Food during Pregnancy: A Special Report
So I know that none of you really care what I eat. I mean isn't there a book about blogging out there called something like "No One Cares What You Ate For Breakfast"? Yeah well, if you have ever been pregnant, (and most of you have, admit it!) you know that one of the best and worst things about being pregnant is the food.
Glorious food!
Some women take the "eat anything and everything" approach while others finally start trying to eat right. And then there are the many in between. My first pregnancy, I was kind of in the eat anything and everything camp - of course making sure to avoid all those textbook things like soft cheeses and deli meat and shell fish. This time, I am trying to be healthier - it took me a good 2+ years to get rid of the weight after I had Kiddo, so I am hoping to stay a bit on the conservative side this time.
Don't get me wrong though, I have been thoroughly enjoying my brownies and sweets and salty things too, just not as much this time.
But the problem with this pregnancy though has been 2 big things that are severely inhibiting my enjoyment of food. First is the constant, chronic, painfully annoying heartburn. No matter what I eat or how often or how little or how far before bed; it is always there. The acid bubbles in my throat morning, noon and night and I am about to go nuts. The owners of TUMS have sent me personal emails, thanking me for funding their 401Ks. The second thing that has messed up my culinary delight is that for some reason this time around, my taste buds are less sensitive to different tastes. I know this is pretty common; some women even go through an entire pregnancy with a metal taste in their mouth. I have been spared that for the most part, but what I am experiencing makes everything taste really bland. My beloved Dr. Pepper tastes far from normal and all I really want to eat are things that are bold flavored, spicy or super sweet; thus compounding the first problem!
What is really strange is that I am enjoying things I never really liked before, like Italian Sausage. I have been making this stew just about every week. Hubby is loving it of course, but I have to down a half a bottle of Tums before bed or it is a total nightmare! (oh and if you try the recipe, I always throw in another half can of water and use 2 cups noodles and a can of Rotel instead of canned Italian tomatoes)
I have never been a fan of spicy foods. I love Mexican food and Tex/Mex, but if it is too spicy I just don't enjoy it. One thing you can always get me to eat though is pretty much anything with Wasabi on it! YUM! I love wasabi - and for those of you who have never had it, it is a wonderful spice that unlike a hot pepper that burns your mouth, the heat is radiated up through the sinuses, clearing your breathing passages, and just when you think it is going to be too hot, it quickly fades, leaving no residual "burnt tongue" to deal with. It is wonderful.
-my cultured bloggy friends, I know you are wondering who on earth hasn't tried wasabi, but here in TX I have found many who haven't; namely most of my friends and family! lol!"-
So anyway, the regular cravings are really leaving me disappointed because not much has that intense flavor I am looking for.
But, I have to tell you about a few things that have really rung my bell lately.
Chili's has a new boneless buffalo wing, called Shanghai Wings. They are wings coated with a sweet and spicy ginger-citrus sauce and they are served with the most incredible WASABI RANCH dipping sauce!!!! AHHHH! I could have eaten that dressing with a spoon. It was sheer heaven! You must go try them.
Another favorite treat of mine right now are the Blue Diamond Bold Wasabi and Soy Sauce Almonds. These are totally delish, and a great source of fiber!
Then of course on the sweet side, I am loving the German Chocolate cake I made Hubby for his birthday. Yum! But I did discover a good treat (though expensive for what you get) at Sonic in their Caramel Apple Bites (the dipping sauce doesn't have any flavor to me though). If you don't have a Sonic in your area, I am so sorry. They are a fantastic preggo lady place. The ice in their drinks is AWESOME! When I was pregnant with Kiddo I went to Sonic every day and got a huge cup of ice. mmmmmmm! They have a daily happy hour now, with half price drinks (which makes them reasonably priced, lol!) Many a time Kiddo and I have enjoyed a cool drink and a caramel apple bite for an afternoon snack. :)
So here are a few of my favorites. And I am not trying to say I eat out a lot. I have hit Micky D's a lot this pregnancy (normally I would never go there) but that is for specific cheeseburger cravings and they never disappoint. I just wanted to share a few of my favorite things right now. And if you don't care what I eat, that's ok. This blog's purpose is for my memory too. Someday I will look back at it and laugh.
Meanwhile, I am off to Sonic...
Until,
D :)
3 comments:
Ah yes... hormonal cravings! Not just for pregnancy anymore! Trix are for kids! They're magically delicious...
But you're reminding me that... well, the first trimester I was PG I was... uh... sickish. Not in the morning, in the afternoon. And I found that if I ate a reasonable amount of protein early in the day I could skate through the end of the day feeling merely queasy.
However, the protein of which I speak... was that all-natural sugar-free peanut butter? No. Was that some kind of ultra-healthy beans and rice concoction? No. Only a big, fat double from Wendy's would do. Yeah babe!
However! Once past the horror of random daily vomitings, I became fruit obsessed. I used to eat giant bowls of mango, kiwi and banana for dinner... you gotta have the banana in there to cut the sweetness of the mango. I used to treat myself to fruit smoothies the size of my head from Smoothie King on Saturdays... add some extra vitaminy stuff in there for me would ya? Wheat grass? Yeah!
And my number one, most frantic, gotta have it now craving was my own tostada. I just baked a tortilla under the broiler until fully crisp, spread it with a mixture of refritos and salsa, topped with a big pile of lettuce, tomato, green onions and avocado and drizzled the whole deal with Catalina dressing. Seriously, get outta my way because I would just dream about it all day!
I also remember toward the end, after my weekly childbirth/parenting class, I would stop at SONIC on the way home and get a big, giant rootbeer float. Oooooh, heavenly!
And I know about the TUMS, too. I used to wake up 100 times a night and chomp those down. I remember being a little worried the kid was getting TOO much calcium! Luckily there's no such thing.
Oh good! I thought I was the only one who has gone off the deep end with the constant craving for a McD's hamburger and sausages. I've probably eaten more of that stuff in this pregnancy than my entire life combined.
Oh Dawn I hear you 100%!! I have yet to try Sonic though! Well, I guess that's one more thing to add to my to do list =)
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