Protein in Pregnancy

"Eat your protein!" That is what everyone seems to be telling me. "It helps the baby grow." "You need 80-100 grams while pregnant."

Apparently I have been having trouble getting adequate protein. Now, I am keeping a food diary to account for every gram I eat for two weeks.

I am not a big meat eater. In fact, I am not a big eater in general. But, while pregnant, I do understand the importance of eating adequately for my baby's sake.

I like beans, nuts, fish, turkey, and chicken for protein. But, did you know that raw, organic fruits and vegetables can also be a great source of protein? Meat is not the only way! I found a website that helps me calculate every type of food for its protein content and am happily calculating each bite of fruits and vegetables into this amount as well.

I also like to have a protein smoothie with pea protein powder. A typical smoothie consists of 1/2 a banana, 1/2 c. peaches, 1/4 c. blueberries, 1 c. rice milk, a handful of raw spinach, and a scoop of protein (all organic ingredients of course). This is at least 35 grams of protein in this powerful and filling breakfast.

Looks like I will be browsing some cookbooks for some new recipes to spice up my diet. I am open to suggestions for vegan and vegetarian recipes too!