I am so very sick right now. I guess my little monkey does not enjoy me trying to sort out a way to eat to match my diabetic diet. Honestly, the biggest problem is I have to eat more often than I am used to and it is really bothering me. And today, I woke up with a headache so bad that it is making it hard to function at all. I did manage to put it aside enough to get things ready for the kids, but that was largely due to Prince Charming helping out when I just couldn't do it anymore.
I am having issues trying to adjust my diet, balancing my carbs and proteins while finding ways to fill my nutritional needs while battling the morning sickness that eating the right balances seems to bring. UGH, sickness sicks.
I am having a moment where I can hardly believe that in a few short months, I will be holding a brand new baby in my arms. I look around at my house filled with love, laughter, adorable little faces, and little arms that wrap around my neck (or my legs) and hold on so very tightly, little hands that pat my back in a hug and I wonder how I got to be so very blessed. No matter if this lovely little person growing inside of me is a girl or a boy, I know that there will be joy unbounded when he/she arrives. The fact that I get to love and care for four little people is so special that I can't even believe how lucky I am. I may not have any money, but there is not one person in the world who is richer than I am.
This is really bad taken in my awful bathroom in the mirror, but here is a belly pic. I had a hard time staying completely sideways and taking the pic, I kept turning into the pic a bit and that makes my butt look GIGANTIC!
Now a lot of people know that if you are looking to eat a healthy plant-based diet, there are wonderful blogs out there with a vast assortment of recipes and info. One of my faves is "The Happy Herbivore". I find her recipes are in a very similar style to the way I cook, they are accessible and I enjoy that. I just found a post on her blog that I had to share!
23 Quick, No Fuss Meals
23 Quick, No-Fuss Meals: Still crave the ease and simplicity of a ham and cheese sandwich? No problem! Make any of these fast and almost instant meals!
Simple Stir-Fry: Combine equal parts soy sauce with sugar and set aside. Cook frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables according to packaging instructions (microwave!). Toss with soy sauce mixture and serve over a plate of cooked rice or quinoa. Edamame (soybeans) and/or tofu chunks make a nice addition.
Blissful Burrito: Spread a thin layer of vegetarian refried beans (or regular cooked beans) into a tortilla or wrap. Add salsa and any leftovers you have such as rice, quinoa, vegetables or greens. Roll up and voila!
Penny-Pinching Pad Thai: Toss cooked (and still hot!) rice noodles or pasta with 2 tbsp smooth or crunchy peanut butter and a dash of hot sauce. Cook frozen mixed stir-fry vegetables according to packaging instructions (microwave!) and toss with noodles. Garnish with crushed peanuts if desired.
Fast Fajitas: Mix fajita seasoning packet with water as directed. Cook fresh or frozen bell peppers until cooked, but still crisp. Toss with fajita mixture and cook as directed. Slap into tortillas and voila!
In a Hurry Curry: Mix 1 tsp curry paste with 1 cup coconut milk or non-dairy milk over medium heat to form a sauce, whisking in more paste if desired. Cook frozen mixed vegetables according to packaging instructions (microwave!) and smother with curry sauce. Tofu chunks and/or a side of rice make a nice addition.
Tasty Tofu Scramble: Break a block of firm tofu into chunks. Mix with 3 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 big squirt Dijon mustard, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp turmeric and ½ tsp cumin and cook until warm, stirring frequently. Add a splash of non-dairy milk if it starts to stick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add salsa, leftover veggies or beans to expand this dish. (video on happyherbivore.com/courses)
Pita Pizza: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce or pizza sauce on a pita. Add any toppings you like: vegetables, faux cheese, faux meat — even leftovers. Bake 5–10 minutes at 350 F. Don’t be afraid to try crazy combinations!
