A couple weeks ago, I drank my glucola that had been sitting in my fridge for a couple of weeks. Up here, you just pick up your bottle of glucola and you have from that visit to the next one (1 month) to take it and go into the lab to get blood drawn. So, when we went to go visit a church member at our hospital, I figured I’d just chug it and get it done at the same time.
Anyway, a week later, I got a call from the hospital with the results. The good news is that I don’t have gestational diabetes. The bad news is that the blood work showed that I was anemic! I was so shocked. So, my doctor was going to prescribe iron pills for me. However, I was so traumatized by the iron pills I took after I had Imanuel (at UM) and how it affected my digestion (-primarily the exiting part) that I told them that I’d like to change my diet and incorporate more iron that way. They agreed that that’d be the best way.
So, for the past week, I’ve been downing Total Raisin Bran cereal with grapefruit in the morning, incorporating lots of broccoli, kale and spinach into dinner (with orange juice), AND, for the first time, I’m faithfully taking my pre-natal vitamin. I know, I’ve been so bad with that. I just detest that pill.
Anyway, if any of you have any other good suggestions for iron-rich foods/meals that are yummy and contain lots of roughage, I’d be forever grateful. I’m kind of thankful for this diagnosis because I know it’s making me live a healthier lifestyle. I just hope the baby hasn’t suffered because of this.
8 weeks and 3 days left!
i used to be (and perhaps still am) anemic. one cup of cooked lentils has 37% of your daily need of iron. i can send you a super yummy, EXTREMELY easy recipe for mediterranean lentils (mjadarra) if you want me to. 🙂
@steffyjaney – please do!! 🙂
That recipe really is good… I made it for potluck once and the bowl was scraped clean. I was happy. ^_^ I can’t believe I just made that face. Never again.
@jensa07 – I can’t believe you made that face either…never again.
Hi guys!Hey Steph, can you also send us that recipe??? I need some cooking inspiration and that sounds great.Judy, since you’re eating so much Kale, Daniel thought I should send you our favorite way to do Kale. It’s pretty simple, just kale, lime juice and reconstituted soy-sauce powder (regular soy sauce or liquid aminos would work too). Steam the kale (just for 5 minutes or so, so it’s still kind of crispy). Add the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix it. Cut it smaller for the kiddos. That is it!. We sometimes adds sesame seeds on top. The entire family loves it! We usually finish 1-2 bunches in one meal.If I remember right from pregnancy days, carob (at least the powder) also has lots of iron. In my opinion, that’s a FUN way to get in the iron!! 🙂 No wonder I was craving all those carob crispies! 🙂 (They qualify for the “yummy” but probably not for the “lots of roughage.”) :)We’re missing you…..love mendezes
@rAmOsEs – what I feel right now can only be described as shame and a small bit of alarm. I need sleep!
Just a note of encouragement to tell you GO JUDY GO! Your baby will be made of iron and steel!!!
@threemendez – Thanks, Mendezes for the recipe! I’ll have to try that one! I didn’t know about the carob. But now that I do, I’ll have a good excuse to eat some! @peanutluey – Kendra, thanks for the encouragement as always!
oh, dear, sorry to hear about that……hope your Fe levels are going up: rawsins, dried figs, lentils, Tofu (?), kale, molasses……take care of yourself…..can’t believe the time is almost there….8 weeks! blessings, D.
@rAmOsEs – Judy, I have a couple of kale/ swiss chard recipes that I LOVE. I think I’m borderline anemic anyways, so I try to sneak in iron rich foods. I love sauteeing swiss chard and/or kale with a little olive oil, onions, and chopped sundried tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and nutritional yeast flakes. I also sprinkle in pumpkin seeds. YUM! I also have a yummy raw kale-avocado salad recipe that I can e-mail to you from my recipe program. (Shoot me an e-mail to remind me – I’m not home right now.)