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I've always been health conscious. My first step towards becoming vegan, like most, was the subtraction of meat products from my diet. Gowing up in a farm-raised, meat-and-potato family, the transition wasn't complete until I was eighteen and living on my own. Maybe I can blame my mother's difficulty in culinary carnivorous preparations- the roast always resembled a bit of rubber- or maybe it was something else that forced me to drown my miniscule portions of flesh in ketchup, barbecue sauce, or any other substance that would allow it to slide over my tongue. Not eating my mother's meal was simply not an option in our house.

Once I was in college however, I just didn't think about it. Unlike most students, I treated myself to deli items at the Whole Foods Market. On campus, I stuck to the generous salad bar or fresh soup selection. It wasn't until halfway through the year that I noticed I HAD become a vegetarian. Lucky for me, I still got all the nutrients I needed thanks to my love for healthful choices.

On the other hand, the vegan lifestyle was a conscious decision. After reading a book that inspired such a way of living, I decided to see if I could do it. The first week was HARD. No cheese, no butter, no dairy of any kind? Once I found alternatives such as vegan cheese, the substitution of olive oil, and vegan ice cream, things got much easier and my cravings subsided. From then on, I was sold. It's amazing how making such a transition can make you FEEL so good. My stomach was completely flat, I had more energy, and my hair and skin even looked better!

Pregnancy was a whole new issue. Once I found out about my new bundle of joy, I worried what my doctor would say about my diet. All the pregnancy books talked about eating well and stocking up on protein and dairy, but only a few of the suggestions were vegetarian. None were vegan. I was relieved to find my doctor was very accepting of my desire to continue as a vegan through pregnancy. To my amazement, he even took me off of the recommended vitamins after I showed him my regular vitamin-enriched food routine. To my relief, I already got plents of the necessary vitamins and minerals including B12, B6, Folic Acid, and the myriad of other nutrients you learn about during pregnancy. And thank goodness, as morning sickness had already set in, only aggrivated by the few times I had tried to down a few pills.

One of my biggest salvations was a shake mix drink I found at the natural food store called Nature's Plus Spiru-Tein. You can purchase these in individual packets like I do for multiple flavor choices, or purchase them in a canister for a 30-day supply. The flavors include chocolate, strawberry, pina colada, berry, and a veggy-fruit blend that has a pleasantly sweet taste. I alternate between the veggy-fruit and a fruit flavor, mix it with soy milk, and drink it either in the morning or at night. These are absolute packed with nutrients, are low in calories, and contain practically no carbohydrates.

My second salvation was vitamin-fortified organic cereal. I found one peanut-butter flavored puffed corn cereal that contained 100% of my daily folic acid.

Major life changes such as pregnancy DON'T mean you have to give up your preferred lifestyle. You may need to be lenient when it comes to your cravings during this time, but don't feel pressured by well-intentioned friends to change the healthful lifestyle you already enjoy. With a little thought, you can go vegan all through a healthy pregnancy.

Learn more about this author, Lauren Von Lehe.
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