https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:55:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418848 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:43:44 +0000 wheres_c 418848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The other posters have already given lots of good suggestions.<br /> As I see it, people in India have been giving birth to healthy babies for years, and they mostly eat a low protein vegetarian diet.</p> <p>I also second the recommendation for the rainbow light supplements. They're designed with vegetarians in mind.</p> <p>Greek Yogurt is a great snack and has lot's of protein. </p> <p>As I got further along it got more challenging to prepare fresh healthy meals, so making something in bulk at the beginning of the week is a good idea.</p> <p>I used soy crumbles a lot - vegetarian shepherds pie, tacos, spaghetti bolognaise.<br /> I also ate a lot of quiche, omelettes, egg sandwiches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418822 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:36:46 +0000 sea_bass 418822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I suppose from an evolutionary perspective meat/fish aversions in the first tri make sense. But, body, we have refrigerators now... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418770 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:22:18 +0000 blackbird 418770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ETA: I also ate a lot of bean+cheese burritos. AND it is really, really common apparently to have meat aversions in pregnancy. Most women can't stomach meat in the first trimester. I certainly didn't love it, and I'd eat, say, half a pork chop and give the rest to my husband. So it's not unusual to not eat a ton of protein, I think...most women eat like shit their first tri :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418753 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:17:56 +0000 sea_bass 418753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Thanks! I love the sound of your smoothy. I will try that. I have PCOS as well.. So like you I am tad weary of having a lot of tofu as I have heard it can really effect your hormones.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418746 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:15:58 +0000 sea_bass 418746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@London Mama: Hi! I am in London too! I am basically eating as you described. I seem to be only able to stomach refined carbs (in any form) with a little salt and butter. I am rather horrified with myself. I am hoping with the end of the first tri near I might return to normal(ish) eating habits soon... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418745 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:14:41 +0000 blackbird 418745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man, I don't think that *I* eat 80 grams of protein a day AND i eat meat regularly! </p> <p>What about protein smoothies? I've been drinking those in the morning. Greek yogurt, protein powder, a little juice, some fruit (a banana, frozen strawberries, and frozen peaches in mine), and some spinach. It probably has close to 30 grams in it between the powder and the yogurt. I could easily have two a day if I needed to. They are sweet enough to stay down easily, are a good consistency, and I like the extra folic acid from the spinach since I don't absorb it well. </p> <p>You could buy bagged beans and soak them instead of the canned ones. Kind of a pain, but better than nothing! Do they sell beans in jars? Jars are safer than cans. I would probably just rinse them really well if I bought canned beans, though. </p> <p>I also have been eating an apple with a few TB of honey peanut butter every day. </p> <p>I was eating tofu and soy regularly, but my doctors advised me to stay away from it since my hormones are a bit fickle. </p> <p>I'd maybe search to see what women in other countries consume for their vegetarian pregnancies. Hindus don't eat meat; you might be able to find some good recipes that "hide" the egg a little, yet make it palatable. I ate a crapload of eggs in my first trimester--always fried egg sandwiches with cheese. Sometimes I'd scramble an egg into some soup, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418743 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:13:46 +0000 sea_bass 418743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WOW - thank you for all the great advice! </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Good to see you living up to your user name and posting on food related posts! I don't really have a doctor. I am in the UK (I should have specified) and have only just seen a midwife and will not see her again till the new year. I might just have to contact a private nutritionist and pay as I highly doubt it would be covered by the socialized care we have here. I am certainly hoping to develop a taste for meat like your sister did. I don't not eat meat for particular moral reasons, I have literally just never been able to stomach it. </p> <p>@JerricaBenton: Amazing! Thank you so much for those tips. I was afraid of trying protein shakes as I presumed they were all full of flavouring/sweeteners/sugar. I will def start buying dried beans. I am such an idiot. I have been using canned onces for so long its like I "forgot" where they even came from... </p> <p>@GreenThumb: Great ideas! I will look into chicken. I don't think I have ever eaten chicken. I imagine its fairly non-offence as meats go (?) and could be an excellent way to up the protein. </p> <p>@sslm: I had no idea oatmeal contained high protein. That's exactly the type of thing I would be able to stomach these days. GREAT- thank you! </p> <p>@Arden: I hadn't thought about soy and almond milk. They should be pretty easy for me to incorporate into my daily feeds. I normally eat quinoa a lot just these days the texture is really making me want to vomit. I hope that passes... Thank you! </p> <p>@rachiecakes: Congrats on your baby! What I cutie he is (I see from my avatar stalking!). I had a to google what chipotle was and am currently salivating over google images! YUM! I hope I get my taste back for dairy soon as well as your right- cheese and yogurts do contain protein as well as calcium. </p> <p>Thanks again!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418700 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:05:11 +0000 London Mama 418700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a pescatarian as well and also had a really hard time with protein when pregnant, the first trimester all I wanted was bread and potatoes, possibly with a little butter but nothing else.