Deciding if it\u2019s worth it<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs you start to notice the impacts of certain foods on your overall well being, mood, comfort, etc. I also want you to take into account how satisfied you are feeling after these meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did it hit the spot and satisfy a craving? Are you left feeling hungry after an hour or two? If you had negative effects from the food or meal does it feel worth it for you to repeat that?<\/em> Sometimes the answer may be yes and that\u2019s okay! But other times, you may opt to make a different choice or try something else.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe beautiful thing is that we get so many opportunities to pay attention to our bodies and we can work on \u201ccollecting\u201d that information in our heads for a later date. This can be especially helpful if you have gestational diabetes! You may choose to take a mental note or even write down how certain meals impact your blood sugar or make you feel. These notes can help determine later choices and even help take the overwhelm out of feeding yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAdding in nutrient dense foods<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSomething else we can start to consider as we work on gentle nutrition is the actual nutrient content of food! Nutritious foods help both feed and fuel our body and give it what it needs to thrive (these are the foods you would typically see recommended by the USDA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, we also have foods that you can call \u201cfun\u201d or \u201ctaste-based\u201d foods. These are the foods that may or may not be as nutrient dense but are still foods you really like and enjoy! It\u2019s important to note that just because a food is considered nutrient dense or recommended by the USDA doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t also be a \u201ctaste-based\u201d food for you. It\u2019s GREAT if you have foods that fit into both categories!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to not reject or cut out these \u201ctaste-based\u201d foods, and remember that all foods are morally neutral (a skill you can learn more about HERE<\/strong>), even if they aren\u2019t all nutritionally neutral. Even if these foods don’t have as many nutrients they are still adding to your life by bringing you pleasure and enjoyment, so finding a way to enjoy them even if you have gestational diabetes is crucial!<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is where it can be so helpful to create a meal that gives you the nutrients you need (learn more about that below), while also taking into account what your taste buds are craving. For example, maybe the meal you are craving<\/em> is really nutrient dense<\/em>. Great! You\u2019ve hit both the marks. Maybe you\u2019re craving something that isn\u2019t as nutritious but you can ADD<\/strong> nutrients to it for blood sugar balance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n