Eating for Two

A food diary of my first trimester

The last time I took a long break from this blog was over two years ago. I got married, went on the most amazing long honeymoon in Europe, and started a new job. This time, I've been absent due to another major life event - I'm pregnant! We are expecting a baby girl due mid-February. I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember and my husband and I are thrilled about the news, but it doesn't mean that pregnancy has been easy. Cooking and eating are a daily struggle from a lack of appetite, dietary restrictions, and barely having the energy to cook a quick meal. Here's a look at what I have and haven't been eating the past three and a half months:



HAVE BEEN:

• Carbs - I survived my first trimester on carbs - mainly pasta, bread, and rice. In addition to avocado toast, english muffins with honey and butter, and bagels with cream cheese, here are some recipes I put on rotation:
• Spaghetti with Chunky Cherry Tomato Sauce
• Soba Noodles with Crispy Kale & Coconut
• Fried Brown Rice with Broccoli
• Ice Cream - This has been the only real craving I've had so far. With how hot it's been outside, I've been enjoying a scoop, cone, or popsicle nearly everyday for the last month.
• Veggies - Much to my husband's disappointment, I've become mostly vegetarian lately. I've been loading up on everything from kale salads, to grilled summer vegetables, to big sheet pans full of roasted veggies. Favorite recipes include:
• Kale Ribbon Salad with Parmesan and Garlic Vinaigrette
• Grilled Vegetable Burrito Bowls
• Roasted Curry Cauliflower

HAVEN'T BEEN:

• Alcohol - This goes without saying, and to be honest, I haven't been feeling well enough to miss it. The hardest thing about being pregnant and not drinking was how suspicious it was to our friends and family. I spent many nights fake sipping cocktails, which my husband would chug as soon as no one else was looking.
• Raw Stuff - Sushi was the last meal I ate before I found out that I was pregnant. But it's not just the obvious raw stuff that I have to avoid. The biggest let down has been avoiding soft eggs, which I love.
• All The Good Dairy - Non-pasteurized dairy and juices are the most difficult foods to avoid. Pretty much all of my favorites cheeses (brie, goat, queso fresco) are off-limits until after giving birth.
• Cured Meats - Considering my ideal meal is a cheese and charcuterie plate with a fresh baguette, this is another disappointment. Anything with nitrates (most bacon, sausage, salami, etc.) need to be avoided, although I have had luck finding nitrate-free bacon at Whole Foods.
• Chicken - I developed a strong distaste for chicken shortly after I found out that I was pregnant. We joke that it's definitely my husband's child in me because he likes to talk smack on all my chicken recipes in favor of red meat and now I do the same. I haven't eaten a chicken breast since I got pregnant and at this rate it doesn't seem like I ever will again.