Hi guys,

As many of you know I’m currently pregnant with my 2nd child.  The funny thing is that I had my first one when I was 18 and I’m 32 now!! so my kids will be 13 years apart…needless to say, this second time was very different.

I totally understand that everyone is different and when it comes to pregnancies, each one is different, special, and unique.  When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, it was a total shocker! we were not planning on having more kids; however, God knows best and he sent another little angel into our lives.  One of the most exciting things about having another baby at this stage in my life is the fact that I’m a lot more informed  on many subjects including health!

I’m currently 40 weeks pregnant, and today is my due date.  The baby has decided to wait a little longer, and I’m ok with that but praying he comes out soon!  I was very blessed to have a very healthy pregnancy and as of today I’ve only gained 20 pounds total.  Before finding out I was pregnant I followed a very strict plant-based vegan diet which I loved; however, once I became pregnant the first 3 months were really hard due to morning sickness and nothing really sounded good, so I decided to incorporate some animal products like some cheese and a little bit of meat into my diet depending on what sounded good.

Not being as strict with my diet during pregnancy helped me survive the Holidays, as I was able to enjoy some of the yummy traditional foods during Thanksgiving and Christmas; however, I still kept it 90% plant based and most of my meals were vegan. I still believe that following a plant based vegan diet is the best thing for your health and our planet  even if it is not 100%.

Here are some of the things I did that helped me stay healthy:

• Drink Lots of water – I carry a glass water bottle with me everywhere I go and that has made a big difference.
• Drink a green smoothie or green juice a day – this is something that I was already doing before getting pregnant, but I believe this is vital to ensure you are intaking your fruits and vegetables for the day.
• Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you want each day – don’t be afraid to eat as many fruits and vegetables during the day, unless restricted by your doctor.
• Limit your sugar and caffeine intake – This one was hard for me since I’m a coffee lover, but I chose to drink decaf when possible and substitute coffee for decaffeinated tea at the end of my pregnancy.
• Limit or avoid processed foods if possible –  When pregnant we have to think about the baby first and try our best not to feed our bodies with empty calories and foods with no nutritional value.
• Stay active – I tried to walk as much as possible, but the reality is that sometimes you are just too tired, so do what you can!
• Indulge every once in a while – for me it was all about chocolate!
• Avoid the “I’m eating for 2” mentality – this is really just an excuse to eat more than you should and what I believe is the number one reason why people gain a lot of weight during pregnancy.

This is me at 40 weeks!

If you are looking for new ways of eating plant based foods, you can check out all the recipes that I have on the blog!

If you are pregnant or planning on being pregnant I hope these tips help you stay healthy! please remember that this is only my personal experience and you should always follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to the foods you can consume while pregnant.

Let me know if you have any advice or tips that helped you to stay healthy during your pregnancy.

Love,

Yesika