When I first found out I was pregnant, I did what most of us do, I googled everything. Foods to eat, foods to avoid, complicated diet charts… it all felt overwhelming. There was too much information and no scope of error, I had to do what was best for my baby. In the end I took advice from my mother and her best friend who luckily was also a practicing surgeon for quite a few years. They told me to forget about what looks or is fancy to hear but focus on basic ingredients we use everyday, so I switched to organic and certified products. What worked wonders for me were three things- Khapli Wheat for Rotis and Wraps, A2 Desi Cow Ghee made from traditional Bilona method and Lakadong Turmeric in milk and food!
My mom was right to take me back to old recipes and it worked like magic for me during my pregnancy and even after my baby arrived!
Khapli Wheat – A Quiet Hero
Before this, I’d barely heard of Khapli (or Emmer) wheat. Regular chapatis used to make me feel heavy and bloated, and during pregnancy digestion only got slower. Beyond my mom , a friend who has recently had a baby suggested I switch to Khapli atta, for softer rotis that would be easily digestible.
More or less gradually I made the switch into the Khapli atta and within a week or two, my gassiness and discomfort seemed to have greatly diminished. Kahpli Wheat is high in fibre which helps the gut remain calm, improves digestion and metabolism which is actually a rare scenario during pregnancy because of all the hormones going here and there.
Also one advice that I got from pretty much everyone was to keep my sugar in check and I was glad Khapli Wheat had less gluten in it and it had a low glycemic index:
A quick snack to grab and eat: banana and Khapli flour pancakes. I’d mash a banana, add Khapli flour, a pinch of jaggery and fry with a touch of ghee. Sweet, filling and way better than a store-bought cookie.
Pure A2 Ghee – Not Just Fat, Real Fuel
For years I avoided ghee thinking it would make me gain weight. Pregnancy changed that mindset completely. My grandmother insisted I add a spoon of ghee to almost every meal and now I’m grateful she did.
● Constipation relief: A teaspoon of warm ghee in hot milk at night worked better than any fiber supplement.
● Steady weight gain & baby’s growth: The healthy fats helped me gain just the right amount while keeping my energy steady.
● Strong bones and muscles: A2 ghee has a good amount of healthy fats along with vitamin K2, which helps absorb calcium, hence, the bones of babies.
Even after my baby was born, A2 Ghee from Desi Gir Cow was a constant in my kitchen. It helped me gain my strength back during postpartum, I even used it for my baby’s skin and it kept it hydrated and nourished. One thing that I would recommend is to have a box of KHAPLI WHEAT LADOOS filled with dry fruit and even better use Gulkand/Mishri/ Desi khaand in them to make them even better for your health, it would be a great quick bite that will keep you full and even accomplish nourishment goals!
Lakadong Turmeric – My Daily Sunshine
Part of the kitchen back then already was turmeric but I want to say I made it into a bit of a ritual for my pregnancy. It was just haldi-doodh for me every night-from milk, with just a pinch of turmeric, and a tiny, barely there little drop of ghee. It really would calm me, and then just put me to sleep when I was busy trying to get comfortable on a baby bump.
Even after my baby was born healthy, I was the one who needed to maintain my nourishment for a quick recovery. I made a habit to have at least a little of Haldi Doodh everyday for immunity boosting.
Little Things I Cooked
Pregnancy cravings, a definite thing, had me playing around with these:
● Khapli ghee paratha: Just Khapli flour with a pinch of turmeric cooked with ghee-light and soft.
● Hadli Doodh for a Good night Sleep and Good Health: Milk, turmeric, black pepper, a spoon of ghee, a tiny bit of jaggery.
● Khapli laddoos: Late-night munchies of Khapli flour roasted dry fruits, ghee, and jaggery.
Looking Back
Now that my baby is a few months old, I can see how these simple foods carried me through pregnancy and recovery. Khapli kept me happy on digestion; A2 ghee gave strength to carry on and help my baby grow; turmeric was for evenness in immunity and healing.
They have become a permanent part of my life now, even for my family. We have all switched these ingredients along with a few others, like one of my favourite things is AMLA CANDY that replaces our supari and churans! At the end of the day you as a new mom need everything fancy, sometimes the best support for you comes from the kitchen and inside your house. Make sure you take good care of yourself first and the baby would automatically be healthy and strong!
