The Humbled Homemaker: Eating Healthy During the Holidays--While Pregnant

I'm so excited to have contributing writer, Sara, of Your Thriving Family, posting today! Sara is currently expecting, and, as a doula, she knows a lot about keeping healthy during pregnancy--even during the holidays! Be sure to stop by her blog--Your Thriving Family!

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By Sara, Contributing Writer

Whether you are pregnant or are nursing, with SO much yummy food around during the holidays, it is easy to fall into the “I’m-eating-for-two” mindset. Yup, you are eating for two! For you and one weighing (and needing) WAY less than you!

All that sugar, caffeine and preservatives that holiday foods are laden with (I say this as I just ate some sugar cookies my husband brought home from school) get to the baby as well! With our first, the ultrasound technician could not get her to move around; finally, they had me eat a candy bar to get her to start moving.

Instead of the eating for two concept being in quantity, apply it to quality! I have always found it much easier to eat healthy when pregnant and nursing--easier to deny myself bad for you foods and force upon myself those good, nourishing foods.

Being mommies, not necessarily nursing or pregnant, but having others depend on us, should we not ALWAYS strive to be our best? The things we put into us affect what comes out of us. Our mood, our patience, our energy levels are all a direct result of how WE are nourishing ourselves. In Daniel 1, there is a great biblical example of healthy eating.

Everything in moderation – I am not saying, “No, don’t eat that! You’ll hurt your baby!” God made our bodies in an amazing way. There have been many “healthy, long-living people who have abused their bodies--and healthy babies born to mothers who ate horrible things or abused drugs, alcohol and cigarettes during pregnancy. We are amazingly resilient.

A New day – Did you have a bad eating day? Too much? Not enough good? Tomorrow is a new day. Don’t beat yourself up. Just strive to do a bit better each day.

Here are some things to keep in mind when filling your plate and stuffing your mouth:

Take a LITTLE of everything. I have found taking half of what my eyes think I can eat is a great start to not overeating. It’ll force you to really think, “Am I still hungry or do I just want more?”
Eat SLOWLY. It takes that food a while to get to the spot! Especially while pregnant, I HATE that too-full feeling. And these days, baby doesn’t like it either – if you know what I’m saying . . .
Choose WISELY. Instead of your mama’s green bean casserole (cause you know it has Campbell’s mushroom soup and French’s crispy onions – both full of a ton of stuff you don’t need) go for the roasted veggies (My recipe has simple ingredients with a little caramelization!). OR, go for a healthier green bean casserole.

Less is more. Pick things that have fewer ingredients. Go for that fruit or veggie platter instead of all the baked goodies . . . FIRST. Then allow yourself a small indulgence.
Listen to your body. Are you craving something sweet? Apple, cantaloupe, strawberry . . . see if these things satisfy you! What is your go-to fruit for a little sweetness? Sometimes a really good carrot can do it for me. Wanting a big hunk or steak? You may just be in need of some iron, so go find some broccoli or spinach. Then have your meat.
Pick something good. If all else fails, choose the nut-covered cookies over the snickerdoodle. Think about what it is filled with and decide what at least has some nutritional value rather than empty calories.
Fill up on WATER. There are LOTS of yummy drinks being made around the holidays. Fill yourself up on a glass of water first, then have your small cup of yumminess!
Once you eliminate your body’s tolerance of these foods it’ll be harder to start eating them again.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean bland or sweetless. There are many great resources online for alternative recipes and a wealth of eBooks packed with them.

Healthy Holidays: Slightly-Indulgent Sweet Treats
Smart Sweets (enter to WIN a copy NOW at The Simple Homemaker!)
Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts
Healthy Pregnancy Super Foods

Have you ever spent a holiday season pregnant? How did you maintain a healthy diet?

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Sara is a wife, homemaker, doula, Theatre Tech and adjunct and full-time mama of both a big sister and little boy with one on the way. She feels blessed to have been raised in a godly family with parents who gave her a great sense of independence, common sense and love of God and family. At Your Thriving Family, she writes about family, food, marriage, kids, miscarriage, pregnancy and God. She is trying to find a balance in the world we now live in - pushing her family to THRIVE, not just strive to survive!