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    Hummusapien » Wellness » Lovely Meals Lately » Lovely Meals Lately + Life Update

    Lovely Meals Lately + Life Update

    Published Jan 13, 2021 · Modified Nov 8, 2021 · by Alexis Joseph · 18 Comments

    Fam! How's it hanging? I'm still over here pregnant as ever.

    An interesting turn of events...

    In case you missed my life update over on Instagram, I was unexpectedly discharged from the hospital on December 29th after being told I don't actually have vasa previa.

    Luckily, the OB who was supposed to deliver me via c-section on January 4th decided to do one final scan the week before. I learned that this is not standard practice, meaning if she hadn't ordered the scan, I would've delivered him a month early for no reason.

    How did this happen? Well, this experience has taught me that ultrasound is imperfect and so are doctors. There was a "perfect storm" of my low lying placenta, marginal cord insertion, and other factors on ultrasound that convinced the doctors there were fetal blood vessels exposed above my cervix, necessitating the hospital stay at 32 weeks and delivery at 36 weeks.

    It was not an easy transition coming home from the hospital, thinking I was having the baby in a few days and then not. The unnecessary three week hospital stay paired with living in fear of a diagnosis that wasn't accurate has been a challenge to wrap my brain around.

    That said, I can't wait to meet baby in a few weeks (or less!). I'm so grateful that he can come on his own time and be full term.

    Friends, the end of the third trimester is no joke. The last couple weeks have been extremely uncomfortable both mentally and physically. It's safe to say I'm more than ready for baby boy to be outside of my body!

    How my diet has changed

    Now that I'm no longer in the hospital, I've definitely been enjoying cooking more at home. My motivation to do pretty much anything else (like work or move my body) is at an all time low but cooking and setting up the nursery have felt fun!

    I'm craving sweets like never before. I have dessert several times a day. Not mad about it.

    I'm still eating a little bit of meat here and there. When I do eat it, it's more like a condiment versus a main. I'm not sure how that'll continue post pregnancy; but at this point I'm just listening to my body and not over-analyzing food at all.

    If Jeff has bacon with his breakfast and it sounds good to me in that moment, I'll eat it. Bacon and pepperoni have been very appealing in this pregnancy...

    I have no intention of meat becoming the center of my diet. I say that confidently based on my personal health beliefs and for the health of the planet. This space will remain a plant-based food blog, just like my diet is still based in plants.

    But whatever happens, it's super important to me to be transparent with you as I evolve and not feel guilty or like I have to hide the fact that I ate bacon or had a turkey sandwich. Does that make sense? No food rules!

    I hope food will continue to bring us together, not divide us. Ahhhh...so glad I got that off my chest. A weight has lifted!

    Lovely Meals Lately

    I've really been enjoying making new things. This cioppino seafood stew was so fun! We used new-to-me monkfish recommended by the fish guy at Whole Foods plus scallops, mussels and clams (almost none of the clams opened up, so we had to toss them).

    I used an 8oz bottle of clam juice and 4 cups of veg broth instead of seafood stock. We served it over linguine and we also sopped up all the juice with ciabatta. Spinach salad with balsamic on the side!

    This made a TON (legit filled my Dutch oven to the brim) so definitely cut it in half if you're not feeding a crowd.

    Enchiladas! I made homemade enchilada sauce using this recipe but cut the chili powder in half. I topped with a bit a freshly grated Tilamook cheddar before baking.

    The best ginger molasses cookies.

    Have you had these frozen Greek wraps? They taste like spanokopita...SO good. I had this for dinner one night with a couple bowls of Rice chex...#pregnancy.

    I made these pancakes with blueberries and they were incredible. Went back for a third. I gotta admit...making them with all purpose flour is definitely a game changer. Enter the aforementioned bacon, LOL.

    Iced oat milk latte that got kind of thick from being in the freezer. YUM.

    I made a batch of my cookie dough protein bars to keep stashed in the freezer...I forgot how good they are!

    Steel cut oatmeal with bananas, raspberries, sunflower seed butter, and scrambled eggs. My go-to weekday breakfast lately.

    Lasagna night! We never tire of this recipe, and I love how much it makes. Unpictured garlic bread on the side.

