First Trimester Balance and Hunger

I do not understand why humans got away from eating whole grains.  Why is it so freaking hard, not to mention expensive, to find whole grain options in food.  Why is the default white flour?

One of the most frustrating things I have encountered is a lack of options.  I still want good food, I just wanted it to be real food.  You know, stuff my body knows how to digest.  For some reason, this pregnancy has decided to make me way sicker than last time (at least in my recollection).  It seems like this time, and remember that I am only 8 weeks at this point, I am either STARVING, exhausted, absolutely nauseous, or some combination of the three.

Taken from zazzle.com
(yes! you can buy this shirt!)

Also, cravings?  Yeah.  I read a while back that simply because you have a particular craving when you're pregnant does not mean you should give in to it.   Sometimes what's best for your body and baby is not that crazy Twizzler/pickle combo your brain is dreaming up.  With that said, many times when I am feeling sick, it seems the only thing that would make me feel better is that carbo-licious biscuit smothered in butter and syrup (not real maple syrup-  Mrs. Butterworth's terrible for but oh-so-stinkin-good syrup).  What am I to do?  Well, I have figured out that if I don't let myself get to the point of being really hungry, the cravings keep themselves more in check.  It's the total opposite of how my un-pregnant eating habits should be, which is do not shove food in your mouth if you are not hungry.  Now, in order to control what is going into my body and my crazy hunger, I have eat a small snack before I am hungry.*

Also, this week I decided to cut myself some slack because, whoa, those reins were tight.  Four weeks ago when I began this adventure, I knew I would start out strict and find balance as I journeyed on.  With the exception of one weekly aberration, I have abstained from bread of any sort, refined sugar or any real amount of organic sugar, white pastas, corn, and basically anything that isn't amazing for my body.  Call me weak, but some concessions have to be made.  So.  Here is my compromise with myself:  I am still steering clear of as much refined sugar and corn as possible because those are biggies.  However, I went to Whole Foods yesterday** and picked up snacks.  Yes, snacks, those creatures that un-pregnant people give such a bad rap.  But remember, snacks make good choices later way more feasible.

Taken from someecards.com

Having food on hand that doesn't need much preparation means better choices because cravings aren't taking over and fewer apologies to the husband for things that come spewing out of my mouth.  I picked up some basics like brown rice cakes and Brazil nuts, but then I got to the bakery and found bread.  I had already decided that I was going to stop shunning bread, so my heart did a leap as I pulled my buggy (that's a shopping cart to all ya'll out of the south) and asked for this amazing black pepper and Parmesan bread.  The great thing (okay, some of the great things) about the Whole Foods bakery is that they list the wholesome ingredients and that list is short rather than the length of my arm.  Then, I got a second loaf of bread.  Since my black pepper and Parmesan bread was to accent dinners, I also picked up the most whole grain, kernel-ed bread I could find to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

But, enough of this food talk, it is really time for a nap.

*Some small snacks are a green salad, a couple Brazil nuts, almonds, a banana, whole grain bread with some cold-pressed olive oil-  you get the picture.

**I used to be a strictly Earth Fare gal, but corporate wins this round.  Whole Foods is so much bigger and has everything I need in multiple options including fair trade! :)