Forbidden Fruit

I've never been a big fan of fruit. I mean after all, it is the cause of the downfall of man. We now live in perpetual sin no matter how hard we try to be good, all because of the lure of this allegedly enticing edible offspring. The reason I normally avoid fruit is the way it makes my stomach feel afterwards. Aside from bananas, apples and pears, I often get an achy gut after consuming fruit. I think it must be the acidity. I have, however, for the sake of the baby been forcing myself to drink non-concentrated fresh fruit juice and eat fruits which hasn't been easy. In fact, it's been so hard I've given up with the exception of the fruits I mentioned and a few super fruits which provide colour I can't find elsewhere in my diet. My nutritionist says that if it makes me feel poorly, I simply shouldn't eat it, but find ones i can comfortably eat. Allegedly, my body is telling me it is not right for me by making me feel unwell. This makes sense, but it doesn't tell me the same thing when i scarf down a Filet O'Fish Happy Meal! Experts say lots of colour is good for adding a rich source of varied nutrients while you're pregnant. I call pomegranate, blueberries and acai "super fruits" for their extraordinarily high levels of anti-oxidants. Super fruits - they wash away the toxins and the sins! God's special brew.

Two of these super fruits are pomegranate and acai. Often times these are mixed with blueberry which I'd also classify as a super fruit. This morning I'm drinking a fresh concoction of acai and raspberry juice which creates a uniquely dark purple colour and a lovely taste. I first discovered acai when I was kite surfing in Jericoacoara, Brazil. I was taking some kite surfing lessons, arranged through my fantastic hotel which had just opened, since I hadn't been in the freezing British sea for some time. The gorgeous, slender kite surfing Brazilian girl served up acai smoothies beach side for all the kite surfers.

It was a very unique taste the first time. I was astounded by the wide assortment of fruit i had never seen or heard of while i was in Brazil and this was my first attempt to consume one. The taste is overpowering, so if you don't like strong tastes you are unlikely to enjoy acai. It's not too sweet, nor too bitter or sour. It has a bit of earthiness to it. it's like nothing I've ever tasted before. it's lovely. the nutritional bonus of the acai is it has one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any fruit or vegetable yet known and is also a particularly good source of fiber and fatty acids - all good for pregnancy. i think the fact that i enjoy consuming it, the bright unique colour and this claim make it great for pregnancy. how can it not be great for the baby? i suppose if you're trying to cut down your food miles and eat a macrobiotic diet, then it might not be so great. on the other ethical hand, Brazil needed a new crop and therefore a new source of income to boost jobs and the economy. what you eat at each meal requires complex decison-making and trade-offs especially when you're eating for yourself, your baby and the world at large.


My Aunt Rose sent me this viral video since I like laughing babies so much. You know they're much cuter and rarer than crying ones. What makes this video unique isn't the laughter, but the bizarre contraption the baby is in, presumably in the hospital and the full set of teeth this litlle one has. Kinda creepy really...