Vegetarian Turned Evil: All For The Love Of A Daughter

by Jenn
(NY)

On my 22nd birthday I decided that I had to become a vegetarian. Of course, by that time I had said this many times so my husband was skeptical to say the least. However, that time I stuck to it and from that day on never ate another piece of meat (or fish). That is, until I was 3 months pregnant.

Pregnancy aversions are just as strong as the famous cravings, and I was having a few very inconvenient ones. Eggs for one. Beans for another. Add on top of that an aversion to any kind of "fake meat". Just thinking about any of the above would flip my stomach upside down.

I was reading a lot at the time about vegetarianism and protein intake. Before I was pregnant there was no shortage of protein in my diet, but afterwards... it was almost non-existant. Sure, I still ate cheese and drank milk. I still ate nuts and used peanut butter so I was getting some protein. I was also getting tons of fat. In order for me to have gotten the amount of protein that I needed (protein needs in pregnant women are much higher than for other people) I would have to eat tons of the above foods... not the healthiest thing for baby and me.

Add on top of this the slowly building craving for steak. I ignored it at first, thinking that it was just because I hadn't had it in so very long. When it wouldn't subside, and only got stronger, I calculated my daily fat and protein intake. It was a staggering 1/3 of what my baby and I needed. 1/3!

In the beginning of June I opened my mouth and, while crying, ate a turkey sandwich. It was what my body wanted, but what my mind rejected. It was terrible and wonderful all at the same time. That day I gave into my cravings and ate a few more meaty meals for the love of a daughter. She wasn't getting enough of what she needed, and I couldn't let myself get in the way of her safety.

The next day I didn't have any cravings for meat. It seemed as though my body had gotten what it needed and that was all it took. From then on I follow my cravings wherever they take me because I can't ignore the thought that there might be something in the foods that my baby needs.

For now I follow my heart and my belly and February can't come soon enough!