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Basically, if I'm linking to something, it's because I genuinely think it's great. GD Kitchen is my job, but gestational diabetes is tough enough, without you having to worry about junky recommendations.
THE GESTATIONAL DIABETES PANTRY
PEANUT BUTTER PACKETS
These have exactly one ingredient: peanuts. They are great on the go.
FAIRLIFE PROTEIN SHAKES
In my opinion, the best-tasting protein shakes. Even better, use as a smoothie base.
FAIRLIFE CORE SHAKES
Somehow, even more protein. Blended with ice, you can *almost* imagine you're drinking a milkshake.
LILY'S CHOCOLATE CHIPS
By the (small) handful; whisked into warm milk or coconut milk; melted and drizzled over strawberries or raspberries.
HU CHOCOLATE VARIETY PACK
I ate two squares of this chocolate almost every day at 3pm.
SWERVE SUGAR REPLACEMENT
No sugar replacement actually tastes like sugar, but if you're hoping to bake, Swerve comes in granular, confectioners, and brown.
LAKANTO MONK FRUIT
This is the second sugar replacement that I think is worth a go. It also comes in granular, golden, and confectioners.
BOB'S RED MILL HEMP PROTEIN
Lots of protein powders are full of mysterious ingredients; this just has one.
BARE BONES BONE BROTH
This broth is very tasty, even on its own. They also sell individual powder packets. It's also protein-packed.
KETO WHEAT BAKING FLOUR
I'm a big fan of King Arthur in general. This gives baked goods much more structure than, say, almond flour.
FANCY OLIVE OIL
If there was ever a time you should treat yourself to fancy olive oil, it's now. Use this for all your non-cooking olive oil needs: on salads, over vegetables, etc.
PEANUT BUTTER FLOUR
This packs a big boost of protein. Add it to smoothies, use it as a thickener in sauces or dressings, or incorporate it into baked goods.
LILY'S BAKING CHIPS
If your preferences skew more milk chocolate than dark chocolate. (Lily's also makes "milk chocolate style" and "white chocolate style" chips.)
ALMOND FLOUR
While almond flour is NOT a substitute for white flour, it's great in other ways. (Full of protein, fiber, and fat!) Try it in place of breadcrumbs on chicken or fish.
BAKING SUGAR ALTERNATIVE
A sugar alternative blend, created specifically with baking in mind. It swaps 1:1 with regular, granulated sugar, so no math required.
WHEY PROTEIN POWDER
I searched high and low for a protein powder without a strong, off taste. This one is delightfully neutral, which means I can use it in almost anything.
MY FAVORITE, GD-FRIENDLY INGREDIENTS
BURLAP & BARREL OREGANO
These spices are other-wordly great. They honestly make food taste better. Next, try Royal Cinnamon, or any pepper.
PRESERVED LEMONS
Preserved lemons bring a tangy punch to braises, sauces, and dressings. (You can also make your own!)
TAHINI
A jar is worth it, even if you only make Ali Slagle's Lemon-Tahini Slaw and Chris Morocco's Tahini-Ranch Dressing.
AJVAR
A Balkan condiment made from eggplant and roasted peppers. Poaching eggs in a jar solves dinner.
MAILLE DIJON MUSTARD
A side effect of marrying a Frenchman--I now have opinions about mustard. This makes the best salad dressings, sausage topping, or whisk it into braising liquid.
YELLOWBIRD SERRANO HOT SAUCE
More flavorful than spicy, I put this on everything, from scrambled eggs to chicken wings.
MOTHER IN LAW'S GOCHUJANG
Gochujang a sweet/spicy/savory Korean panty staple. Use it in sauces, braises, marinades, or on vegetables pre-roast.
CHILI CRISP SMOKED SALMON
Fishwife is female-founded company, also selling anchovies, rainbow trout, and smoked salmon.
HARISSA
Harissa is a North African chili pepper paste. Use it in stews, braises, and marinades.
RANCHO MELADUCO DATES
These dates are so good, you'll never go back. I ate them with peanut butter, crunchy salt, and a giant glass of water.
WONDERFUL SEA SALT & VINEGAR PISTACHIOS
The mini packs make the perfect on-the-go-snack. At home, I chop them into salads.
