A very nice woman who's become a good friend just found out she's pregnant--she and her husband are THRILLED.
The problem is eating. She works from home, and is relatively young and inexperienced when it comes to cooking. Her mom passed away a few years ago, unexpectedly, and her sister lives several hours away, as do all her friends with children (she relocated here to be with her husband just a couple of years ago).
So she's got...no one close by with experience in pregnancy. I'm her closest friend, physically, and she and her husband are fairly regular guests at our house for dinner.
The pregnancy was unexpected, so they've JUST spent a lot of their savings on a vehicle, and are still paying for portions of their wedding.
So...given the restrictions on food during pregnancy, and someone who is not an adventurous eater, AND on a budget, what would you recommend? Vegetables are her weak area; she can broil salmon and is okay cooking chicken.
I taught her how to roast asparagus, and she liked that. Brown rice pilaf: it's okay, but no Uncle Ben's. Green beans: good any way you make them. Whole wheat pasta: Yuck. Tomatoes: Okay. Corn: Okay. Potatoes: Good. Salad: BORING. And that's about it as far as her vegetable/grain opinions go.
They've been living for most of this year as "fast food for lunch, pick up Applebee's/Longhorn Steakhouse/Chili's for dinner."
Suggestions for ways she can incorporate more vegetables in her diet? I'm a little overwhelmed, and she's SO eager to learn some new vegetable recipes.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Originally posted by Sandy: I am not sure, but I suspect V8 is loaded with sodium.
Just a thought...
The regular version is very high in sodium - just shy of 500 mg per serving but I think there is a low sodium version out now.
There is a low sodium version. It is a little more bland tasting but you can doctor it. Try adding fresh squeezed lemon juice, or you can add some freshly ground black pepper or for a real kick a touch of cayenne pepper. V8 is great to use in soups that call for tomato sauce. I use V8, add some spices, some fresh basil and voila-homemade tomato soup.
Jill
Summer Challenge Goals: 1) Walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week 2) Plan weekly menus
Seems like I remember a recipe with grean beans, corn and tomatoes.....maybe I'm halucinating? But does KD have a recipe with those? How is she with the bag of frozen mixed veggies? Those are great in all kinds of good soups as well as casseroles. I like frozen peas and carrots in my tuna noodle casserole and chicken casserole (both made simply with lf cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup).
Would she be willing to try carrots in a spaghetti sauce? If cut small, they are virtually undetectable.
A fast food lover myself, I think all those restaurants you listed have side items of apples and baked sweet potato. I wonder if she likes those and has just never attempted to make apples before?
stephanie
"Succeed! Because you have the opportunity to do so." - KD
Posts: 708 | Location: nashville | Registered: March 11, 2004
Gosh, no, iz, I'm not offended. You know how "your" life is normal to you? When she said she'd never tried sugar snap peas, or snow peas, or zucchini, or....I was a little shocked.
Thanks to all of you for pointing out what I was missing--there ARE things she likes. I was stuck looking at the limitations, rather than the opportunities.
I agree on the budgeting...I think part of the problem is that she didn't grow up in a household where dinner was cooked. Her husband is a finance guy and KNOWS they would do better to eat at home...but neither of them know how (or have tried, I suspect) to plan meals, make a list, shop, and make those meals. They blame it on the small apartment kitchen....I think I'm going to have to tell them about Sheri.
The eggplant parmesan is a FANTASTIC idea, Steph. She eats chicken parmesan like it's going out of style.
V-8 is another good idea. I wonder if she's considered it.
Y'all are great!
