Anyone who ate mostly "natural" while pregnant - ideas? difficulties?

I mentioned to a few people, including my mother, that when I'm pregnant, I want to eat primarily natural foods. I'm currently working toward cutting out all soy, artificial sweeteners, and stevia from my diet so I'll be ready when the time comes (practice makes perfect, right?!). I also want to stay relatively low in net carbs.

I went grocery shopping last weekend and bought all kinds of uncured meats (canadian bacon, bacon, sausages, etc.) to try in an effort to cut out nitrates/nitrites. I also bought organic and grass-fed meats and some organic frozen strawberries and blueberries.

Anyone else stick to a very natural diet? I won't fool myself into thinking I'll follow it perfectly for 12+ months (9 plus however long it takes us to get pregnant), but I want to try to eat like this as the rule, not the exception. How hard was it for you? Any tips or suggestions or food ideas?

 We stick to a pretty natural/organic/raw diet at our home. Amazon.com is awesome for stocking up on great organic products that your store might not carry. Also, check out savingnaturally.com, she posts some amazing deals on natrual and organic foods! 

Thanks for the link - I spent a ridiculous amount of money on all these groceries! I knew it was going to happen, though, the second I stepped foot in Whole Foods...but I won't have to spend so much every time since I'll only buy what I like once I've tried the multiple varieties of stuff I bought this time around. I won't really need 6 different varieties of nitrate-free bacon every week  :P

 If you have the time, look into local organic co-op farms, you can buy a share and that share entitles you to a certain amount of fresh, organic veggies and fruit (sometimes eggs and milk too, depending on the farm!) every week or bi-weekly. I have several local farms that sell organic free range eggs, honey and maple syrup for VERY reasonable prices, especially the eggs (sometimes I even get those for free if her chickens had a very good week!). The closer you buy to your home, the better for yourself and the enviorment! You will be amazed at what you can find in your own backyard!

I naturally eat mostly "natural" .  It just feels good.  Not so much into the meat thing - chicken, turkey, fish mostly but I am not opposed to a good piece of beef.

Probably not worth doing if you are not to keep it up as a lifestyle.  How will baby eat after all your work to change temporarily?  I am convinced that you will keep it up after if you begin it, perfect it in your sense.  Don't restrict yourself though especially since "we" come from a background with food issues (maybe not you so excuse me, but me, me, me!).

I do use artificial sweetners and I do not believe I will ever stop.  I would freak out to use regular cane sugar - I am terrified of it.

Good luck Jilly.  Tell me about your sleeve plus again.  Do you know what you malabsorb - mostly fats like DS?

I hear lots of preggos seem to eat stuff that they probably ate pre-op - unless they just never changed after WLS.??? Things like ramen noodles, mac & cheese, boxed & canned goods, fast food and such (I am all for modified versions in small doses).  I don't know what contributes to it, genetics, habits, a combination of things but I see lots of obese babies, tots, kids coming from us . 

Kudos to you for embarking on such a thoughtful process.   It will make a wonderful difference for you and your baby)

Can't advise you on how difficult it is to change your style of eating because for me it was a gradual process that began about 20 years ago.  I was terrified of becoming diabetic - my dad died a terrible death.  And I've not had a baby so ?

Why not try Weigh****chers?  They have a great program now.  They use more "filling foods" - whole foods.  It is not extreme, it is whatever you make it following the basic guidelines.  I have some of the new program info I could send you.  You have no idea how relieved I was when this program was introduced - I was angry that pple weren't encouraged more to eat "good foods".  Basically it is lean proteins, lots of veggies & fruits and whole grains.

Pick up a copy of Andrew Weil's 8 weeks to Optimum Health.  He covers all the basics.


Best,
Leila

I assume by now that I no longer malabsorb ANY calories since my intestinal bypass was only about the same amount as that of a proximal RNY.

I do not (and will continue to not) eat grains, whole or otherwise, nor much fruit (just avocados and occasionally strawberries and/or blueberries).

My eating now is already drastically different than pre-op. I've adopted low-carb and high-fat as a general rule, which is bets for me not only for weight control but also because I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before my surgery. Since I've already changed so much, the things I'm focusing on now are just cutting the artificial sweeteners and soy and trying to incorporate more grass-fed/organic/free-range meat and eggs.

The most difficult thing for me to give up is my diet soda! I'm down to 1 Diet Pepsi a day. It's the only thing I'm trying to ween myself from instead of cutting out cold turkey.

I can't do something like Weigh****chers - I can't "count" things. That makes it too much like a restrictive diet, which ends up triggering (for me) the cycle of rebellion out of frustration, guilt for going off plan, emotional eating from the guilt, and then struggling to get back on track. Lucky for me, I have never been a fan of rice or noodles and have absolutely no trouble turning away from most breads, potatoes, corn, etc.

I do agree that this will last beyond pregnancy. Having the baby will not be the green light to start stuffing my body with crap again. It's just that the planning of a pregnancy is what is pushing me in this direction  :)

I hear you on the grains whole or otherwise.  My body does not work with any and why I got fat pre-op and gained now.  Certainly wasn't suggesting you do Weigh****chers - preggos aren't even allowed to be part of WW.  The WW style of eating makes sense and the books and ideas are nice - they are not new ideas but great for pple who are starting out.  Many of us don't even get what we eat.

You seem to be on track.  If I were you, I'd just be easy on myself.  One day at a time.

ill answer the preggos things... there comes a point in every pregnancy that i puke up meat/eggs/veggies/fruit... so i have 2 options- eat nothing ( in essence puking up your entire meal 5 mins after you eat it... is about the same thing) .. or eat what i can... i choose to eat what i can.. which often times is high salt.. full of carbs .. and highly processed... i do not eat like that my enitre pregnancy... just to get over the hump so to say.. i would much rather eat whole grains.. and veggies... and cheese... i really can live without another peice of meat... i dont like meat... never have... but i eat it.. because i "need" it..

I feel you, Lexa. I eat healthy and whole as long as I can, but with this baby, there are weeks on end where the only thing I can keep down. or even smell is Special K or grilled cheese. Gotta do what ya gotta do.

I'll have to wait and see how I feel when the time comes. I've read many accounts online of women who were eating low-carb and continued to do so once pregnant, and a common theme appears to be far fewer issues with morning sickness (why they call it that when it can happen at any time of day, I'll never know!), so I'm going to hope for the best but still be prepared to deal with the worst!