</p> <p>Over here in Europe it's fine to eat fish more than twice a week as long as you avoid fish that may contain heavy metals such as mercury (eg tuna, swordfish). I forced myself to have fish 4-5 times a week and then tried to have soy and other kinds of veggie proteins. Omelettes was a good compromise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418685 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:00:04 +0000 rachiecakes 418685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sea_bass: I'm a strict vegetarian (no fish but we do dairy) and delivered an 8lb 2oz baby boy last December :) </p> <p>Definitely talk to your doctor about this. They weren't too concerned about my protein intake but were and still are very adamant that I get enough calcium.<br /> I took Rainbow Light prenatal and a (algae-sourced) DHA supplement. I was addicted to Chipotle, ate lots of beans &amp; cheese dishes. If between beans and cheese/milk and your prenatal you don't think you're getting enough, I'd probably try a protein shake. gl! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418676 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:57:30 +0000 Arden 418676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't worry about it too much - it's totally possible to get all the protein you need as a total vegetarian. It's a myth that vegetarians can't easily get what they need - it's completely fine for most women. </p> <p>Soy milk and almond milk are great high protein options (and easy to keep down, for me anyway). I made smoothies with frozen berries, yogurt, soy or almond milk, and you can even add protein powder if you're really worried about protein.</p> <p>Leafy vegetables like spinach, collard greens, kale, etc are very high in iron, as are other foods like sweet potatoes, peas, prunes, and peanuts. </p> <p>You can also use dried lentils and beans (just soak them overnight and you can cook with them the next day) if you're worried about the canned ones. </p> <p>Eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, nuts and nut butters, seeds, are all good options as well. Quinoa is a fantastic grain, super high in protein, and can be used all sorts of ways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418673 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:56:34 +0000 sslm 418673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about oatmeal? I think it has the same amount of protein as an egg!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418667 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:52:57 +0000 GreenThumb 418667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I, too, have just been a fish-eater for several years, after being a full veggie from about age 14 to 27. But as we struggled to get pregnant, I grew concerned about my protein intake and started eating well-sourced chicken about 2 times a week (since I also cut down on my seafood intake) to try to keep up the protein. I, too, have really cut down on the use of canned beans, and try to cook a batch of dried beans about once a week (usually on the weekend) that we can supplement into meals during the week. And, I'm still mostly ok with eggs - I can't believe how many I have eaten since I got pregnant. They don't sit well everyday, but enough times a week that I feel ok. It is tough! I'm sure I'm not getting 80 grams a day - that seems like an impossible goal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418652 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:47:11 +0000 JerricaBenton 418652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Dried beans are a pain but you don't have to worry about BPA - you can make a big batch and eat them throughout the week.</p> <p>2. There are BPA free cans - Eden Organics is one. I'll see if I can find you a link to a list.</p> <p>Ok - here's the link: <a href="http://guide.thesoftlanding.com/bpa-free-canned-food-options/" rel="nofollow">http://guide.thesoftlanding.com/bpa-free-canned-food-options/</a></p> <p>3. How about protein shakes? It took a little searching but I was able to find a protein shake with no sugar and no artificial sweeteners/flavors and I have one most days with milk or milk and almond milk.</p> <p>4. If you can sprinkle all your meals with nuts/beans/HB eggs you can add up to a lot of protein during the day.</p> <p>These are just my first thoughts - but I'll try and think of some more. I am a vegetarian (no fish either) and my doctor says I am getting a good amount of protein! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418651 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:46:58 +0000 Foodnerd81 418651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is something to talk to a doctor or nutritionist who specializes in this kind of thing about. You have very specific circumstances so I doubt an internet search will answer your question, you know? I do know that my sister was vegetarian (no meat or fish, but eggs and dairy were OK) for several years before becoming pregnant. Around the beginning of the second trimester she had such strong cravings for meat that she gave in and ate meat for the remainder of her pregnancy, and actually hasn't gone back. So, I think your body will start telling you when you need it, but surely it's possible to do it without going to meat. Look at Alicia Silverstone-- she's super strict vegan, but I'm sure she had a cook and nutritionist on call too. Can your doctor recommend a nutritionist or dietitian? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vegetarian-amp-pregnant-help#post-418638 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:42:38 +0000 sea_bass 418638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone, </p> <p>I was hoping to get some advice from you all... </p> <p>Before being pregnant I was a pescatarian. I ate a lot of fish and seafood but didn't really ever have a taste for meat. </p> <p>I am coming towards the end of the first trimester and I have not been able to eat any form of protein since I was about 6 weeks pregnant. Fish and seafood makes me gag and I seem to have an aversion to egg, tofu, meat etc. </p> <p>While I stuck my head in the sand during the first trimester, I am somewhat aware that protein is fairly critical during the second and third trimesters. </p> <p>Hence my problem. </p> <p>Say, miraculously, I wake up soon and am able to eat fish and seafood again I have been advised to only have that twice a week. </p> <p>I was reading somewhere that pregnant women are advised to have 80grams of protein a day. This seems like a colossal amount that I will never be able to get through in a day. Like an egg contains 6 grams of protein. So short of eating a dozen eggs a day, I am not sure how I am going to get near enough protein. </p> <p>To add to this I am slightly worried about eating canned food, given everything I have read about BPA in the lining of most canned goods. This makes eating chickpeas, lentils and legumes, regularly, rather tricky. </p> <p>I suppose what I am asking is what are you all doing to make sure you are getting enough protein? Any tips, tricks, recipes or experience you would like to share? </p> <p>Thank you!</p> <p>P.S. Yes, I did use my favoriate fish as my user-name. Oh, how times have changed... </p>