I’m pregnant! In fact, I have been for almost 35 weeks, so I thought it was about time I wrote a blog post about the experience. From the dietitian perspective, it really has been eye opening. I learned all about what and how to eat when pregnant in school, but to actually experience it, is a whole other ball game! Let’s talk about cravings. You always hear about the crazy pregnancy cravings people have, and for me, I can’t say I craved any weird combinations, but I have craved foods I don’t normally consume, mainly fried chicken! That’s right, I wanted fried chicken throughout the first trimester. My friends and family thought it was hilarious! I even had chicken and waffle pops at my baby shower. Now what I learned is that you should give into your cravings, but don’t let them take over and definitely don’t overindulge (unless it’s a healthy craving!). I was fortunate enough to have a friend make me a batch of fried chicken to help satisfy my craving. I also ordered chicken and waffles a few times at restaurants that use quality ingredients. So yes, I did eat fried chicken, but not excessively, and I made sure I ate the most wholesome version that I could! I really believe that is the key. Don’t give into your cravings everyday, but give in just enough to be satisfied. I know personally that I kept reminding myself and still keep reminding myself that everything I am eating, my baby is eating, and I want him (yes it’s a boy!) to be eating the healthiest foods possible. Which leads me to the next, probably most fascinating part for a dietitian about being pregnant: knowing that I am influencing my child’s taste buds by every bite I take. It’s true, your baby learns about foods and flavors through the amniotic fluid, so really everything you eat, you are exposing your baby to. This fact has been the best motivation for eating as healthy as I can. I try to expose my child to a variety of foods, especially different fruits and vegetables. I also try to eat a variety of different ethnic cuisines to introduce different flavors. On the flip side, I try to limit foods that I don’t necessarily want my child to crave, like sweets, highly processed foods, and red meats. One of the hardest times for me was during my first trimester when I experienced a bit of nausea. I learned to tame it by always keeping food in my stomach, and eating smaller meals more often, but I was not happy with the foods that would calm my stomach and the ones I was averse to. I ate more saltine crackers than I think I ever ate in my life, and didn’t like that I was providing a highly processed refined grain in excess to my baby. I also had an aversion to a lot of vegetables, which of course, I wanted to be eating more of! I learned that we just have to do the best we can. We can’t eat perfect all the time, and as much as you have to take care of your baby, you have to take care of yourself. So overall, this pregnancy journey has really made me more aware of the nutrition challenges pregnant women struggle with, and how I can now be a more understanding & hopefully motivational support!

To YOUR & YOUR Baby’s Taste!

Chef V