Fuel for Life (as a mother): The Food

I am a lover of food (for so many reasons! You might already know this.).

I appreciate healthy, satisfying meals.

I thrive on meals that are shared with others (even if they aren't the healthiest).

I think that food can be community glue.

And.

I think there is more than one "best" way to eat because no two bodies are the same and because our bodies change in chemistry every few years.

Since the arrival of my baby boy and my new role as a mother, I've been experimenting with my approach to food. I need to marry my love of community-glue-meals, my adventurous palate, and my need for nourishing food that fuels days that include, but are not limited to, taking care of an active little boy.

I'm sharing what works for me right now because recently, I've seen that every time I share something that's is important to me or is a need, especially when it comes to something parenthood-related, there is always someone (often several someones) that come out of the woodwork to say, "me, too!" And usually me, too, and this is my take.

I love that.

How I approach food to fuel motherhood

1. I don't eat any added sugar from Monday to Thursday. I do this to avoid sugar crashes and sugar "hangovers." Maybe I've become more sensitive to sugar with pregnancy, but those things are real. Most of the time, I can't afford them.
2. By Friday afternoon, I kind of feel I've earned a real dessert (added sugar included) and I'm ready to kick back and relax. Tim will be with me much of the time, so I don't have to be so concerned with being on top of things constantly. This means dessert is a-okay.
3. I allow myself to have whatever I want all weekend, including sweets. I'm still aware of how my choices make me feel,  and I still make a lot of my usual healthy choices.  I do say yes to the cake with the perfect icing that so many weekend parties seem to have  and even eat dessert every day (if I actually want those things).
4. I avoid sugar later in the evening on Sundays to avoid a sugar hangover on Monday.
5. I drink coffee. I know a lot of moms don't, but this mom most certainly does...and I'm not looking to give it up any time soon.
6. I eat a lot of plant-based fat. Peanut butter, avocado, olive oil.
7. I don't subscribe to any one diet (as soon as I even try to, I am in mental rebellion), but my eating style is probably closest to Clean Eating during the week.
8. I try to eat as much as often as I am hungry. Sometimes this is 3-4 times, and sometimes it is 6-7.

Now I'm curious- do you have a role you purposely fuel for? Nurse? Runner? Parent? Something else? What is it and what is your approach?