Smashing Smoothies: Blend 2 cups frozen fruit with 1 cup non-dairy milk or juice, or a combination of liquids. Add oats, ground flax seeds or a fresh banana for a fuller meal. Great combos: pineapple chunks with non-dairy milk and OJ; strawberries and vanilla non-dairy milk; banana, strawberries and chocolate non-dairy milk. Mixed berries, plain non-dairy milk and flax seeds.
Quickie Quesadilla: Smash a cooked sweet potato into a tortilla or wrap. Add beans, cooked greens and/or corn and fold over. Heat each side in a skillet if desired. Serve with vegan sour cream and/or fruit-flavored salsa over top.
Crazy Corn Soup: Cook 1 lb. frozen corn according to directions (microwave!). Blend into a creamy soup with 1/4 cup non-dairy milk and voila! Chipotle powder or hot sauce takes this soup to a fiery new level! (Recipe from happyherbivore.com)
Sassy Salsa Soup: Place 1 cup black beans, 1 cup salsa and 1½ cups vegetable broth in a blender, pureeing until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan, add 1 cup frozen corn, more black beans as desired, 1/2 tsp cumin and hot sauce to taste. Cook until thoroughly warm. Crumble tortilla chips over top and serve. Fresh avocado and/or cilantro also make a nice addition.
Mama’s Mexi- Dip: Combine vegan sour cream (or silken tofu blended with a few drops of lemon or lime juice) with ⅓ cup salsa or 1 packet taco seasoning. Serve with refried beans and tortilla chips. Guacamole also makes a nice addition. If you have extra time, make a layered dip.
Better BLT: Combine vegan bacon with lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo, avocado slices or hummus between two slices of bread or toast. You can also use a wrap.
Ancient Aztec Salad: Combine 1 cup corn with ½ cup black beans, ¼ cup cooked quinoa and fresh tomatoes. Squeeze lime juice over top. Serve warm or chilled. This can also be served over lettuce with tempeh slices or in a wrap. (Recipe from happyherbivore.com).
Terrific Teriyaki: Combine 1 can chickpeas with ¼ cup teriyaki sauce, 1 tbsp hot sauce and 1 tbsp sugar (optional) cook over medium heat until the chickpeas turn brown and the liquid absorb. Serve over greens or rice with fresh pineapple or mango salsa. (Recipe from happyherbivore.com).
Sensational Salsa Chickpeas: Combine 1 can chickpeas with 8 ounces of salsa. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until liquid has absorbed. Eat with lettuce wraps and sliced veggies. (Recipe from happyherbivore.com).
Cha-Cha Chili Macaroni: Combine 1 can of vegetarian chili with cooked pasta and a little tomato sauce if desired. Corn and/or fresh avocado slices make a nice addition. You can also add hot sauce to spice it up.
Outstanding Oatmeal: Cook 1 serving plain oatmeal according to directions. Mix with 4 to 8 ounces of plain soy yogurt. Add fresh fruit such as berries or banana slices and nuts, such as sliced raw almonds, on top. Drizzle with agave nectar or pure maple syrup. You can also add seeds, dried fruits or ground flax seeds.
BBQ’ed Baked Potato: Slice baked potato in half and smother with vegetarian baked beans. Serve with a side of frozen greens cooked according to package (microwave!).
Two-Minute Tacos: Combine 2 cups TVP with 2 cups hot water and 1 packet taco seasoning, stirring to incorporate. Once TVP has reconstituted (all water has been absorbed), make tacos or a taco salad.
Nice Rice Nori Rolls: Place chopped raw vegetables, such as bell peppers, cucumbers and carrots, with sliced apples or avocado, plus cooked rice or quinoa in the center of a nori sheet and roll up. Dip in soy sauce if desired.
Tangy Tempeh: Cut tempeh in half. Boil in water for 10 minutes. Drain, pat dry and smother in a tangy barbecue sauce. Serve on a bun with pickle slices and a side of cooked mixed vegetables.
Happy Hummus Wrap: Line a tortilla or wrap with red pepper hummus. Pile in fresh veggies such as sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery and white mushrooms, all sliced thin. Roll up and enjoy.
