At first glance, a gestational diabetes diet can seem boring and unfulfilled. Such a strict diet seems easier said than done, especially when you are combating pregnancy cravings at every turn. The health of yourself and your unborn baby rely on you to make smart diet choices, however, so you may benefit from a few tricks to maintain a healthy pregnancy diet for gestational diabetes.
Eat Regularly
The first and perhaps most important tip on this list is to make sure you are eating regularly. Most doctors recommend that pregnant women, especially those with gestational diabetes, eat multiple small meals throughout the day. Regularly eating this way will help you to maintain energy, avoid morning sickness, and also keep your blood sugar levels stabilized throughout the day. It will also keep you from the obvious problem of getting too hungry. After all, if you allow yourself to get too hungry you are more likely to make poor dietary decisions. For best results, eat lots of fresh vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean protein.
Stay Hydrated
If you are eating regularly and are still hungry or are having an issue with cravings, you might be thirsty. It is recommended that most people drink around 64 ounces of water per day, and this is even more important when you are pregnant. In fact, it is recommended that you drink even more than usual. A good rule of thumb is half of your body weight in ounces. The best way to accomplish this is to always carry a refillable water bottle with you at all times, and to keep a log of how many times you empty it throughout the day. Sip the water constantly rather than chugging a lot at once to avoid giving yourself acid indigestion.
Rethink Sweet
When sweet cravings hit, try giving into them in a healthier way. Instead of reaching for candies or cookies, try rethinking your sweets and grabbing a piece of fruit instead. The natural sugars in fruit will still raise your blood sugar, but not to dangerous levels like sugary snacks will, and they have the added benefit of having dietary fiber and lots of vitamins. The best fruits for diabetics are apples, bananas, and berries.
Upgrade Your Carbohydrates
Another switch you can make is upgrading your carbohydrates. Simple carbs can raise your blood sugar just as much as some sugary snacks, so switch them out with complex carbohydrates. For example, choose whole wheat crackers, bread, and noodles instead of the kind made with refined white flour.
Get Minty Fresh
When sweet cravings hit and you have done everything else to try to stave them off, try tricking your taste buds. Brush your teeth or chew some minty gum. You can also try eating something sour, like a pickle, to trick the sweet cravings away.
Hopefully these diet tricks will help you to navigate your gestational diabetes diet a little easier. These tips should help you to combat strong pregnancy cravings so you can maintain your healthy gestational diabetes diet and still enjoy your food. All in all, a healthy pregnancy is the most important thing in your life right now, so do what you can to stick to your healthy gestational diabetes diet. For more gestational diabetes tips, click here.
Leave a Reply