Hello Hello: The Inspirational Guide to Pregnancy. Danielle Jai Watson

      With so much talk on making healthy choices, what in fact should we eat during pregnancy for optimum results and how do we combat the cravings everyone talks about? The truth of the matter is that every woman is different. And as a result, you should follow what works best for your body. Some women experience cravings while others don’t. Some can barely stand the smell of food, while others have zero issues at all. The goal is to listen to your body and find balance.

      If you have sweets craving, it’s not helpful to constantly beat yourself up over-indulging every now and again. You are growing a whole human inside of your body — you deserve a treat for sure! The danger comes with overindulgence of things that are high in sugar or not eating often enough (which can contribute to morning sickness).

      The dreaded morning sickness is sometimes misrepresented as only occurring in the morning. For many women, this nausea occurs all day long — and in some extreme cases, hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea and vomiting) can cause a woman to end up in the hospital so as to avoid dehydration. There are even cases (such as myself) where your nausea lasts the entire duration of pregnancy, into the delivery itself. The point here is that every pregnancy is different and that you’ll likely overcome the intense struggle of sickness during pregnancy.

      One thing that may help with morning sickness — aside from the typical suggestion of eating a ton of carbs — is ensuring that you eat something every two to three hours. The less you have on your stomach, the increased likelihood and intensity of nausea (this includes nighttime as well). The key, though, is to choose your foods wisely. Some essentials to play around with include colorful veggies, lean meats, powerful proteins (including a protein during each meal/snack is pivotal to your overall health), a balanced amount of fruit (so as not to overwhelm your body with too much sugar) and, most importantly, tons of water. It’s important not to become dehydrated, as this could lead to pre-term labor (labor before you have reached the full-term gestational age of 37 weeks).

      Foods and beverages that are wise to avoid during this time include: caffeinated drinks, soft cheeses, alcohol, raw eggs, raw fish, processed foods, sugars and fried foods. Some doctors are adamant about the foods you choose to eat during pregnancy, while others are more lenient. I’ve purposely left the list a bit vague as my goal is to simply encourage you to find what works best for you in the realm of healthy eating for your body.

      Essentially, the more sugar you can avoid the better. With an understanding that all scenarios are varied and knowing that finding the perfect meal is easier for some than for others, the purpose here is simply to inspire you to work your hardest within the means that you have to make changes that will better your experience — and that of your baby in utero.

      There’s no pressure here to be perfect or to look perfect by anyone else’s standards.

      This is solely about feeling your best, discovering your best self and working at your capacity to be your best in this journey. It’s important that you refrain from comparing yourself or your decisions to others. It is pivotal that you not compare your body type, pregnancy belly or stretch marks to anyone else. The more beautifully-empowered thoughts you have about yourself in this time, the stronger your propensity to make healthier, more encouraged and more loving decisions for yourself.