Pregnant, need suggestions on protein please!

[BirthGodess]

I know i do not need as much protein as the gov't pyramid would have us beleive..... ;) but I do have cravings, even before I got pregnant. {i am just 5 weeks, 3 since conception}.

I am looking for knowledgable answers /or links to data re combining different beans/seeds/grains to form complete proteins. I am striving for 100% raw every day, but am hovering at 85-95%. Late in the day I go for some plain tuna or hard boiled egg when I fell that I have 'missed' something in diet that day.

I am allergic/intolerant of nuts {almost completely -- occassionaly can have almonds, but not more than once in a week} at this time, so thats out for a protein source.

My diet thus far raw has been a fruit smoothie {sometimes with BG algae} and digestive enzymes almost always with a coconut, and then various other fruits late in the morning, not hungry till 10-11 am since I went raw!

Lunch I got for a salad, mostly sprouts, sunflower, mung, and alfalfa, with some peppers and avocado. I am madly in love with avocado right now!

thank you in advance for your time -

[rawstrawberry]

Why not try hemp seeds very high in protein and also hemp protein powder. For a treat I like to use 2 dates a scoop of hemp protein and some cocao powder put it in the food processor and it is like cookie crumbs.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Your first quality amino acids via FRESH plant food, esp. greens is going to be the absolute best protein you can ever hope to get. Anything cooked is coming in to you second-hand and your body has to decipher it, which makes it almost unuseable.

Trust me, fresh plant food is your best bet. It is hard for most folks to understand that quality protein doesn't come from cooked animal food.

Using fresh, raw materials is your body's friend. Using anything that has been cooked or even possibly cooked such as questionably raw nuts, etc. for protein is working against your body.

[Lunar*Fey]

Branching off from what Sharon stated, GREEN SMOOTHIES. It surprises most people how much nutrients they provide (depending on what you put in it of course). Green smoothies are a delicious way to increase your green intake, and thus your protein, calcium, etc. intake. Most leafy greens are packed with nutrients. For instance, if I have just 3 cups of chicory in my green smoothie I am getting 54% calcium, 18% protein, tons of folate, plus zinc, iron, soo many vitamins and minerals. At least from what I know. Normally my smoothie consists of about 7-10 cups of spinach but if I have other greens I add some of those in as well.

[sport]

I have come to the conclusion that the reason that I founf it easy to go vegetarian is because my mother ate little or no meat while pregnant with me and the reason that I found it harder to go vegan is because she took lots of dairy.
Try to eat what you would want your child to eat later in life

[VibraTechJulie]

Dear BG,

You need to read about Jinjee at Esctatic Birth (http://www.thegardendiet.com/aboutbirth.html) She has had 2 raw births that were easier than her other ones. I can't believe her postpartum pics with her 10 day old child. Her stomach is so flat!

Best wishes on a raw pregnancy and birth!
Julie