How are you getting your nutrients in?

newmomtobeLA · February 2016

So I'm normally really good about eating vegetables/greens with every meal but the last two weeks have been HARD. They just disgust me. Today I started throwing up so bottled ginger ale and saltine crackers have been my bff all day. The thought of even opening my lunch makes me feel like puking. Now all I want for dinner is ginger ale and crackers. Assuming this whole morning sickness things continues and isn't a daily fluke I'm worried for how I will maintain a good diet. I have my prenatal pills every day but is that enough? What is everyone else doing to make sure you are getting your essential nutrients?

fitlady21 · February 2016

For breakfast I'm eating yogurt and drinking protein powder. Lunch is a spinach salad with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. Snack is usually an apple and hummus and carrots. And dinner differs. I'm just forcing myself to eat healthy.

von1976 · February 2016

I'm not super concerned with nutrition right now. Sometimes I can stomach healthy foods, like fruits, veggies, nuts, and yogurt... And sometimes the only thing that makes me not want to hurl is French fries. I'm more concerned about simple calories at this point than the quality of nutrition I'm getting.

alysie89 · February 2016

I do smoothies and just take my prenatal vitamins. I've had a ton of nausea. I make a banana strawberry smoothie with Vega whole food powder, it's got some of everything in it.
Most bizarrely cottage cheese has been my best friend!

Although at this point nutrition isn't necessarily key so much as just being able to get some food in and keep it down. When I had very intense morning sickness my midwives suggested I just eat whatever made me feel OK and try to get enough calories in the first trimester .

LGW2015 · February 2016

I drink the Carnation Breakfast Essentials once a day, although I started it a few weeks before my BFP. The chocolate ones are really good and they have lots of nutrients.

Lauren0216 · February 2016

@ octobermom16 Can you eat cereal? I remember that after having my DD every nurse and doctor who saw me in the hospital told me to eat Total cereal. They said that it was a quick meal that you can eat and still get all your nutrients, especially iron. I would assume the benefits would be good for you now too. Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes are also a good alternative. Hope you feel better soon!

PrimRoseMama · February 2016

Baby takes what they need from you. Whatever you can keep down in first trimester is what works. You can step up your variety as you can tolerate it. One thing you could consider (run it by your OB first though) is something like ensure or pediasure once daily for calories and vitamins. They can give you the poops, but it might balance out all the starch. The biggest issue is hydration.

You might feel bad or suffer nutrient depletion, but baby will be fine.

Koalamomma3 · February 2016

I am drinking lots of smoothies with fresh spinach and forzen fruits, the recipes are in my smoothie post. The Suja drinks are also nice. There are some flavors I can't stomach right now (the one with lots of parsley) but there is one that just tastes like mango but has tons of greens in it. There is also a sweet beets flavor I have in my fridge, but I can't vouch for the taste yet. Have you tried some fresh/raw veggies? Carrots, red peppers, and snap peas are all palatable for me so far as long as they are not cooked. Just make sure you rinse them off well first. I use a half vinegar half water solution that works well to kill bacteria.

emmaaa · February 2016

I have greek yogurt (I think Oikos because it has protein in it) for breakfast or a bagel. Then as a snack I have been eating Belvita breakfast bars. I usually have leftovers from supper the night before for lunch. An apple, orange, banana, or some kind of fruit for another snack. Supper varies but usually a meat, vegetable, and starch. I haven't had MS yet but feel nauseated every time I feel hungry so I've tried to just snack throughout the day.

_darth · February 2016

I have food restrictions and am still quite a bit underweight. Basically, if I don't eat healthy, I don't eat, so I force it.

Things that help:
- Smaller meals more often
- Eating slowly
- No liquids right before or during meals
- Smoothies when needed.
- I don't tolerate oils very well so I eat avocado and almonds for healthy fats.

quailbeach · February 2016

I'm with you on having an aversion to veggies right now. It happens every time I get pregnant, ugh. I went to the store yesterday and forced myself to buy veggies. I roasted some veggies last night with some cumin and made burritos which made them semi-pallatable but I would still rather skip, haha. From what I've been told with past pregnancies is that your baby will get the nutrients it needs but it will deplete your reserves if you eat like crap so I'm really trying to be good.

newmomtobeLA · February 2016

Thanks for all of this advice! really food stuff! @Lauren0216 the thought of cereal doesn't make me want to puke so I think I will pick some up today at the store (I ran out of my BFF ginger ale and life sucks). @LGW2015 I pre-pregnancy hated those carnation smoothies but now that my tastes are all over the place being pregnant I might like them now - will definitely give it a try. @Koalamomma3 raw veggies actually sound really good to me right now, this may be a game changer for me. I'm now craving raw red bell pepper. I will try your sanitizing solution as well. @DarthFuriosa the liquids might be what is putting me under I will try that technique. Every morning I have my pre-natal pill with a small glass of water or ginger ale before I eat a light breakfast and then my stomach hates me - it might be the liquid. @alysie89 I think I will start trying homemade smoothies again. I was drinking the V8 green drink but I kept seeing it the next day when I puke sooo, I gave up on that one lol.

