My own fault but gonna whinge anyway ;-D

[LDNlady]

So in this lovely weather I thought that rather than cooking a big heavy meal we'd have some tapas type stuff. Now however I am regretting this decision hugely mainly cos I can't have all the yummy cured meats that hubby is going to enjoy and I just have to put up with some cooked ham and chicken with the other cooked stuff!

OH I'M GONNA ENJOY SOOOOOO MANY GOODIES WHEN NO LONGER PREGNANT! (only 6 1/2 weeks to go, only 6 1/2 weeks to go, only 6 1/2 weeks to go) :o

We went to an Italian restaurant and every starter except garlic bread was something yummy I couldn't have. I wanted to cry! So I feel your pain.

what cured meats can't you eat?

Anything cured but not cooked - so Parma ham, prosciutto, salami etc. Normal ham is fine because it's cooked, and if you put those meats on a pizza they'd be OK too.

Feeling your pain, I sneaked a nibble of parma ham on new years eve during our last weekend away before I got massive trip to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen.

Parma ham has never tasted so good

I think DP has already planned my post pregnancy stinky cheese, rare steak and wine fest, can't wait!

I might sound a bit mad, but when all goes well towards the end of trimester 3 (fingers crossed) I'm going to buy a bottle of Pol Roger and some pate de foie gras in the fridge for after the birth. :P

My friend had her mum bring her some pate in to the hospital after LO arrived early and she was still on the ward 3 days later crackpot, so I think you sound very sensible :)

If I have to stay in I'm definitely having Brie and pate brought to me! :o Have just had dinner and can safely say that cooked prosciutto ham is wrong on so many differed levels!!

I haven't given up cured meats. It's a step too far for me.

I was reading an Australian article last week about how some women are putting on lots of weight in pregnancy because the pregnancy food guidelines scare them so much they don't think they can eat anything healthy and nice. The conclusion of the article was that as long as you are eating foods from a reputable supplier with a good turn over of food stocks you should feel free to have (for example) a ham and salad sandwhich from the deli counter rather than greasy chips.

I've had home made smoked salmon sushi a couple of times and plenty of bagged salads (though the pate and wine aisles are still dead to me SIGH).

What? Are bagged salads on the verboten list too then? Righto, another one for me to ignore...

I wish I could buy foie gras locally local. The most exotic it gets round here is brawn. And where my parents live, there was a shop which used to sell it before it was picketed by animal rights people.

I also have not given up cured meats. They don't on the continent so why should I? In fact, I have a lovely pack of Parma ham in the fridge for later...

I think they've got plenty right on the continent button!

Thanks to some alleged advice from a fellow MNetter I've been following the French governments advice on wine: No more than 1 small glass, no more than twice a week, maximum. I have to confess to not cross referencing this and taking her word for it, but it felt "ok" to me so have gone with it.

My recent discovery of alcohol free fruit Koppaberg has replaced a need for wine in most instances anyway, bloody lovely in this weather!

It's a whole other argument bananarama but I think the fact that they continue to use butter and olive oil and don't use chemically engineered low fat products yet continue (in the Med regions) to have better health than us speaks volumes.

I work on their diet principles, try to get as much sunshine as I can, enjoy alcohol in moderation and try to be reasonably active. All of which I believe they do. So I hope to live as long as they do. And when all my children have left home (a while yet as #4 is still in utero!) I shall move to southern France and enjoy life even more!