Pregnancy Diet

Once you get pregnant you don't only eat to nourish yourself but your baby as well. So many people believe whatever they are eating is enough for the baby as the baby gets the nutrients it needs from your body but that means your own body might be running low on many key nutrients and leave you running flat, with potential anemia and other health issues.

Being mindful of what I am eating being pregnant was even more important than before but I looked at food in a different way- instead of focusing on organic/clean foods, I looked at the foods that will nourish my body and my babies the most. (Also being pregnant with twins means you need a lot more calories and other nutrients!) Your body will also crave the foods you are more likely to be deficient in. 

The most important nutrients to focus on when pregnant are:

CALCIUM: pre-pregnancy I was never really worried about my calcium intake and assumed the kale, broccoli and Greek yogurt I was eating was enough. But being pregnant I have been craving cheese, drinking glasses of cow's milk and eating Greek yogurt everyday. Goodbye Almond Milk! (temporarily!) I have also been eating lots of spinach.

IRON: I used to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet 70% of the time and have suffered with low iron issues many times before so I knew this was something I had to be mindful of being pregnant- especially with twins. An adult woman needs 18 mg a day of iron and this jumps to 27 mg when pregnant.

Most pregnancy vitamins already have some iron in them but it is important to also look at the diet to get plenty more. So I have been increasing my red meat intake to 2-3 times a week.

FOLATE: This is found in pregnancy vitamins but also found in avocados and spinach among other veggies. I have been loving avocados even more being pregnant! if it was even possible!

VITAMIN C: Greens and citrus fruits are your friends! Being winter here in Australia I have found lots of citrus fruit at the markets. I read that a diet high in vitamin C helps fight stretch marks and wrinkles so I have been careful to eat some!

VITAMIN D: Get it from the sun! Or if you are like me- cooped up at work inside and then get home and it is dark- make sure to eat salmon, tuna, egg yolks, 

For me the hardest thing being pregnant is to increase my protein intake. I have never been good at eating enough protein and being pregnant with twins I should be eating around 130 gr a day and I find it almost impossible! 

23 Weeks Pregnant with twins.

See below examples of what I am eating pregnant:

Keep in mind I am growing 2 babies and what is right for me might not be right for you.

Supplements: I take a pregnancy multi-vitamin, 2 quality fish oils tablets (low in mercury), a quality probiotic and some days an iron supplement.

Breakfast: 

• Avocado on wholemeal sourdough with pumpkin seeds and lemon juice.
• Scrambled eggs with spinach/silverbeet and wholemeal toast.
• Greek yogurt with banana- berries- nuts- hemp seeds and oats.
• Peanut butter on wholemeal sourdough.

Morning Snack:

• Glass of milk.
• A banana.
• Sometimes a yogurt.

Lunch:

• Leftovers from the night before (meat/ veggies/ carbs)
• Tuna- beans brown rice salad
• Dhal
• A mandarin or apple and a yogurt ( Love the Chobanis!)

Afternoon Snack: (around 2 pm)

• Glass of milk/ hot chocolate
• Yogurt 
• Apples & nut butter

2nd Afternoon Snack! (around 4pm when I get home):

• Swiss Cheese (my favourite at the moment!)
• Greek yogurt and fruit
• Peanut butter toast

Dinner:

• Chicken pesto with spinach and wholemeal pasta (mmmmm)
• Stuffed capsicums with mince.
• Dhal and brown rice
• Vegetarian chilli
• Salmon and veggies

I dont often have a sweet after dinner- I am usually satisfied and too tired. haha and I am still not enjoying chocolate as much as I used to! 

(Disclaimer: If you have questions about what to eat in your pregnancy please check with your doctor. This information is based on my own research and knowledge).

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