for me and baby, but is also going to give me the calories that i need. i appreciate any help and/or suggestions.

CnAnA · April 2012

I am eating way too daamn much. Lol i recommend a calorie tracker like Lose It to help make sure youre hitting your target.

sassenma · April 2012

I'm 90% sure I'm not getting that many calories either, due to nausea and just generally not being hungry. But the stuff I do eat is carbs, so maybe that's helping? I definitely know I need to snack more during the day, on fruits and nuts and things. I'm seriously considering setting a reminder on my phone every few hours to remind me to eat something.

PolishWonder · April 2012

Do you like guacamole? Avocados are full of healthy fats and calories. Snacking on pistachios or cashews is good, too.

Like PP suggested, I use a calorie counter to eat 1800 calories a day b/c I tend to naturally under eat. By 4th meal at 10pm, I'm eating another sandwich!

babyhunbun7 · April 2012

I agree. Avocados are a great way to add healthy fat and calories to your diet.

I have to say I wish I had to eat more. I haven't gained anything yet but I'm hungry all the time.

Mrs.G123 · April 2012

My Fitness Pal is a great tracker if you have a smart phone.

trishskee · April 2012

I really like the daily plate tracker on Livestrong. Free, app available and full of support. It helps me track water and nutritional breakdown of everything.

hamiltks10 · April 2012

When I was trying to lose weight/tone up, I worked hard to keep my calorie intake around 1500 per day. I'm not tracking calories anymore, but still eating the same things. And, now that beer and wine have been eliminated from my diet (I'm really only drinking water or decaf coffee)...I'm guessing that I'm keeping pretty darn close to the 1500 easily.

I don't think 1800-2000 calories sounds unreasonable though. Others have given some great tips on how to add good calories (avocado's, etc). Drinking your calories is a good tip too...maybe add a fruit smoothie to your daily routine. Eat an apple with peanut butter or nutella.

My breakfasts are usually super low in calories, either oatmeal or a bowl of cereal. that would be an area that I know I could improve on, if I wanted to add calories to my diet. I just read somewhere yesterday that a pregant women would benefit from 2 eggs per day (protein)....so maybe try to eat larger breakfasts that include eggs.

annieoakley05 · April 2012

thanks so much for all the tips, i definitely think that i'm going to have to get a calorie counter on my phone. i've been craving protein like crazy so adding more of that to my diet shouldn't be difficult, especially with eggs and nuts and stuff. adding fruit smoothies is another great idea!

irish city girl · April 2012

My friend who is pregnant actually sees a dietitian monthly because of issues related to a previous eating disorder. Her dietitian told her she should be aiming to eat 2400 calories/day including 1 dessert. She also said that if she is exercising she needs to eat calories to make up for the exercise. So if she works out and burns 500 calories, she'll need to eat 2900 that day. I think what your doctor told you is a little low.

I don't keep track of calories. I just eat when I'm hungry and try to be conscious about what I'm eating and how much. I've never been one to eat a whole box of cookies in a sitting or a day or a whole bag of chips though. I've always been conscious of things like that. I don't think you need to be overly concerned about making sure everything you eat is healthy. Everything in moderation, right? I eat 3 healthy meals a day and then snack in between as needed. Sometimes my snacks are healthy like cheese and sometimes they aren't like chips or Cheez Its. I would say good snacks to eat would be cheese and crackers, chips and salsa (you could add in some refried beans to that snack and that would up the calories and fill you up faster), veggies and dip, fruits, peanut butter and crackers or fruits.