Diet - leaving a lot to be desired

[cupcakebakerer]

I'm 18 weeks preggers and I have to say - although my diet hasn't been horrendous, it's not been ideal either. It's been more like two and a half a day rather than five a day...Anyone else not had the diet of a saint? Does anyone know if it can have a detrimental effect on bubs?

God, no, don't beat yourself up. As long as you try to be healthy, Two and a half fruit and veg a day is better than lots of people get. I'd say its more important to get your calcuim in (choc milk shake will do it) and protein. You can always take a multivitamin if you are worried.

I feel constantly sick unless I eat bread, cake, or other stodge. I know I will end up the size of a house (again) but I also know I can lose it again afterwards.
Aim for healthy balanced diet, with a bit of what you fancy, and enjoy your pregnancy!

Don't panic and don't read the chapter on the pregnancy diet in 'What to Expect...'. People survive on crap food all the time. You have lots of leeway on this.

I am 25 weeks and I have enormous cravings for cake. I dream about cake with pink icing.

I am living in a country with very poor food hygiene standards so am limited to prepackaged shite when out of the house if I don't want dyssentry. There is very little in the way of dairy products here so I am limited to processed cheese and UHT milk.

Despite this my baby seems to be growing well. As are my hips. Looking forward to fresh veges and fruit when I head home in 2 weeks time though.

I don't think you should beat yourself up over it... but I wonder what was your diet like before you got pregnant?

Adopting a healthy lifestyle & eating well is really hard to do in a short period of time. And having made the change myself this year, one thing I have learned is that it's a vicious circle. E.g. if you don't eat well & get plenty of excercise, energy slumps, you crave cakes and carbs to give you that quick fix, and then your energy slumps even more.

One thing that worked for me is to stop thinking about "stopping" behaviours. E.g. it's not helpful to deny yourself something you're craving, because then you just feel horrible and guilty.

Instead start thinking about "starting" behaviours. E.g. I will start each dinner with a healthy vegetable soup, I will have 1 portion of fruit before I have pudding (but I can still have the pudding if I'm still hungry afterwards!), I will drink a full glass of water before I drink a less healthy drink like cola or coffee.

Eventually these "starting" behaviours take hold, and the best part is, even after bubs is born, you can stick to them. (Because looking after yourself is even more important once you have a little one dependant on you, I think!!)

I'm also 18 weeks, before I was pregnant I always strived to eat as much fruit & veg as I could, some days better than others but I managed it most of the time. However, during the first 14 weeks all I wanted to eat was bread, cheese and cereal and even now I just can't stand the thought of boiled vegetables even though I used to love them. I just try eating as much fruit as I can and have started drinking fruit juice a bit more, along with multi-vitamins when I remember to take them.

I have decided that going off vegetables is a clear sign that I'm having a boy

Thanks for your messages people. I feel much less guilty. thefurryone - that is my problem exactly. My mum keeps banging on about brocolli and boiled veg - pre pregnancy, not a problem but now I can't think of anything worse! Have been eating fruit when I can, veggie soup and adding veg to pasta bakes etc but I have had little to no veg in the traditional sense which is making me feel naughty!

My diet is horrendous and I am going to be the size of a bus by the time this little one is due at the end of Jan.

The nausea (that I still get) has made me crave utter shite, although I am managing to include apples, orange juice and some veg now. I can guarantee that I eat worse than most of the ladies on here, I have the double chin to prove it!

I have to say since my ms has worn off my diet has just been terrible! I only seem to want to eat anything that is "bad" for me. Loads of carbs and even though I liked chocolate before, I seem to have gone nuts for the stuff. I'd maybe have some at the weekend befor I was pg but now it's every day! I said to hubby just yesterday that I really need to make an effort to start on the good stuff but don't know if I'll manage to convince myself!

Me too! Before I got pregnant I was eating really quite well (lots of veg soup and stir-fries and taking healthy sandwiches to work) and then bang, suddenly everything was too much effort except for really really easy stuff, like stopping for a takeaway on the way home. I will try harder, I will try harder...

couple of things to remember with the whole 5 a day thing - veg soup = 1 portion, glass of fruit juice = 1 portion, tinned fruit counts too (been living on this all the way through!), dried fruit e.g. raisins = 1 portion (have this on porridge), baked beans = 1 portion. don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to eat a plate of boiled veg - yuk!

btw - always prefer stir-fry veg with lots of ginger and soy sauce YUM!

I'm 25 weeks and I have never eaten so unhealthily in my life as I am during this pregnancy. My last pregnancy all I wanted to eat was fresh fruit, this time all I eat is cake, biscuits and chocolate - I didn't even eat chocolate before I was pregnant.

I think I'm doing well at the moment if I get 2.5 portions of fruit and veg a day. When I'm not pregnant I normally eat about 7 portions a day.

Boiled veg definatly sucks when you are preg. The only ones I can stand are raw carrots, and peas done in the microwave, so they are still quite firm.
I am hopelessly addicted to chocolate and eat it everyday. I eat it secretly. Everyday I think I won't do it today, but everyday I fail.

The thought of (smells worse)chocolate makes me feel sick :( have just eaten some rice cakes (may be more than some) and now I feel sick, boiled sprouts however are yum :o

cupcake thank you so much for writing this. I am only 13 weeks but am ashamed of my diet. This is my third baby and I ate very healthily with the first two.

I had ms until very recently and craved strawberry milkshake and salt & vinegar crisps. I have also been scoffing chocolate every day. Each night I think I must sort my diet out, I'll start tomorrow. I still haven't managed it.

I know it's no excuse but dh works away and I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old to look after. I'm exhausted. I know my diet doesn't help.

I will try harder.