When I was pregnant, I loved that I was getting a free pass on eating whatever I wanted. I was able to fulfill every unhealthy craving guilt-free, not realizing it could potentially affect my health. While I lacked dietary willpower (and scarfed down cookies and ice cream daily), many women may prefer to follow a more disciplined approach to eating during pregnancy. A recent diet trend called Whole30, which is geared towards clean eating and promoting wellness, is becoming widely popular. But can you do Whole30 when you're pregnant?
Whole30 is a diet that aims to pinpoint your body's food intolerances by eliminating wheat and grain, legumes, dairy, and natural or artificial sugars from your diet for 30 days. The Whole30 website suggested that the diet helps your body heal from the side effects the intolerant foods are causing, and helps you reset your relationship with food.
On its website, the co-creator of the Whole30 diet, Certified Sports Nutritionist Melissa Hartwig and Stephanie Greunke, a registered dietitian, explained that they created the program Healthy Mama, Happy Baby, as an answer to the questions surrounding the safety and suitability of doing the Whole30 diet during pregnancy.
Healthy Mama, Happy Baby noted on its website that Whole30 is totally safe for most pregnant women, and recommended that to ensure a stress-free 30 days, you should listen to your body, make sure you eat enough, try smaller meals and snacks, and think about the amount of carbs and protein you consume.
If you're concerned about losing too much weight, the website suggested ensuring you eat enough healthy fats, fruits, and starchy vegetables in your diet to avoid getting too low in carbs, and to take a break from the diet if you're losing too much weight.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, dieting to lose weight is not a good idea during pregnancy because it can end up restricting important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It's advised that you eat enough carbs for energy, along with nutrient-dense foods and prenatal vitamins for a healthy pregnancy.
While the Whole30 diet promotes the consumption of nutritious foods and seems to have a toned down version for pregnant women, it is still very important to talk to your doctor before starting any kind of diet. Take cues from your body, and if you don't feel good, take a break. The fact that you're strong enough to ditch the ice cream and cake shows your level of commitment to your health, and that itself should make you feel proud.
