Comments on: Overcoming some menu-planning challenges this week

By: djsnjones

djsnjones — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:14:10 +0000

I should probably add that on the Brewer checklists that call for 6-8 servings of food from the “Protein Group” the meat servings are 1 oz. (approx the size of a thumb). However, on the Brewer checklists that call for 2 servings of food from the “Protein Group”, the meat servings are 3 oz. (approx the size of a deck of cards).
Joy

By: djsnjones

djsnjones — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:27:52 +0000

I’m wondering how this is going for you by now.

I’m also wanting to re-iterate that not all of your protein sources need to come from meat, and also note that the meat servings on that Brewer checklist are only 1 oz each. A 3 oz. serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards, so a 1 oz serving is 1/3 the size of a deck of cards, or about the size of your thumb.

I also want to re-iterate the caution about making sure that the raspberry tea, or pregnancy tea does not contain nettle or dandelion, or the other herbs on that “Diuretic” page.

Best wishes,
Joy

By: djsnjones

djsnjones — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:24:28 +0000

I’m wondering how this is going for you by now.

I’m also wanting to re-iterate that not all of your protein sources to come from meat, and also note that the meat servings on that Brewer checklist are only 1 oz each. A 3 oz. serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards, so a 1 oz serving is 1/3 the size of a deck of cards, or about the size of your thumb.

I also want to re-iterate the caution about making sure that the raspberry tea, or pregnancy tea does not contain nettle or dandelion, or the other herbs on that “Diuretic” page.

Best wishes,
Joy

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:29:17 +0000

The red raspberry tea leaves will definitely help with contractions. It made a huge difference with my 4th child (the only one I drank it with) and I was able to have her naturally. My labor was shorter and the contractions were more effective. I would definitely recommend drinking it every day.

By: tiffanie

tiffanie — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:53:09 +0000

i've been buying healthier food, too, lately. yes...definitely spending more $ on our grocery budget. went from about $35-40 per week to about $60-75. oh well...i'm losing weight and feel so much better!tiffanie's last blog post..hamburgers and slacking.

By: Shevy

Shevy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:10:09 +0000

I’ve used both the Brewer Diet (when I was expecting my now-grown kids) and What to Eat When You’re Expecting with my latest (now 5 years old).

The Brewer Diet is exceptionally good for women pregnant with multiples, because it addresses the increased needs much better than most pregnancy diets. (Actually, most of the pregnancy diets I’ve ever seen, with the exception of the 2 I mentioned above, are pretty much jokes.)

Yes, it’s hard to eat all that food if you aren’t used to it. Use a checklist and remember to go over it shortly before bed. That way if you’re short in some categories you can go fix yourself a bedtime snack that will fill the holes, not just add calories.

Also, you can look back over the past few days checklists and see if there is any kind of pattern to where you’re not managing (i.e. not getting enough protein or enough green veg or enough calcium or whatever). Then you can focus on that particular area for a while.

As for the expense, you’re building a human being who will use that body for the next 70 or 80 years or more. It’s worth it to make sure the foundations are solid.

By: djsnjones

djsnjones — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:04:31 +0000

You might also want to check out the page called “Diuretics” on that same website. There are some pregnancy herbal teas which contain some herbs which, in my opinion, could compromise your efforts to keep your blood volume well expanded.

Joy

By: djsnjones

djsnjones — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:21:45 +0000

Best wishes on your efforts! It sounds as though you’re doing well with it all, in spite of the initial difficulty.

Could you possibly save some money by getting some ideas from the Lacto-Ovo version of the Brewer Diet? There is a page for that under “Vegetarian” on that same website that you linked to in your original post.

Also, regarding the huge amount of food that it appears to be, I suggest that you check out the serving sizes of each of those food groups. For instance, each of the meat portions is only 1 oz, which is about 1/3 the size of a deck of cards, or about the size of your thumb.

You might also find some help by printing out a copy of the weekly checklist on that same website, and post it on your refrigerator. That way, you can check something off every hour with hourly snacks, and then just use what’s leftover (the empty boxes) for your meals. Or you could do it the other way around. I think that when women eat something small every hour from that checklist, it makes the amount of food much more doable.

Best wishes,
Joy

By: Sara

Sara — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:44:22 +0000

Be careful of the respberry leaf tea. My midwife was a very strong believer in it, but only after the 36th week of pregnancy because it has such strong effects on the uterus. I’m not talking about Lipton’s reapberry tea, I mena the kind that it real raspberry leaf. You might want to ask your midwife or doctor before guzzling it down….

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:16:01 +0000

Ugh. I HATE that eating healthy is so much more expensive than processed food! Some things really are worth investing in, though, especially now. That's why we cut corners in other places, right?Sounds like you're finding a good balance!Karen's last blog post..Menu Plan Monday & Grocery Round Up - 10/25-10/31