um, green pregnancy is not exactly about eating leafy green veggeies

I just got interviewed for the Hollywood mommy web site momlogic. com. Check it out:

http://www.momlogic.com/2009/04/the_green_pregnancy_diet.php

At the end of the article, readers have the chance to post a comment. There is nothing like exposure to give you feedback on your small world perpective. I have sort of, perhaps mistakenly, assumed that people understood that the term "green" in the title of my book was referring to non-toxic and eco-friendly. This is, in fact, what I mean by the term. But, in less than 12 hours since the interview on momlogic.com was posted, I received a comment from a reader who seemed to think that "green" was a literal term referring to green leafy vegetables. Hmm. I certainly do not by any means exclude the nutrient-packed green leafies from a healthy diet, but eating veggies per se is not the message of the "green" diet idea at all. You could eat green leafies sprayed with a multitude of chemicals associated with breast cancer and perhaps not be better off. Or, you could take the extreme approach and eat only green leafies during pregnancy to avoid weight gain, when you should be packing in the protein and whole grain carbs as well. So eating food that is the color green is not quite the message of a diet that's safe for mom, baby and the planet. Maybe I've failed to overlook this important disclosure.

The Protein Deal

The New Deal was a momentous historial feat that helped reverse the Great Depression.

The Deal a pregnant woman makes between herself and her daily intake of protein is none the less challenging. I mention in my new book The Green Pregnancy Diet that we (the universal pregnant woman) have to increase our intake of protein DAILY from 46 to 71 grams. That's an additional 25 grams of protein a day! And, honestly ladies, who of us (seriously) keeps a calculator on hand to crunch the numbers throughout the day in attempt to keep track of the protein in every meal? Um, no one I know. I do, however, try to estimate how much protein I'm getting then do a quick mental tally by evening snack time.

Case in point my protein count on Thursday, which proved to be more of a challenge than usual because I ate a bagel and low-fat cream cheese (approx 10 grams) for breakfast instead of the usual high protein, sugar-free cereal with soymilk, and a salad with feta cheese for lunch (approx 12-15 grams) rather than my trusted, protein-packed cheese sandwich on whole wheat.

By afternoon snack time I figured that I eaten a mere 25 grams of protein, and that was a generous rounding of the estimates. I had another 46 to go - as much as one would otherwise eat in an entire day - and I only had one meal left!

How did I do it? I may not have. I chowed on a bunch of nuts as a snack (8 grams), then had a Gardenburger Chickin' veggie burger for dinner - a true protein bailout in a pinch with 15 grams in the burger alone, plus another 8 or so more between the whole grain bun and organic, low-fat cheese added in. Plus, I had some steamed veggies (a good 4 grams) then had a glass of soy milk (8 grams) and a few strawberries (1 or 2 grams?) as an evening snack. My total protein count for the day: 71 grams give or take 5 grams based on serving sizes and momory-based estimates. I guess I did make the deal that day-barely.

Can every mom to be really be expected to check their dietary reference handbooks for the exact grams of each and every item they eat, calculate serving sizes, then determine to the penny how many grams she's getting daily?

Surely not. The best we can do are focus on the high protein foods, and do those educated guesses and memory-based estimates at the end of each and every busy day.

the pregnancy food dilemma

Two days ago I announced the publication of my new book The Green Pregnancy Diet. I will be the first to tell you that it's not about "dieting" all all - it discusses eating non-toxic food as a way a life, even thinking if you will. In the introduction I talk about how starving I was the first trimester of my pregnancy with my toddler son. The truth is, I inhaled food like air and gained quickly. Now, I'm pregnant with my second and FINALLY done with the first trimester. The hunger thing is taming down, thank gawd. But I still need protein protein protein, esp as a vegetarian who doesn't eat eggs. Dairy has been a lifesaver (vegans, how do you do it???). Cheese, cottage cheese... bring it on!

To come in my new blog...some great tips for naturally sugar-free foods and ideas for recipes that are healthy but SATISFYING!

BTW, here's some press on the book!

http://www.pr.com/press-release/144072
http://www.prlog.org/10213148-book-for-pregnant-women-promotes-nontoxic-ecofriendly-diet.html

The Green Pregnancy Diet

Check out my new book The Green Pregnancy Diet!

In this easy read book for women who are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, the fundamentals of a green diet are discussed, in addition to nutritional guidelines for pregnancy and ideas for removing toxins from your kitchen. Also included are more than 20 easy, tasty and healthy recipes designed to both provide optimal nutritional value and satisfy your food cravings. All of the recipes are environmentally friendly—they use vegetarian, organic, whole grain ingredients without processed sugar or chemical additives—so you’ll be making a positive impact as you dig in and eat!

In the book you will find:

Definition of a “green” non-toxic, environmentally-friendly diet
FDA and USDA-based nutritional guidelines for pregnancy
Easy, nutritious, flavorful recipes
Organic, vegetarian ingredients with dairy-, gluten-, nut- and wheat-free options
Tips for creating a green kitchen

Now available for purchase at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, http://www.amazon.com/ and the http://www.iuniverse.com/ bookstore.


Here are direct links to ordering a copy online:

Barnes & Noble
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Green-Pregnancy-Diet/Radha-Mclean/e/9781440112294/?itm=8

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Green-Pregnancy-Diet-Healthy-eating/dp/1440112290/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239120070&sr=1-7

iUniverse
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000109865


It's written by Radha McLean, with nutrition editor Tara Gidus, RD, and contributing author Thauna Abrin, ND. you can contact me, the author, at greenpregnancy@yahoo.com