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
i hope you are not offended if i say this. when i read the description of your pal, i felt like you were describing the eating habits of a kid. lots of kids love applebees and chili's, and are not fans of veggies.
i was just reading a study this morning about pureeing veggies into kid-friendly dishes. broccoli and cauliflower was pureed into spaghetti sauce. some cheese was sprinkled on top of the dish. the kids with the veggies pureed enjoyed their meal jsut as much, but they ate less calories because the veggies took up volume.
since she is not adventurous--maybe try to stick with some standards, like burgers and spaghetti but throw in veggies in ways like this. i often make buffalo burgers, or even the 97 percent lean beef is great, and i throw in grated carrots, chopped onions and green beans into my ground meat. season it up and they make tasty patties with a ww bun. i have baked mac and cheese , mixing in steamed broccoli (chopped up) and it is very popular. i think jessica stein wrote that book about ways to get your veggies into meals.
again, no offense.... i have friends who i would describe as eating like kids.
and of course, she will develop her own taste for things due to her pregnancy. one friend of mine could not stand the smell or taste of garlic during the pregnancy. another friend had to have a biscuit every morning. (Things they never did when not pregnant)
my dd was not expected. i was poorer than dirt. but i enjoyed carrying her every minute, and we made out jsut fine. thrift shops are great. friends with used maternity wear are awesome. and life becomes real simple--we focus on what is really important.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
If you scroll down to the bottom of either article, there are even more links about essential nutritients, weight gain, etc...
As for getting in more veggies, I'm with Denise. Start with what she likes and try to work more of those in to her diet.
I always found it easier to eat healthy while pg because of the guilt of being responsible for someone else's well being was always in my mind.
I also agree with Denise that if they diverted their eating out budget to shopping at the market, that they'll be surprised how far their dollar will stretch.
Sounds like she's very eager/committed to eating well and that's 1/2 the battle right there. I would encourage her to take this opportunity to try more stuff (like the asparagus ; ) since it sounds like she's very willing. Maybe when they come to your house you can introduce her to a new veggie every time.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
One of my close friends was pregnant this last year. She absolutely hates all vegetables and lots of fruit. She swore by the V-8 Fusion in the Pomegranate Blueberry flavor. I did my part by supplying her with it on my trips to Cost-Co. Personally, I prefer the peach mango flavor or the orange one. All of them are an o.k. way to sneak in those vitamins from the fruit and veggies.
The baby came out just fine.
Can she jazz up salads by adding fruit? I love salads with apples and dried cranberries, oranges and dried cranberries, grapes. It adds a bit of texture and a little sweetness. For me the dressing can make or break a salad. Store bought dressings just don't cut it. Can you teach her how to make a basic vinaigrette and how to do a few variations? It can also be used to jazz up steamed veggies. Last night I made KD's Roasted Asparagus and Potatoes with a Balsamic Vinagrette out of the blue book. They were great hot and cold the next day.
How about a pasta salad with green beans, corn and tomatoes? Not the usual pasta salad combo, but go with what she likes. Will she eat carrots? They are great roasted or as a salad with a little rice vinegar, sugar and dill.
I have recently discovered cauliflower. I really liked it roasted. I could see that the mashed treatment could be good, as long as I wasn't expecting them to be potatoes.
Parsnips are another one of my favorites. If she likes cooked carrots, this might be an easy transition. They taste sort of carrot like, only a little earthier. They are great roasted. And they are usually fairly cheap.
I could go on, but perhaps that's enough to get you started?
Originally posted by D in St Pete: So...given the restrictions on food during pregnancy...
I don't know of any food restrictions during preg... sushi maybe and raw meat...
quote:
They've been living for most of this year as "fast food for lunch, pick up Applebee's/Longhorn Steakhouse/Chili's for dinner."
If they can afford this... they can afford to shop at a grocery store... and I don't think that budget should be an issue. If you eat a lot of fast/restaurant food and are used to seeing bills of $5, $15 or $30... going to the store and getting a bill for $100 or $150 can be a shock. But if you can afford Applebee's and Chili's, you can afford food.
quote:
Suggestions for ways she can incorporate more vegetables in her diet? I'm a little overwhelmed, and she's SO eager to learn some new vegetable recipes
Just the usual of shoot for "more" servings a day... if she is eating none now, shoot for 3. If she is eating 3, shoot for 5. etc, etc. Everybody has SOME vegetables they like... even if it is frozen peas and corn. Nobody HATES ALL vegetables.
She swore by the V-8 Fusion in the Pomegranate Blueberry flavor. 
