Living Vegan For Dummies - Alexandra Jamieson [134]
Your body may be using cravings to tell you that it needs certain minerals or nutrients, such as calcium or protein. However, emotional cravings may be involved as well. Explore your cravings and get emotional support from other moms and pregnant friends. Talking about your fears and concerns with understanding listeners can help you release tension, which can decrease your desires for unhealthy foods that you’ve been using to sooth your emotions. You’re certainly not alone if you feel overwhelmed or anxious and eat certain foods because of it.
Dairy and meat cravings during a vegan pregnancy can be disturbing to you, especially when you’re working hard to stay on the vegan bandwagon. These cravings may signal a need for more iron, calcium, or protein. If you want to continue with your vegan diet, you should eat foods rich in those attributes normally found in the food you’re craving. Refer to the earlier section “Nutritional know-how: Getting enough of what you need” for the scoop on eating vegan foods that provide you with the proper nutrients.
If you’re craving a certain texture, such as creamy, rich, crunchy, or buttery, keep in mind that many vegan foods are available to satisfy any of those desires. If you’re craving any of the following nonvegan foods, don’t worry, I’ve provided some vegan suggestions that are sure to satisfy:
Cheese: Air-popped popcorn drizzled with melted vegan margarine or olive oil and sprinkled with nutritional yeast flakes.
Ice cream: Nondairy ice cream made with soy, rice, or hemp milk.
Chicken: Frozen vegan soy “chicken” nuggets, which you can find in many health food store freezers.
Beef: Cook up some vegan “beef” strips, prepare a rich shiitake mushroom and bean stew, and add more iron-rich foods to your diet in case your body is craving the mineral.
Managing “morning” sickness
I had to laugh when I started feeling morning sickness — all day for weeks on end! Some women have no nausea and other women have endless queasy feelings no matter what time of day it is. This upset stomach may be accompanied with slight headaches, a sour taste in your mouth, and vomiting.
These symptoms are all normal during the first trimester, but if you can’t eat at all or have excessive vomiting, talk with your midwife or doctor. Ask her for advice if you seem dehydrated, lose weight, or feel lightheaded. These symptoms can all lead to complications if not addressed quickly.
As with everything else to do with pregnancy, each woman is different. During this time, you may not be able to stomach some foods that you used to love and rely on. And certain times of day may be better or worse for you. Here are some tips that can help you get through the yucky times:
Eat small snacks and meals more often throughout the day to help your sensitive stomach.
Keep a plate of plain crackers next to your bed and eat a few if you wake up in the middle of the night and immediately upon waking in the morning.
Avoid upsetting smells like gasoline, cooking food, perfumes, and heavily scented products.
Drink small amounts of natural electrolyte beverages, such as young coconut water, throughout the day to replenish your salts. (The earlier section “Taking in plenty of water and electrolytes” explains more on electrolytes.)
Stay cool during the day and avoid overheating. Soaking your feet in a bucket of cold water can help during summer.
Relieve your nausea by eating watermelon and drinking naturally sweetened ginger-lemonade. Fresh mint also is known to calm an upset stomach. Ginger tea, either iced or hot, can be made by steeping freshly cut pieces of ginger in water.
Exercise moderately and regularly.
Keep windows open to keep fresh air inside your home.