Vegetarian but my main foods are turning me off

[Anonymous]

I've been a vegetarian for 15+ years and planned to keep a mostly vegetarian diet during pregnancy while adding in some seafood. I'm almost 12 weeks and since the beginning I've been turned off by most of my veg protein sources. I can't stand the thought of beans or soy, milk tastes spoiled no matter how fresh, yogurt makes me gag. I can occasionally get some cheese in, but for the most part, the smell of cheese is nauseating.

And the kicker is I really, really want to eat some chicken. Most of my protein comes from protein bars, so I'm managing 20g or so a day and I'm taking a Calcium and Vit. D supplement, so I think I'm okay nutritionally, but I'd really like to get back to my regular diet. Anyone else have a similar issue? Did you just end up eating meat or did it pass?

[Anonymous]

Have you tried seian? That's a super protein source.

I was a veg throughout pregnancy (and still am), but honetly, I don't think the sky will fall if you have some chicken to get you through. Esp since I tihnk you really need more like 60+ g of protein a day while pregnant (don't quote me on that, though--I could e wrong)

[Anonymous]

I'm not a full on vegetarian, but don't eat much meat or chicken. I do eat eggs from a trusted local source and I do eat greek yogurt, some cheese and other dairy.

I didn't have any food aversions during my first pregancy, but this time around, I had many food aversions and I was turned off by many of my veggie go to options. Oddly, there were some days when raw vegetables/salads etc. really turned me off (I did better with cooked ones) and I also couldn't eat hummus, which I normally love, and I didn't feel like raw nuts which I usually eat a lot of. I didn't crave meats per se, but did eat my more eggs to keep my protein up and eggs didn't turn me off. One thing that I craved was chicken noodle soup (?) - totally random.

You may find you get more of your old appetite back in the second trimester. I'm eating much more normally now.

[Anonymous]

Eat the chicken.

Your body needs more like 65 grams of protein per day. Some of it will come from your other foods, but if you feel like chicken and not any of your other normal sources of protein, just eat the chicken.

I say this as someone who was a vegetarian for about five years, returned to meat-eating gradually, got pregnant and have had significant meat aversions such that I've been almost entirely vegetarian since week 12 or so. This pregnancy has taught me to listen to my body more and accept its cravings and aversions (within the bounds of a fairly healthy diet).

[Anonymous]

I'm a vegetarian too and when I first found out I was pregnant, I was eating an egg a day, but now I have an aversion to eggs. I do eat a lot of dairy: milk, cheese, yogurt. But if that makes you gag, then maybe try lentils. You can cook an indian style dhal that will have a lot of protein. Another idea is oatmeal, cream of wheat or quinoa. Try grains and veggies. If you are early on in your pregnancy, I wouldn't worry to much about it because your food aversions should get better over time.

Have you tried fake chicken? Try founding farmers or another substitute. Or just go ahead and eat chicken if its not for religious reasons...

[Anonymous]

Very common. I've heard of many veg. craving red meat while preggos. I think your body craves what your body needs. Eat the chicken.

[Anonymous]

With my 2nd child, I had a total aversion to tofu and its spinoffs. Couldn't handle it (DH had to make all of older child's tofu meals), couldn't smell it, couldn't even stomach the thought of it. Interestingly, I never had a craving for meat so didn't have to deal with your issue. Probably eating chicken isn't going to kill you, if your body craves it!

[Anonymous]

Go on, go for the quarter pounder with cheese!

[sybersus]

I am a vegetarian too and I had strong aversions in the first trimester -- though no cravings for meat. I found that avocados were filling and healthful, and tried to eat those regularly. By 15 weeks, I was back to eating my regular diet, and things like tofu, yogurt, eggs, and beans were appealing to me again.

I think it's important to follow what your body is telling you -- have some chicken if that's what you are craving. You need to listen to your body! Go back to veggie protein sources when you are feeling up to it.

Good luck and congrats!

[Anonymous]

OP here - I'm hoping the aversions go away soon, it's just so odd. I'm a great vegetarian, I cook and I usually eat a large variety of foods. Now, I hate eggs, I hate the idea of avocado, no tempeh, no tofu, no humus, nothing. I'm driving myself and my husband crazy. Oatmeal and cream of wheat is a good suggestion, I'll give that a try. I'm really hoping my appetite comes back!

[Anonymous]

so funny, I'm not veg, but the idea of any poultry or pork during my first trimester made me gag, and I ate mostly vegetarian during that time. I figure, find some nice, humanely raised chickens at the farmer's market and go for it. It will pass, but I do think it's important to listen to what you're craving at this point since your diet is pretty restricted by your aversions.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a vegetarian but definitely eat tons and tons of vegetables. Or I guess I should say used to. Once I got pregnant the thought of vegetables made me sick. Out of habit, I'd come home from the grocery store with bags of veggies that ultimately were wasted.

I'd say eat what you can stomach until you can eat what you want. I feel bad for living off of bagels, bread and mac & cheese but my doctor said it's better than getting sick or not eating at all. Hope this passes soon for you.

[Anonymous]

I'm a strict vegetarian and I think you should eat what you want. Personally I never craved meat (sounded even worse than when not pregnant, which I understand is common among meat eaters even). If you think you'd regret eating chicken, have you considered eating those fake meat chicken patties? Would that satisfy you? There are fake chicken patties (round), fake nuggets, etc.

Would it help eating your usual protein sources cold? For me, my stongest aversion was to hot food for the first trimester. The smell of food cooking also made me feel nauseated. But I could eat things cold--cold omelettes, cold tofu, cold beans, etc.

FWIW, it took planning (mostly because I didn't feel like eating that much) in order to get the full amount of protein I aimed for, but it's not hard to do vegetarian.

What about high protein grains like quinoa and amaranth? Also nuts and PB. I made a cold quinoa salad that was quick--quinoa + added chopped bell pepper, chopped steamed broccoli, shredded carrot, etc.

[Anonymous]

OP again - thanks for the ideas. I won't bring chicken in the house, DH is also veg and we're sort of default kosher by not having meat in the house. If i'm having the craving while out, I might give it a try. The fake meats turn me off the most, so those aren't an option. I think adding hot cereals is a good idea and I'll try to eat more nuts, maybe I can find ways to add nutritional yeast to foods I will eat. I wish I could like quinoa, I've tried, but both DH and I think it's gross. I'm hoping the aversions go away soon, seems like I just get more every day and I think dairy is giving me headaches. I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Hey op, if all else fails, you should just drink your protein. Try fruit smoothies with protein powder/egg white powder. I had to do this for a couple of weeks. Did the trick. Some other folks swear by carnation instant breakfast, boost, ensure, etc.