MY MOST-USED KITCHEN TOOLS
DIGITAL KITCHEN SCALE
It may seem fussy at first, but a kitchen scale makes life SO much easier, especially when on a special diet, or cooking tightly to a recipe.
ZWILLING PERSONAL BLENDER
This is how I zazzed-up my protein shakes. Also: blitzing nuts/seeds/oats to "flour", pestos, and sauces. Now, my son is obsessed with making smoothies.
GIR SPOONULA
This will ruin all other spatulas for you--it leaves nothing behind. Also, it's heat-resistant, dishwasher-safe, BPA & BPS-free. (I also love their basting brushes.)
MEPAL STORAGE BOWLS
These are pricey, but in my mind, worth it. They work in the fridge, freezer, microwave, as a mixing bowl, or even on the table. BPA-free and stackable.
FLEXI SPATULA
As the name suggests, this spatula is super bendy and flexible. It makes getting under food a cinch.
MATERIAL reBOARD
This cutting board comes in multiple colors, is made from BPA-free plastic scraps and sugarcane, and can be thrown in the dishwasher.
OXO STAINLESS-STEEL TONGS
These become like an extension of my hand when cooking. They are easy to grip, and easy to lock with just one hand.
3-PIECE MEASURING CUP SET
With these, you can measure from above, which is quite handy. They are easy to use, and super durable.
THREE KITCHEN KNIVES
In culinary school, I was given a full knife set; truthfully, you only need these three. For quality and affordability, I recommend Five Two or Material.
CUISINART IMMERSION BLENDER
An immersion blender is super useful for blending soups and sauces into silk. You can also add attachments, like vegetable choppers and whisks.
OXO HANDHELD SPIRALIZER
Truth is, I ate a lot of zoodles when I had GD! This tool helped me make them easily, and is space-efficient.
OXO GRATE & SLICE SET
I use this almost every day; it's easy to handle, easy to clean. For a mandoline with more settings, this one is great. Similarly, I also love my microplane.
MY TOP PREGNANCY RECOMMENDATIONS
EXPECTING BETTER
The first thing I recommend to pregnant friends: actual data-driven information! No patronizing tone! (Totally different, but I also like Nurture.)
MATERNITY LEGGINGS
I wore these every day for six months? They are super supportive. These are less supportive, but super soft.
CONSTIPATION GAME PLAN
The most unglamorous consequence of a GD diet? What I wish I knew earlier: metamucil + colace + magnesium + a truly ridiculous amount of water.
ADIDAS SLIP-ONS
These are extremely comfortable. Even better, they slip on, no need to bend over later in pregnancy! I still wear them a lot.
LABOR AND DELIVERY GOWN
This really helped me feel more normal during delivery/while in the hospital. Similarly, I wore these nonstop for a year.
HANDS-FREE BRA
If you're breastfeeding or pumping, and especially if you have a large chest, this bra is amazing. It's super comfortable, and allowed me mobility while pumping.
POSTPARTUM UNDERWEAR
Not super sexy, but useful: I preferred these to the mesh boyshorts, because they're one-and-done--one thing to put on, one thing to throw away.
SITZ BATH SALT
Post-delivery, I made shallow baths with this almost daily; very soothing. The ritual also reminded me to take a deep breath.
EARLY-DAYS BABY RECOMMENDATIONS
BABYBJÖRN BABY CARRIER
This gave me my hands back! I used it every day for 8 months, then switched to this, for the next 8. (Secondhand is great! Check mom groups/fb marketplace.)
AVENT PACIFIER
I had some idea in my head that I wasn't supposed to use a pacifier? But these saved everyone. Later, we switched to these, which are honestly cuter.
SWADDLEME
No matter how sleep-deprived I was, I could always get the baby into this!
LONG-SLEEVE BODYSUITS
Did I buy too many cute onesies? Yes. But this is really all you need, especially at the beginning. These slip right over their shoulders. Short sleeve, too.
READY-TO-FEED FORMULA
At the beginning, while my milk was coming in, and when I hadn't slept, these were very useful. (If you plan to use European formula, see here.)
