This week- what we've been eating

Okay, being pregnant and trying to go back vegan is harder than I though it would be. I've had maybe one, or two days that have been 100% vegan in the past week. I am eating MUCH MUCH healthier though. I was overeating before I decided to change my ways (hence all the weight I've gained), so I am also eating less. I am trying to change my pregnant way of thinking. You know, the idea that "I'm eating for two" or "I have the right to eat whatever I crave while I'm pregnant". This week, luckily, I have been craving Cheese quesadillas on whole wheat tortillas, and pb&j sandwiches with natural peanut butter, Simply fruit jam, on whole wheat bread. That combo is actually not to bad for me with no added sugars, or fake sugars, so I'm happy I crave that. 


For Breakfast- Chris has been making green drinks every morning which contain a crazy amount of vegetables and fruit. His weird concoction is different every day, and tastes pretty great. The one day that it was unbearable was the day he put in fresh green beans. YUCK! He puts in different combinations of tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, frozen strawberries, bananas, peaches, oranges. He usually does more vegetables than fruit. I also love Oatmeal (old fashion, not quick. 1/2 c. oats, 1 c. water, microwave about 2 min.) with diced up strawberries, or peaches. I add them  after it is cooked. 


For lunch Chris usually eats raw fruits and Vegetables. Just plain. I snack on that stuff through the day, especially fruit since we have an abundance with it being summer. I have had canned soup a couple of days, which I really like. Especially since its already prepared. My favorite right now is "Tomato Garden" or any other vegan ones from Campbells Select Harvest (soup aisle). 


Favorite yummy treats- Costco trail mix, minus the M & M's. I have to get a handful and put the rest away so I dont get out of control. Also, I LOVE peaches and Mango right now. In Season and perfect!


Dinners we have liked this week:

Savory Quinoa and Vegetable Soup

(Click on title to see recipe) Leave out the coriander, I didn't like it. I also didn't have nutritional yeast or fresh herbs so I used dried ones from my spice cabinet. I served it with homemade whole wheat rolls. Vegan, of course :) Chris LOVED it. 

Stir Fry- 

I loved it because it took 20 minutes start to finish and filled our stomachs. I use the awesome blend that they sell at Costco in the freezer section, with brown rice, and Yoshidas sauce (also from Costco). I mix it all together once everything is done. Make sure you dont over do it with the sauce.

Vegetable spaghetti with whole wheat pasta- 

    1. Empty a jar of marinara sauce into large skillet that has a lid, or pot. Heat until bubbling. Meanwhile...

    2. Coarsely chop vegetables( I like ours very chunky):

•      Green pepper
•      Zucchini
•      Mushrooms
•      Olives(leave whole)
•      Carrots(thinly slice)

    3. Add Vegetables to sauce, simmer on low for 30 minutes, covered.

    4. Cook whole wheat spaghetti while sauce is simmering. 


Most importantly, I am trying to overcome my addiction to sugar and sweets. I have done really well, and I'm happy for my progress. My failures were at a yucky buffet (so stupid) and at grandma's house... of course :)

Pregnancy: Vegan and Vegetarian

Throughout my pregnancy (I got pregnant in January), I have reverted back to my same junkie eating. Consequently, so have my husband and kids. Vegetables and Fruits were my main source of calories when we were attempting to be Vegan for the months of August-December 2010. In my first and second trimesters, vegetables made me want to gag, just thinking about them. Chris and I have gained quite a bit of weight :) Chris is up about 20-25 lbs from his lowest, and I have gained 30 lbs this pregnancy (and I am 31 weeks). Chris has begged me to cook Vegan for him again but I had NO desire. I told him if he wanted to eat healthier then he could do it on his own for breakfast and lunch, and just eat what I prepared for dinner. He didn't want to do that. I don't blame him at all. Its hard to do something 60% of the time. Plus, If a person doesn't cleanse out all the food our bodies crave, "dieting" is very difficult.What I am saying is that when we eat 100% good on most days of the week, it comes very easily and we don't have a mental battle every time we see a cookie or hamburger. Now, my third trimester, I feel more in control of my pregnant self. I don't crave things like a crazy woman anymore. In the beginning I CRAVED meat, cheese, cereal, and anything sugary. I decided that now is the time to take control of myself, not wait 2 more months until "I'm not pregnant anymore". For the sake of my overall health, and my out of control weight gain.


This Sunday, Chris randomly started watching some YouTube videos about a raw food couple. That means they are vegan and don't eat anything cooked. That's pretty intense! (Which, by-the-way, Chris' Mom is "Raw".) On Monday morning he started his new way of eating, with or without me. I really admire him for this because Chris doesn't cook or prepare anything in the kitchen for himself. I have been feeling so miserable (tired, headaches, sinus infections, move around like my limbs weigh a hundred lbs each) that I decided it was time to start doing better because I have NO energy to even live life. I have been using pregnancy as my excuse, but I woke up and realized that I really shouldn't feel this rotten! I know what food does to me because I experienced for a short time how good I can feel on the right diet. I first gave up sugar and white flour because those are the things that effect me most. I did that for a couple days, then decided I would cut out meat. I did that for a couple more days, and now I am thinking of cutting out dairy. This week hasn't been any better because my body is withdrawing from all the junk I used to stuff myself with. My eyes even look worse. I know from last years experience that the first week or two are really bad, then it becomes SOOOO easy.


So I was looking online to find info on "pregnancy and vegan" to see if it would be safe. I felt like an idiot when I read the following quote:


Vegans too can safely continue with their chosen diet. But you do need to pay attention to what you eat. A poor vegetarian diet could be just as harmful as a poor omnivorous one. (Feeding on food of both plant and animal origin.)


POOR OMNIVOROUS ONE!!! That was me! Why do people think that vegans/vegetarians cant be healthy, but the typical american diet low in fresh produce, high in meats, cheeses, processed foods, and plenty of sweets is perfect for growing a baby in the womb?! "Because at least you're getting your calcium and protien!" which are also in fruits and vegetables (in case you didn't know). I know that in order to be very healthy, I need to consume a lot of calories from fruits, vegetables, and some from beans to get all the nutrients  I should have. If I want to include some healthy dairy (I don't consider "yoplait" healthy with all the sugar added, or ranch dressing for example), I will. If I am feeling a bit low on energy or just cant get full, I will have meat.


I have produced nearly 3 babies living off lots of junk food, especially sweets. I don't think I can go wrong by eating tons more produce and cutting out the junk. So this is my argument FOR Vegetarians and Vegans! Who's going to disagree with me? Probably my dairy farmer parents :)