Must-Know Monday: Healthier Options

I am embarrassed. Horrified, even.

This weekend I had my 26 week checkup at the doctor. I knew I was going in for my gestational diabetes test, so I guess the whole week (weeks..?) leading up to it I "fell off the wagon" and enjoyed glucose at reckless abandon, thinking it may be the last time in months I'd get to enjoy my favorite things: sweets.

I stepped onto the scale, thinking nothing of it. I had mentioned to a few friends last week I thought maybe I had gained three or four pounds over the last month. Maybe. Hopefully.... 

When I watched the numbers on the scale climb, I gagged. What the heck. Eight pounds. I gained eight pounds in a month. 

Okay, okay, I know I'm growing a baby but eight fricken pounds EXPLAINS why my back throbs every moment of every day and my clothes are getting snug. Eight pounds explains the lack of spring in my step and why my winter jacket squeaks as I zip it over my belly. Eight. Fricken. Pounds.

Naturally, I talked with my midwife about this unexpected rush of weight gain. I said, "I've gained kind of a lot of weight...what should I do?" She laughed and said, "You have? I didn't even look at your chart because you look great."

We talked about my eating habits and I admitted to indulging once and a while (okay, daily) on some sugary sweets and of course you know I love my baked goods but I do use healthy substitutes as often as possible.

In the end my midwife said stop worrying, enjoy my healthy pregnancy and healthy baby growing inside of me, and just keep doing what I'm doing. Splurging on lattes and cookies isn't the end of the world and as long as my test results come back normal, there's no reason to stop. God Bless my midwife.

That said, my mission is to continue finding healthy substitutes for tasty treats. My first mission? Ice cream.

We have an ice cream maker that we don't use nearly enough, so I think it's time I put my love of baking into something on the opposite side of the temperature gauge. Here is what I have learned in my research:

Frozen yogurt is much healthier for you than ice cream, and did you know how easy it is to make? Basically take greek yogurt, sugar and whatever mix-in you want (berries being my favorite flavor) and wha-la! Frozen yogurt! Here are the tastiest looking recipes I've found:

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt

Mixed Berry Frozen Yogurt

Higher Protein Vanilla Frozen Yogurt

I also learned about this great trick of making chocolate banana peanut butter "ice cream" out of three ingredients: Chocolate, bananas and peanut butter! Oh baby!

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter "Ice Cream"

I can't forget the classics like substituting oil/butter in baking dishes for bananas or apple sauce and of course using whole wheat or oatmeal flour when applicable, but did you know about ALL of these amazing techniques? 

I also will use some tasty frozen fruits I have in my stash to make some yummy smoothies as desserts now and then – pineapple, berries, OJ and plain yogurt being my favorite. Yum! Did you know you can also add spinach or other dark, leafy greens for extra-healthy goodness? You can't taste the spinach but it's there with all of its powerful nutrients! HUZZAH!

Using these ideas, I can develop all new sweets and treats for Billy and I to indulge in without feeling guilty. I would like to be a little less shocked when I step on that scale again at 30 weeks. Is that possible...?

How do you add healthy twists to your favorite treats?