Honest opinions - Am I eating enough?

[Zaberwocky]

Because the next person who comments on my lunch is going to get a slap. Unless they don't actually deserve it! I'm 19 weeks.

So, your thoughts on a random example of what I'd have on a standard day?

Breakfast - massive bowl of porridge, with a portion of raspberries. Made with milk.

Lunch - a portion of cucumber, and carrot sticks. Two homemade oat/cranberry/orange biscuits of a reasonable size, some cheese and a chunk of pineapple.

Dinner - mushroom omelette, beans, and chips.

Does that sound like enough? Or do I need to up my game a bit? I'm not a naturally 'hungry' person so I do worry a bit.

Overall it's fine.

The lunch is very light, but the breakfast and dinner more than make up for it.

I'm surprised at how many people still think pregnant women need loads more calories.

I think it's fine. I'm 31 weeks now and only just starting to feel I want to eat more - appetite deserted me completely to 15 weeks.

I suppose it depends on what a "portion" is to you. Are you underweight?

When I was pregnant with ds I ate more or less the same as when I wasn't pregnant. In the last trimester I might have eaten a bit more but not much- like half a cup of soup with a sandwich rather than just a sandwich. Hardly put on any 'me' weight, back to pre pregnancy weight within a month of giving birth. I was always on the upper end of healthy weight though.
When I was pregnant with dd I felt nauseous for weeks and ate lots and lots of white bread, crisps and nd full fat coke as they were the only things that didn't make me sick. I put on loads of weight and I'm sure it made the end of my pregnancy harder. Took me over a year to lose it. I know which I preferred!

if you are underweight then it's not enough. if not then it's fine. people love to comment on pregnant women's weight, eating habits and weight gain so brace yourself for more annoying comments and try not to let them worry you xx

It depends what your portion sizes are like e.g how many eggs in the omelette.

It sounds a little light on protein to me but that may just be my personal preference as I am very active and would have no energy on that.

At 19wks you don't need to be eating any more than you would normally so as long as you are feeling good and not feeling hungry then just ignore people's opinions.

I really had to bite my tongue at a family get together when I had eaten a slice of carrot cake and my MIL tried to insist I had another slice 'for baby'!

BMI is 20.5 so a healthy weight.

Omelette would generally contain three eggs, portion sizes are standard I guess! I don't feel hungry aside from usual meal times.

Thank you all for the reassurance! I've been asked a few times today if I'm on a diet

It doesn't sound like that much to me, but maybe you have a lot of chips?

Yes plus a gigantic omelette.

I may start bringing photographic evidence of my meals to work with a ruler next to each item!

Your workmates are probably just jealous - sounds like a lovely menu

I don't think it sounds enough.

Breakfast is fine (depending on portion size).

Lunch is far too small - essentially your calories (energy) come from two oat buiscuits and a lump of cheese (presume can't be that big if you're eating it w 2 biscuits).

Eggs have about 80 calories so that's 240 cals. I think you'd need to be eating a LOT of chips to be getting the calories you need.

Sorry if I've misunderstood your daily diet!

to me, it doesn't sound like you're getting enough carbohydrates... and your LO needs a constant "flow" of glucose to grow.

maybe add two snacks (one before lunch and one before dinner), with breadsticks or crackers with cheese or something?

Your lunch is really light and that's probably the only meal your colleague see, hence the comments.

I don't think it sounds like too little but i do have mental alarm bells ringing when people describe normal sized portions as "enormous" or "massive"

My midwife said eat for one and drink for two. From weeks 12-28 I just felt like my normal self and didn't eat anymore than normal really (except ice cream but it's bloody hot!!) but from week 28 I've been feeling really hungry between meals so eating more. As long as you eat when you're hungry I'd say that's fine. It's more important that what you're eating is nutritious which it is.

I wouldn't panic too much op. I always seem to lose my appetite in pregnancy and eat about half what I normally eat. I finished my first pregnancy lighter than I started but was healthy enough

Sounds fine. People usually eat far too much.

Thank you all so much for your responses I really am grateful for everyone's opinions.

Admittedly, when I say 'massive' or 'enormous' it feels that size to me. I've never had a good appetite, and I do worry this skews my opinion on what's 'right'. And everyone around me seems to be holding on to the eating for two mentality, which just confuses me even more. Surely I shouldn't be eating till I feel physically sick?

So in summary I need more carbs in there.

I am eating about this much but with lunch and dinner sizes swapped over. Feel guilty because there should be more carbs in there but I can't face it. I'm sure the baby gets what it needs though.

You know what, sometimes it's just not physically possible to shovel masses of food down your gullet! I had hyperemesis up until about 20 weeks and lost half a stone, but baby is perfectly fine! Baby will get everything it needs from your stores (albeit at the expense of your wellbeing), but generally you only need an extra 300 calories a day (recommended). If you can, I'd suggest supplementing with things like bananas, apples, portions of nuts etc - I have become a grazer due to the fact that I have struggled immensely to eat full meals, so just eat what you can at meal times and if you think your calories might be a little on the low side, try snacking between meals 😊 X