I am totally doing a happy dance right now. I felt the baby kick! At first it was gentle and I wasn't sure, then it was a little more firm poke in the same spot and then it was a third time and there was no mistaking it. I was sitting with my knees up against my belly and I guess the baby was crowded!! I LOVE it!
I was talking to some moms at a mommy group I am in about nutrition today. I found out that I am doing really really well now with this new devotion to healthy eating that I have had again. I am so motivated to feed my baby well and to do good things for this baby. (I do occasionally have a craving slip, but overall, I am doing well.)
I am anxious to meet with the nutritionist about Gestational Diabetes though, because I honestly don't remember anything beyond, sugar is bad, count your carbs and protein is good.
Well, I went to the doctor today. There was a delay because he had been up all night delivering a baby and he was behind. So I went next door and did something to make me feel better. My hair has been bugging me for a while, I hate dealing with it when I am trying to get comfortable in bed and it was really hot on my neck, so I CHOPPED off all my hair. I have a pixie cut. The hairdresser was scared to do it because my hair was down to my waist, but she said that she really liked it and that it really suited me. Prince Charming and the girls seem to agree. Princess Magpie kept looking at me in awe and saying, "You are Mommy!"
And on to my baby check-up. We couldn't detect the babies heartbeat because the baby was too busy jumping around and doing acrobats, but I figure if she/he was feeling good enough to be jumping around and dancing, she is good enough for me. I am in my second trimester, I am no longer bleeding and my baby is active. I am good. The bad news is that I have Gestational Diabetes. When I had the test, I stopped by a coffee shop and had a coffee and a little sweet after it was over and it seems that sweets on top of that awful sugar drink they give you was not good for me and when I thought my sugar was low and making me feel really confused and foggy, it was actually really really super-high. So it looks like it is Gestational Diabetes again for me.
I would also like to point out that I am in my SECOND TRIMESTER!!!! Here's to better days with less fear of loss!
I have been doing so well with my eating. I haven't been giving in to the horrible cravings. I have been eating overnight oatmeal with fruit and flax seed for breakfast. Tofu Scramble with veggies is what is for lunch. Typically, supper is rice and some sort of veggies. last night it was long grain rice, salsa, kidney beans, and corn. OMG was that YUMMY! And usually an extra thick smoothie made of frozen fruit and Lite Silk Milk. I feel so much better. I am still on bedrest and have been taking it easy, but the reward that the bleeding has stopped is wonderful.
Spicy Salsa! Tofu Scramble
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
1/2 a small red onion
3/4 cup salsa
12 oz. extra firm tofu
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
olive oil (2 tablespoons or so)
Directions:
Chop the onion up and throw into a pan with the olive oil. Saute over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
In a medium bowl, mix salsa, tofu, and turmeric. Pour mixture into pan with onion and saute for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how browned you like your tofu.
Serves: 2
I will be filling in updates here later this evening. I just wanted to post that I am back in all my healthy eating, vegetarian glory! I bought just bought tofu and I CAN'T WAIT to get at it and make me a nice big tofu scramble for lunch. I had coffee with vanilla silk coffee creamer and a nice big bowl of oatmeal this morning and it was a wonderful way to start my day. I am so glad to be back to being a healthy me. I have to confess that after the morning sickness passed, the craving started and I gave in to each and EVERY one! It was NOT GOOD! So I am here to be better and be healthy.
I just wanted to update you guys on things. My pregnancy seems to be going okay. The bleeding has stopped and I am taking it SUPER easy. I had been having a stressful, busy couple of days and it is possible I was over-doing it. So, no more of that. I intend to relax, enjoy my kids and not stress about the things I can't get done as much as possible.
Had a scare last night. I was bleeding and I went to the ER to get checked. My cervix was closed, the baby's heartbeat was strong and the baby was active and moving around. They said all that was a good sign. I am worried, but it has stopped now and I am taking it easy. So keep my baby in your thoughts and prayers guys.
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