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When you’re carrying a new life inside you, your weight may not be the most important thing to you. Some don’t care how much they gain, but if you do, it doesn’t make you shallow.
Personally, I’m used to having a nice figure, and I love my bump, especially in nice, form-fitting leggings. But I am trying my best to gain the expected amount of weight (if not less), so I can have my ideal body shape as soon as possible after giving birth.
And while my first trimester diet was mostly focused on trying not to barf, my second trimester diet was a lot more targeted and specific.
If you find yourself losing weight in pregnancy without morning sickness, or without even trying to, here’s what you need to know.
Best Second Trimester Diet (To Keep You Happy and Slim)
Before I jump into it, just a couple of disclaimers. One, when I say diet, I don’t mean a targeted weight-loss program. I really do not want to put my baby in danger just so I can be slim. I don’t count calories, I still eat desserts, it’s just about choosing the right meals for yourself.
Second, while I was able to exercise regularly during the first 5 months, in my sixth month of pregnancy I was sent to bed rest. That means I could have gotten so much excess weight then – yet I didn’t. It just pinpoints how important healthy eating during pregnancy is!
Second Trimester Breakfast
Making a nice breakfast during second trimester can be so simple. My usual one is:
- raw, unrefined oatmeal
- almond milk
- pumpkin seeds, and
- fruit.
Sometimes I get lazy so it’s just fruit, but I do try to eat this exact meal 4-5 times a week at least. If it sounds like it may get boring soon, try switching fruits. I usually go for bananas, apples, or grapes.
Pregnancy Snacks
Before lunch, I usually snack twice. After all, we do need some 300cal more than usual. My first snack tends to consist of something light. It’s either a tuna pate, hummus, or PB&J. For the second snack, I go for plain fruit, rice cakes, or a sandwich. While I do try to stick to ketchup and avoid mayo, I do have days when I’m weak enough to go for it!
Second Trimester Diet: Lunch
I’ll eat anything literally for lunch, so long as it’s nutritious. But unlike my breakfast which tends to be the same throughout the week, I try to have a different lunch every day. One day it’ll be mashed potatoes and chicken, the other some lentils, then some pasta…
Dinner Time!
My dinners tend to look a lot like just another snack. My husband and I like eating at around 9pm (don’t sue us!), so we keep it light. We go for a sandwich, pate, or a fruit salad.
What About Dessert?
Believe it or not, I still eat it! If I feel like eating something sweet I go for it, but I never overdo it.
Don’t limit yourself – you deserve to enjoy yourself now, and our cravings often include something sweet. I sometimes eat a couple of chocolate bars a day; sometimes, a couple of cookies; other days, I’ll have a piece of cake on the side.
Just make sure you don’t go overboard with it. Yes, part of it is the importance of second trimester diet and exercise for your weight. But too much sugar sugar can also lead to gestational diabetes, and we definitely don’t want that.
Second Trimester Diet – FAQ
What should I eat during 2nd trimester of pregnancy?
Steer clear of raw fish and undercooked eggs and meat. Make sure your diet is versatile – get enough greens, lentils, and fruits in there. You can’t go wrong with oats, and try to avoid processed foods. Not only are they likely to up your weight, more importantly, they’re unhealthy, too.
Which fruit is good for second trimester?
Any fruit is good fruit! I do recommend you keep it versatile to make sure you get all the vitamins in there. I try to have apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes in a week – at least. Be sure to have nuts and seeds in your diet as well.
Do you eat more in second trimester?
While you really should eat more in the second trimester, you’re not exactly eating for two! This fact shouldn’t serve as permission to eat all you can all the time – not if you want to stay healthy and gain an expected amount of weight. You should eat some 300cal/day more, which is the equivalent of one sandwich or so.
4 responses to “My Second Trimester Diet [How I Gained Just 13lbs In the First 6 Months]”
[…] The two main causes I read about carrying high vs low are body type and lower body strength. In short, short girls tend to look as if they’re carrying low due to their shorter torso. This does make sense, as I’m not too tall myself (5 ft 4 mom to be over here!) The second cause, however, does not always make sense. Apparently, if you were skipping on your exercise, you’re paying the price. However, I used to do it regularly all up until I had to go on bed rest. And yet, I’m now stuck in bed, figuring out what to do and how not to gain too much weight. […]
[…] things pregnancy, but in a way that’s simple to understand. She covers topics such as nausea, diet, prenatal testing, even which sleeping position is safe in pregnancy. It’s certainly one of […]
[…] For advice on a good second trimester diet, read this. […]
[…] being honest, I gained more weight than I intended to during my pregnancy. Despite having a great second trimester diet, I ended up being on bed rest and barely moving, and that contributed to my sudden weight gain. […]