Writer Francine Healey has put together a mouthwatering selection of recipes for nutrient-packed, slow-burning meals designed to keep your prenatal body and mind in balance. Mothering staff taste-tested and approved recipes include Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes, Quinoa Pilaf, Coconut Carrot Soup, Spinach Mushroom Frittata, Stuffed Acorn Squash with Black Beans, Vegetable Pancakes and more! Reprinted from Mothering issue 162, September–October 2010. 8 pages. Digital.
EXCERPT:
"Even knowing everything I do about healthy eating during pregnancy, there have been times when what I know will be nourishing for me and my baby is no match for my craving for sugar. Through this journey, I have discovered that my lusts for muffins, pancakes, and chocolate-chip cookies are strong indicators that I have not had enough protein. When I eat more protein, my cravings for sugar and simple carbohydrates subside, and my level of energy increases.
During pregnancy, extra protein is an essential component of the mother’s diet. In fact, experts recommend that pregnant women eat 60 grams of protein a day. My cravings for sweets are strongest on days when I’m busy and stressed and not tuned in to my body. In those moments, rather than listen to my body’s protein needs and nourish myself in healthier ways, I seek quick-burning fuel.
I am now keenly aware of how my food choices are intertwined with my emotional state, and affect not only my sense of well-being but also my baby. When I consciously choose a nutritious diet that includes an abundance of whole grains, vegetables, protein, and water, and minimize my intake of processed and refined foods, especially sugar, I feel more grounded and nourished."