    My favorite combo from The Lox: rosemary and salt bagel with egg, beet thyme cream cheese, and lettuce. So chewy and amazing.

    I made this coconut tikka masala with basmati rice for dinner and everyone loved it. I can't wait to make it again with cauliflower and chickpeas. I also made this roasted cauliflower salad with creamy honey mustard that was amazing. All delish with naan!

    Harvest pizza night! The Spicy Yuma is our jam. We usually get the chopped salad and buffalo cauliflower, too.

    We tried some amazing pastries and sourdough breads from a new pastry chef for Alchemy and I was in heaven. 

    I felt like I was on Great British Baking Show eating frangipane! Tastings are perhaps my favorite part of restaurant life.

    I missed sharing the personal side of things with you all, so thanks as always for being here!

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Valerie says

      January 14, 2021 at 5:13 am

      Always love these posts - so much amazing foodie inspo! AND appreciate your transparency so much. So glad for you that you’re just honoring what feels good for food and not paying attention to any food rules or noise... Do you lady and your true peeps will support you no matter what! ❤️😘
      Per usg, have no idea what to go with making first from all these amazing eats... 😆

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 14, 2021 at 2:32 pm

        Yayyy thank you so much, Valerie! That truly means so much. I hope you make something delish!!

        Reply
    2. Rachel Dodson says

      January 13, 2021 at 8:34 pm

      Your ginger molasses cookies were SO GOOD! Will def be making every Christmas from now on!!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 10:58 pm

        Heck yes!!! Thanks so much, Rachel!

        Reply
    3. Bhre says

      January 13, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      Thank you for always sharing your authentic food feelings. Excellent recipe + snack inspiration here!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 7:52 pm

        Thank you for the support, Bhre! It means so much!

        Reply
    4. Faith says

      January 13, 2021 at 5:48 pm

      Love your blog and especially the transparency being fully you - and of course all the great recipes! New to Columbus and can't express how happy I am to find this. Felt like a connection I've been looking for, as I try to find myself in this new place. Keep doing what you do and sending lots of good vibes for the remainder of your pregnancy.

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 6:50 pm

        Thanks so much, Faith! That is so encouraging 🙂 Welcome to Cbus!

        Reply
    5. Jan Brulz says

      January 13, 2021 at 5:43 pm

      Thank you for the update on you and your baby. I am so happy for you to be able to deliver naturally. You have such a great attitude about what you have been through in your pregnancy. The food you posted this week looks fab. Have a great rest of your week:)

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 6:49 pm

        Thanks so much, Jan! Counting down the days!

        Reply
    6. Angie says

      January 13, 2021 at 5:40 pm

      Nice pics. Your baby needs iron, hence the meat cravings. Your iron supply will provide iron stores for the baby for the first 6 months of life. So eat away. Glad that things worked out for you. Doctors can be wrong too.

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 6:49 pm

        Thank you! My iron levels are actually great 🙂

        Reply
    7. Dylan says

      January 13, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      Yay! Those new pastries look out of this WORLD!!!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 4:50 pm

        I wish I could share them with ya!!

        Reply
    8. Cindy Childers says

      January 13, 2021 at 2:43 pm

      Alexis, you are amazing! I've been following your blog for a few years now. I am not a vegetarian and do eat meat but I really am just so inspired by all your nutritious and inspiringly delicious food. I will follow you whether you eat meat or not and I hope others do the same. Your creativity and ideas are a blessing to all of us. So happy you are home from the hospital. The good news is that baby boy is doing just fine! Praying you have a safe and happy couple of weeks while you wait. God bless, Cindy

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 6:51 pm

        That means so much to me, Cindy! I really appreciate the encouragement. Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know that these posts are inspiring! Your support means everything, and thank you for the positive baby vibes <3

        Reply
    9. Andrea says

      January 13, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      Happy to hear you are well! The weeks before giving birth to your first are so suspenseful & exciting...and yes, uncomfortable! I happen to have your broccoli strata in the fridge ready to go for dinner tonight! Hang in there & take care 😊

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 13, 2021 at 2:23 pm

        Ain't that the truth! Hope you love the strata 🙂

        Reply

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