Snacking on little morsels throughout the day, whether you call them pregnancy snacks or micro meals, can be a healthy — and convenient — way to get your fill of critical nutrients,
When you’re dealing with stomach difficulties like nausea, cravings, and food aversions in the early weeks of pregnancy, small bites are more accessible to the stomach. Healthy pregnancy snacks are also a fantastic source of nutrition later in pregnancy, when you’re feeling stuffed and can’t eat another bite after just a few forkfuls.
Pregnancy Snacks are also an excellent way to supplement your diet. While pregnancy is your (perfect) excuse to eat more calories it’s more important than ever to use those extra calories to fill your body with critical nutrients that support your baby’s development, especially protein, folate, calcium, vitamin D, DHA (omega-3 fatty acid), iodine, and iron.
To put it another way, snack time should not be used as an excuse to eat a pint of ice cream or a large bag of chips. Keep in mind that your baby eats everything you eat.
So, what should you be eating these days to keep your energy up in between meals while still providing extra nutrition to your child? Pregnancy snacks should be tasty, healthful, and complete, and there are many options. Here are some of the greatest snack options suggested by Nurturey during pregnancy, no matter what tastes you’re seeking.
Dry pregnancy snacks
A cup of yogurt or a smoothie can undoubtedly help you feel better. However, there are occasions when you require a dry choice that is easy to pack and can be stored in your suitcase for hours without needing to be refrigerated.
Dry pregnancy snacks are a great way to get more fiber into your diet and fill up on protein and B vitamins, in addition to being convenient. They often contain whole grains, nuts, and dried fruit, so they’re a great way to get more fiber into your diet and fill up on protein and B vitamins to help prevent pregnancy constipation. When you’re feeling nauseous, dry pregnancy snacks are also a good option.
A trail mix.
The protein, healthy fats, and fiber in the nut, seed, and dried fruit combination will keep you going for hours. Limit yourself to 12 cups of trail mix with just one exciting add-in (dark chocolate chips are better than candy-coated seeds or yogurt-covered pretzels, for example).
Bars made of granola.
With the addition of nutritious, fiber-rich oats, they’re like trail mix in a bar. However, because some granola bars are as sugary as sweets, search for options that have less than 10 grams of sugar.
Pretzels are made entirely of whole grains.
Check the label to make sure they’re prepared with whole grains. If the first component (such as “whole wheat” or “whole oats”) contains the term “whole,” you’re usually okay to go.
Fresh fruit with a package of nut butter
Oranges, bananas, and apples can all be kept at room temperature. Look for single-serving nut butter packets that are quick to drop in your bag and walk out the door since they contain protein and healthy fats to keep you full for longer.
Air-popped popcorn.
There’s good news: Popcorn is whole grain high in fiber. So look for air-popped choices and season with your favorite seasonings, such as Parmesan cheese, cinnamon, or toasted sunflower seeds.
Protein-rich pregnancy snacks
Protein is essential for your baby’s growth and development, but it can also help you stay fueled longer and avoid low blood sugar symptoms like headaches, nausea, and irritability.
Hummus and whole wheat crackers are a great combination.
The chickpea dip provides protein and healthy fats, while the crackers provide healthful carbohydrates. Add some sliced raw veggies and a handful of olives to whet your appetite.
Edamame.
Soybean pods are high in protein, fiber, iron, folate, and magnesium. Warm the pods in the microwave and season with salt and sesame seeds to enhance the flavor.
bunch of nuts
Nuts are high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats, making them nature’s ideal snack. Aim for various nuts because each has its nutritional benefits (almonds provide calcium, walnuts provide omega-3s, and peanuts provide vitamin E). Keep your portion sizes in control — nuts are high in calories so a quarter cup will suffice.
Chickpeas that have been roasted.
They’re crispy and flavourful like chips, but they’re a lot healthier, thanks to the high protein, fiber, and iron content. Please make your own by baking canned, drained, and rinsed chickpeas until crispy with olive oil and seasonings, or buy them ready-made. Are you famished? Serve roasted chickpeas with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese cubes on a snack tray.
Hard Boiled eggs
Make a huge batch on the weekend, and you’ll have a ready-to-eat snack for the rest of the week. Eggs are high in protein and contain vitamin D, which aids in the development of your baby’s bones and teeth.
Calcium-rich foods for pregnant women
It’s critical to get 1,000 mg of calcium per day for your baby’s and your bone and tooth health. However, because achieving your calcium needs solely at mealtime isn’t always possible, calcium-rich pregnancy snacks can help bridge the gap.
Pregnant ladies should eat healthy pregnancy snacks.
Pregnancy Snacks are essential for remaining satisfied and energized when pregnant, but you probably don’t have time to plan or prepare them. So here are a few tips to make bright snacking easier:
Take a multi-pronged approach.
A well-balanced snack with protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats will keep you satiated for longer, preventing you from reaching for another mouthful half an hour later.
Maintain a well-stocked kitchen.
Fresh fruit, nuts, plain yogurt, cheese, whole-grain crackers, nut butter, and hummus are all excellent nutritious options to have on hand.
Make ready-to-eat pregnancy snacks ahead of time.
Choose two or three pregnancy snacks for the week, prepare a large batch, then portion them out into individual servings to drop in your bag or grab for when the temptation to munch strikes. For example, prepare a set of trail mix, a dozen eggs, and a large bowl of popcorn, then divide into single-size baggies.
Conclusion
When you’re pregnant, snacks may be a godsend for keeping your energy up and getting extra nutrients into your diet. The idea is to stick to healthy selections and not overdo them. So, let’s toast to savvy, healthy snacking!
