Pregnant, Nursing or Trying to get Knocked up? Eat this!

We’ve all inevitably heard tales of morning sickness. Some lucky women don’t see much of it and float along like glowing, beautiful, mythical creatures during their pregnancy. Then there are those of us who gain 10lbs during our first trimester because the constant nausea makes us want to eat carbs, all day long, to keep from emptying the contents of our bellies on the floor. Yes, I fell into the second category of non-stop nausea and heartburn. It did teach me a few things about how to keep nutrients down to keep my baby growing and healthy. And grow she did. She was 9lbs 10oz at birth.

I recentley wrote an article for Fox News about about my recommendations for Princess Kate whose first pregnancy has caused her severe morning sickness and food aversions.

The Weston A. Price Foundation recommends the following list of foods for pregnant and nursing moms but chances are, if you’re having food aversions, you won’t keep most of these things down.

Cod Liver Oil to supply 20,000 IU vitamin A and 2000 IU vitamin D per day

1 quart (or 32 ounces) whole milk daily, preferably raw and from pasture-fed cows Here’s why I choose raw milk.  And go here to find out where to get it where you live.

4 tablespoons butter daily, preferably from pasture-fed cows

2 or more eggs daily, preferably from pastured chickens

Additional egg yolks daily, added to smoothies, salad dressings, scrambled eggs, etc.

3-4 ounces fresh liver, once or twice per week (If you have been told to avoid liver for fear of getting “too much Vitamin A,” be sure to read Vitamin A Saga)

Fresh seafood, 2-4 times per week, particularly wild salmon, shellfish and fish eggs

Fresh beef or lamb daily, always consumed with the fat

Oily fish or lard daily, for vitamin D

2 tablespoons coconut oil daily, used in cooking or smoothies, etc.

Lacto-fermented condiments and beverages

Bone broths used in soups, stews and sauces

Soaked whole grains

Fresh vegetables and fruits

From personal experience I know that the easiest things to keep down (at least while I was pregnant) is soup and smoothies. Make yourself a delicious home made soup, start my making a bone broth, add lots of veggies and some finely shredded protein, and even some liver. Even better? Have someone else make it for you! Follow my step by step guide to make mineral rich bone broth.

Smoothies are also easy to make into nutrient rich vitamin bombs. I like to start with either coconut water(great for keeping you hydrated), yogurt (full of great probiotics for a healthy gut), or milk, preferably raw or at least organic (full of healthy fats and vitamins). Add a handful of your favorite organic berries (high in antioxidants), coconut oil (to help build immunity), blackstrapp molases (rich in iron), at least 5 large kale leaves (for added calcium). Then add more of your favorite smoothie ingredients, my favorite pregnancy fruit was mango which is great in this smoothie and very high in vitamin C.

What are some of the things you’ve had the best luck eating or drinking during pregnancy? I know a lot of moms who had crazy cravings, mine were mango, which I ate or drank in some form almost every day of my pregnancy, and spicy Italian sausage. Pregnancy has been the only time I’ve ever been able to eat, or actually craved, spicy food!