alysie89 · February 2016

@octobermom16 Sometimes I found it easier to take my prenatal vitamin before bed, because it was what was upsetting my stomach.

kes0028 · February 2016

Chipotle and Freebirds has been my go-to for veggies! Just trying to eat what I can and not worry and trust God with the rest

Mia8668 · March 2016

I poop within half an hour of eating sometimes. Is the baby getting enough nutrients

jillianpardo · March 2016

I have no appetite in the mornings but I have to eat with my vitamins or I get sick. I have been doing mixed greens( as much as I can jam into my bullet), frozen fruits, and lime juice. if I have fresh ginger I throw that in too. the tangy really helps make everything tolerable. I went to make myself a sandwich and remembered to avoid deli meats. so I tried a sandwich with mixed greens, cuke, tomato, cheese, mayo, and s&p. it was surprisingly easy to eat and super fresh tasting.

alysie89 · March 2016

Wraps are an easy alternative to sandwiches too, plus I use leftover grilled chicken or sliced up leftover meat from dinner. I use epicure lemon dill dipinstead of mayonaise and mustard.

LMNOBaby · March 2016

@octobermom16 I've heard from several people in the health field that any vitamins should be taken after you eat...popping them on an empty stomach often leads to nausea. I switched to taking them about 10-20 minutes after I eat breakfast and no more topsy turvy tummy! Good luck!

CanaryFace · March 2016

I've been eating a lot of soup. My problem is not so much nausea as it is gas (sorry if that's tmi!), and soup is one of the few things that doesn't leave me crampy and bloated. I've been loading up chicken broth with whatever veggies are in my fridge and a grain like rice or barley. For those who meal prep, it's an easy thing to make it big batches and it keeps well.

greenlia · March 2016

I am having the same issue with veggies, which is really different for me. I just made a soup out of the leftover broccoli and asparagus I couldn't choke down for the past two nights and I am feeling very virtuous. Even though it included a lot of cheddar. Lentil soup is also a win with me right now (I make mine with canned tomatoes, shredded carrots, and onions). Also just plain green salads with super tangy dressings are okay. I ate a bunch of raw carrots the other day and was miserable for some time afterwards. My body just seems to want easily digestible stuff during the first tri. The baby will get what it needs, they always do somehow.

MRSCORKER · March 2016

Anyone else having issues eating home cooked food? I know this was mentioned somewhere else but if DH suggests we make something for dinner, I'm totally turned off by the idea but if he suggests the same damn thing from a restaurant, it sounds delicious. Luckily, I'm craving fruits so throwing together a salad with fruit mixed in makes the veggies go down a little easier.

LGW2015 · March 2016

Yes, the idea of food raw/having to be cooked makes me want to throw up. And the smells while it's cooking BLEGH It makes life very difficult. Ugh

nlane0723 · March 2016

I'm not forcing it. First trimester you eat what you can/sounds. It's more about survival at this point.

mothernorth · March 2016

@MRSCORKER Yes, yes yes. After I cook dinner for the family, I don't want anything to do with it. I'm not sure if it's the smell that turns me off or I'm just too tired to care afterwards or what, but after I cook I would be happy with a bowl of cereal. And sometimes just don't want anything to do with food or eating period. But, I am one of the people who force it, and usually I can handle it once I get started eating.

I'm not at all suggesting everybody do that, I say do what you can handle. Drink water, take your vitamins, keep yourself comfortable just don't go hungry.

AnneWhale · March 2016

Smoothies seem to help. Sometimes drinking is easier. Plus you can add Ginger to the smoothie. I add protein powder so I'm getting enough protein. And I pop a fish oil pill in there. I add Spirulina too for the added iron and nutrients. Adding banana and apple or strawberries for the sweet taste makes it yummy.

missteacherlady16 · March 2016

Mia8668 said:

I poop within half an hour of eating sometimes. Is the baby getting enough nutrients

This is a serious question...??

JennJenn81713 · March 2016

Pre-pregnancy I was the least picky eater in the world. I could literally eat anything. Fast forward to now and absolutely nothing sounds good. I don't have nausea per se, but I'm also worried about nutrition because everything sounds gross to me. I can stomach breakfast, but after that it's as if I could go the rest of the day without eating. Not the type of relationship with food I'm used to!

queen_frostine · March 2016

@Mia8668 Assuming you're asking jokingly, but I too tend to poop fairly soon after eating at least once in a day (at least when I'm not having pregnancy constipation, which comes and goes). It's not what you just ate that's coming out, though - unless you're just having constant diarrhea, in which case you probably need medical attention, you're still getting all your nutrients from whatever you eat.