Eating Healthy

[OrangeHope]

I'm wondering what are the kinds of healthy meals you make for your family? no need for recipes I'm just looking for some more healthier ideas as what to eat while I'm pregnant for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

 

[Laurie919]

We eat a lot of fish and veggies. Depending on the type of fish it can be very inexpensive. Taylor also likes beans so we eat of a lot of that too.

 

[Green Orchid]

I eat mostly vegetarian so I plan my dinners accordingly and I add meat for dh.

I basically plan my meals around these six vegetable proteins, making 6 meals a week (the 7th I improvise or we eat with friends or whatever).

Beans
Lentils
Tofu
Fish
Eggs
Vegetable/grain/pasta based

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

We eat strictly whole grain breads and pastas, we limit our red meat consumption by cutting out all ground beef and substituting it for fat free ground turkey breast etc.

We also try to eat fish once a week (or every other week depending). Either salmon or talapia. We only eat boneless, skinless chicken breasts and other very lean cuts of meat.

As for meals we like to eat steamed rice and chicken with veggies, stirfry, baked potatoes (not loaded, maybe a little fat free sour cream if I'm in the mood), whole wheat spaghetti and ground turkey meat balls, lots of salads etc.

 

[tiredwalker]

I have a "no junk in the house" rule. Basically, I go shopping after I eat, and I only buy healthy stuff (lean meat, veggies, fruit, whole grain snacks/pasta and low fat dairy). We tend to eat a lot of fajitas and stirfry, basically, a lot of meat fried (only a little canola oil) with a bunch of veggies.

 

[Laurie919]

We eat strictly whole grain breads and pastas, we limit our red meat consumption by cutting out all ground beef and substituting it for fat free ground turkey breast etc.

We also try to eat fish once a week (or every other week depending). Either salmon or talapia. We only eat boneless, skinless chicken breasts and other very lean cuts of meat.

As for meals we like to eat steamed rice and chicken with veggies, stirfry, baked potatoes (not loaded, maybe a little fat free sour cream if I'm in the mood), whole wheat spaghetti and ground turkey meat balls, lots of salads etc.

Talapia is great isn't it. It is cheap and you can make it taste so good without a lot of work.

 

[Green Orchid]

I like baking a lot, so here are a few healthy tips:

- If a recipe calls for oil, you can substitute 1/2 to 2/3 of it with applesauce (or mashed banana, but that will give it a taste).
- You can usually omit 1/3 to 1/2 sugar without affecting the recipe in muffins, cakes, and sweet breads.
- Substitute 1/2 of the flour with whole wheat flour and it won't really affect the texture and taste.

In your meals, try incorporating different whole grains like quinoa, whole wheat couscous, wild rice. It gives more variety.

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

^^ Good suggestions. I LOVE substituting applesauce.

Also couscous is really great and we often eat that. Same with wild rice... wild rice and salmon is one of my absolute favorite meals

 

[Adela]

I eat a lot of vegetables. I'm in a zucchini phase right now.

Vegetables are great roasted in the oven, because you can add anykind of seasoning you like. With something like squash you can just slice them up, put on a little olive oil, spices and stick in the oven. We don't even put meat in our spaghetti because we load with veggies instead.

I love fish too. I think I'm copying Sign of the Fish Burger (wow, that took awhile to type) tonight and having salmon.

Also, beans are awesome and cheap.

 

[Laurie919]

I eat a lot of vegetables. I'm in a zucchini phase right now.

Vegetables are great roasted in the oven, because you can add anykind of seasoning you like. With something like squash you can just slice them up, put on a little olive oil, spices and stick in the oven. We don't even put meat in our spaghetti because we load with veggies instead.

I love fish too. I think I'm copying Sign of the Fish Burger (wow, that took awhile to type) tonight and having salmon.

Also, beans are awesome and cheap.

Beans are very cheap. I always thought that was a southern thing though.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

Stir fry is a favorite stand by in our house.
Bean chili is also a fave. (not a can dumped in a pot to make it hot)
We are a no beef household so we replace it with ground bison.
Talapia peas and rice
Salmon wraps are yummy too.
baked chicken nuggets (not the premade from a box kind)
hummus and veggies sticks is a delicious snack.

 

[OrangeHope]

Thanks guys for the ideas!
JSMF, I make homemade chicken nuggets too they're sooo yummy!

It's really been hard for me all my life to eat healthy and for the past 2 years I have really been struggling to start eating right, mostly when finding out that I'm pregnant I have really been trying to set myself on the right track...but it's hard when i crave chocolate so much lol

 

[Assisi]

I find that the longer I go without the bad stuff, the less I want it. I agree with the poster who said they have a no junk policy in the house. It's not a policy in our house, but it is still a reality. I just don't buy it. Also, it's a good idea to make sure it is hard to buy take out when you're out. Leave your cash at home so you can just get some, don't walk by the fast food places etc. Substitute the craving, and over time the cravings will become healthier. I now prefer wholegrain to white bread, and water or fresh juice to soft drink.

Sometimes when I'm pregnant I will crave something bad, believe it or not lately I've been craving alcoholic drinks. I don't even like to drink! But lately....mmmm.

It is very very very worth eating right in pregnancy. Firstly it's better for baby's weight gain, secondly it's better for your weight gain (and future weight loss). But the reason which really keeps me going is the difference it makes to the way I feel. There are times when I don't have control over my diet because we're travelling. When I eat well and exercise I feel great. When I can't eat well I get just as sick as I was in my first trimester (I'm now 7 months). I don't know how anyone can eat badly in pregnancy - it sends me straight to the bathroom.

 

[GolfingMom]

We eat:
Fish (Petrale Sole, Salmon, Halibut, Tuna - we DO NOT like Tilapia or Catfish)
Redmeat
Chicken Breast only
Variety of veggies including: Asaparagus (kiddo's favorite atm), broccoli, carrots, celery etc.
With our dinners I make a BIG salad, dressed with a bit of EVOO, lemon and a bit of salt. The salad is mixed greens with carrots shredded, avocado, cucumber and sometimes tomatoes.
We have a big bowl of fruit on the coffee table so kiddo's are allowed to eat/snack on fruit whenever. Bananas are their current favorite - berries are a family favorite.
Water is the drink at home. Milk if the kiddo's want it is available. No juice. Surprisingly - the kiddo's prefer milk or water over juice so I never purchase juice.
Quinoa is also a big grain in our home. it can be used for breakfast, a side dish for dinner, in muffins etc. Lots of good nutrition and our family really likes it
We purchase what we can organic.

 

[OrangeHope]

Wow quinoa muffins is some thing I never thought about, I don't like quinoa so maybe if I try it in muffins it can work! I'll go look for a recipe soon.

Assisi, I know what you mean by the less junk you eat the less you feel the need to eat them! happens to me with chocolate I didn't eat it for few weeks and all the sudden I got huge cravings for chocolate...that craving doesn't seem to want to go away lol