Insatiably hungry - what can I eat to fill me up?

[MamaChris]

With my first pregnancy, I don't recall being especially hungry, although I did used to have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. I gained about 2 stone, and lost it all within 2 weeks of birth, so that sort of eating seems about right to me.

This time (twins) I am constantly really really hungry. Today I've had: cereal, yoghurt, banana, 2 (!) poached salmon sandwiches and it's only 2pm. I feel as though I haven't eaten all day, and will need to eat again, soon! I am putting on weight faster than before, but I've read that's supposed to be a good thing with twins.

But this constant hungry thing is really getting me down. Can anyone suggest what I can eat that will actually fill me up? (No meat please).

ReadyBrek

I just made a peanut butter sandwich

Is fat more filling than carbs then? I've read I need to be aiming for high protein.

and is readybrek better than normal porridge?

thanks zaphostrophe. I obviously don't know much about nutrition - I thought that was high protein/medium fat/medium carbs!

so more nuts, cheese, yoghurt as snacks.
banana/avocado are protein too, right?

and maybe omelette for breakfast some days instead of cereal.

ok, I'm off to reread those "what to eat when your pregnant" sites

I was the same during my twin pregnancy. I needed to eat day and night. With my first (singleton) I had pretty usual eating habits. But a twin pregnancy is so much more work for your body than a singleton. Your body must need it. I tried to eat healthy options but the amount I needed was crazy. I ended up eating whenever I was hungry and after giving birth to the twins, I was only half a stone or so more than pre-pregnancy. When I was BFing them, my appetite was wild! Good luck - twins are a real gift. Look after yourself. x

Thanks MrsZ. I am eating when hungry, I just wish I didn't have to spend so much time thinking about food!!! I'm only 16 weeks. Hopefully what I've read is right and growth will slow down in 3rd trimester and I only have to eat like this another 10 weeks or so!!!

And thinking back to how much chocolate I ate when BF ds, perhaps I should buy shares in Cadburys Kraft this time

Sounds horrible (actually lush) but spelt crackers/wheat crackers spread with peanut butter. Mmmm! I'm 16 weeks, only with the one as well. Wish I didn't feel hungry so often, especially since I don't have any form of bump yet; just an area of podge around my belly button so it looks like I've eaten too much cheese

JazzieJeff - I have only podge too! (Although mine extends a far bit below my belly button).

May try the crackers, prepared to try anything! It's 9.30pm and I'm starving again. Hate going to bed hungry, but hate eating just before bed too... Oh what a dilemma! [drama queen moment]

and without sounding too obvious, make sure yuo are drinking enough as i really know that i don't do this and am much much hungrier when i am not drinking enough

I had a completely insatiable hunger period between about 14 and 19 weeks, and found increasing the amount of protein I was eating really helped. I mentioned to my midwife that I was waking up starving and craving sweeties all day, and she said "you should be getting 70g of protein per day. To get that you need protein with everything you eat. Are you eating enough protein?" ... So: boiled egg and slice of toast for breakfast with glass of milk, cottage cheese on ryevita or with veggies at 11-ish, meaty goodness in a sandwich or salad for lunch, hummous/cheese/nuts and veggies at 3-4pm, meat of some kind and vegetables for dinner, glass of milk before bed....

It was the only thing that worked. I'd be shoving in carbs and sugary treats, but only protein in EVERY snack/meal works for me. And it really has - I'm at 27 weeks and haven't put on a great deal of weight. Mmn. now I think about it I might need a glass of milk!

Congratulations on your twins