Anybody else struggling with food?

[soon2befamilyof4]

I have been determined to be healthy and start cooking home made foods etc which I am happy to do. BUT I spend hours making something and take 2 bites and I feel full. Then half an hour later, I am feeling hungry! It is really annoying!

I don't know if I should carry on eating till I have had a decent portion or what! If I am eating every half an hour, I can't be preparing fresh healthy meals everytime and will revert back to snacking on junk.

Am I the only one with this trouble?

I get full really easily now, but I'm constantly hungry. Just have a small portion of whatever you're cooking instead of forcing yourself to eat a plateful, and have healthy snacks ready in the fridge/cupboards for you to grab for in between meals.

You could always freeze some of the meal you've made if you make too much, which will do for when you want something healthy but don't wanna spend all that time cooking for just a few mouthfuls.

I also worry that I am not going to eat enough for baby? I had beans on toast today which was breakfast and lunch put together. I made half a tin of beans and one slice of toast and between me and DD (14months) we couldn't finish it. I have been snacking on fruit, but snacks just give me really bad heatburn TBH

How far along are you? As I understand it, a baby's nutritional needs are very little, and you don't really need extra calories until at least the 2nd trimester or even 2nd half of your pregnancy.

I'm 14+3 and losing weight because of not wanting to eat much--however, I started off very overweight. I keep being told whatever I can get down is ok, the baby will take what it needs!

Agree with SheWillBeLoved, I cook a lot and freeze things in individual portions, and it works really well (saves money too).

Don't force yourself to eat if you're full. Will just lead to heartburn/feeling ill. Everything I've read says you will want smaller meals more frequently during pregnancy.

Agreed with the make small portions and freeze them suggestions. Also, if you know you're going to be hungry not that long afterwards, how about serving yourself a small portion but with a second portion ready to be kept warm/reheated when you're hungry later? I had the rest of my dinner from last night for my lunch as I knew I wouldn't be able to eat it all and so divided a portion out for my lunch.

I saw you on the other threads (you must have the patience of a saint!) and noticed that you used to be partial to junk food. Please don't give in to that! Eating junk food is bad for you and predisposes your baby to like it.

Lots of luck with your new healthy eating regime - it sounds as though you're really giving it your all!

Thanks Nekabu

I am 32 weeks which is why I know you are meant to be taking in extra caleries. I am eating healthy, just soo hard to eat little and often. I have a 1 year old who isn't very good at letting me eat too! And my trouble is, say I have a tiny bit of dinner and get hungry not long after, I just can't bring myself to eat the same thing again. Not sure why, I have no problem with reheating leftovers and freezing I do too but just don't fancy eating the same food 2-3 times a day.

I have hardly eaten today, although I am just about to make myself some lunch. But I feel bad that it has got this late! But I haven't wanted to eat and don't want to force it?

If you don't fancy the same thing later on that day, how about saving today's for tomorrow so that if you eat tomorrow's dinner and don't want it all, you have a bit of today's dinner to have for afterwards when you get hungry. And then your leftover dinner from tomorrow, save for the next day. IYSWIM. Alternatively, just make simple meals that are quick so you don't mind making them as and when you're hungry.

Well that is pretty much what I am doing TBH but what I am mainly concerned about is that I don't seem to be able to eat enough throughout the day. I have now had some tinned spaggetti on toast but until then all I had eaten today was a pear. Not because of trying to eat healthy, as I know it isn't healthy not to eat all day till 2pm (up at 7amish) But I just don't want it. I have anemia now too and Folic acid deficiency. I now have iron and folic acid tablets to take but I am worried I am going to get something else if I don't eat enough but not really sure if there is anything I can do about it?

Is that in addition to the beans on toast you had earlier? Does the thought of eating anything else make you feel ill or you just aren't interested?

No, the beans on toast was yesterday!

With regards to being not interested or it making me feel ill - it is a bit of both really. I am still throwing up at least daily which puts me off a lot and I think is why I have gone off eating in the morning as I would always throw up breakfast. But then I start not wanting lunch because I haven't eaten iyswim?

Hi Soon2be

What worked for me until week 13, when I had all-day-nausea, was buying and preparing only the things I liked back then.

Don't force yourself with food because it will only make you feel worse... but do try to eat regularly whatever doesn't make you feel "yuck". In my case it was kiwi, pinapple and orange, which I know won't work for you because of HB, but it's just to give you an idea.

I spent those 13wks eating toast or crackers with cream cheese or cheddar cheese, those fruits and lots of water and juice, that's all!. Luckily you eat more varied than me back then, just try to buy easy-to-cook but still not junk things that you can prepare really quickly (no one wants to cook too much when feeling nausea present) and try, whenever possible, to eat frequently (every two hours), so that your sugar levels don't plummet.

Hope this helps a bit , if something else comes to my mind, I'll post it.

I'm 38 weeks and have had trouble eating for weeks. But I have to be REALLY strict with myself! Now that I'm so big, I feel that my stomach capacity is very small. I'll be ravenous...but as soon as I eat I feel full quickly. I can't eat much but I really try the little and often method.

I'll have a few bowls of cereal a day (even @ teatime), a chicken sandwich, soup, crackers with cream cheese, fruit, and anything else I can manage to keep my calories up! Its not easy as everything has to be followed by a hefty dose of gaviscon, but its better than struggling with a big meal. I'd even struggle with beans on toast! I do get through quite a few ice lollies and cornettos (my craving!) but they give me an energy boost too!

I also take pregnancare just to help out and it makes me feel that I'm getting some of the nutrients baby needs. It must be working because I'm having a fair sized baby!

The only thing I really have a hard time with is getting VERY hungry at night...giving in to a snack....and then spending the next 2 hours trying to get to sleep sitting up as lying down causes the food to make a break for freedom lol
Have you got a blender? I think home made smoothies with either juice or milk as a base are awesome for filling you JUST a bit and giving you all the goodness?!

Its not easy, but remember...its not for much longer!

I'm having the same problem, but quickly discovered that if the meal is cooked for me I can eat alot more, or something that can be cooked without much fuss/preperation. I have a pint of smoothy every morning, pot of yogurt, bananna, tinned apricots, frozen berries, wheatgerm topped up with juice. Dried fruit to nibble on, not over filling my plate up to much and then feeling bad for not eating it! Good luck.

Smoothies are a good idea, although fruit is one thing I can pick on all the time.

I can't take pregnacare because I am on very high dose of iron and folic acid and it is dangerous to take them both at the same time.