Are you starting to worry that your baby will be born a pickle?
While pregnancy cravings are natural, it's easy to let snacking get out of hand when you're eating for two. It's possible to snack the day away while prioritizing healthy pregnancy snack foods and giving your baby and body exactly what they need to thrive.
Many women struggle to find nutritious pregnancy snacks that satisfy their cravings. We've created this guide to help you understand what to reach for the next time you're feeling peckish. We've included information about pregnancy nutrition, including some satisfying snack ideas that will keep you healthy, happy, and glowing.
Read on to discover how to snack your way to a healthy pregnancy.
Your body goes through a lot during pregnancy. Did you know that your lung capacity and blood volume increase during the first trimester? Every single part of you is adjusting and adapting to make your body the perfect temporary home for your sweet little one.
Your body needs energy and materials to make these changes, which come from the food you put into your body. While a prenatal vitamin can help you meet some of your body's needs, your diet must compensate for the rest. Nearly every woman adjusts her diet during pregnancy because the body's demands are so specific.
Many foods your body needs are very efficient, such as healthy fats and omega-3s. These foods have a high energy value. Eating caloric snacks and nutritious foods can cause more weight gain during pregnancy than necessary.
A healthy pregnancy snack is a snack that helps you achieve your body's nutritional needs without adding empty calories. You should factor vitamin and nutrient-rich snacks into your daily meal plan rather than calling them "extras." All food is fuel, so make your choices count.
What makes one snack more appropriate than another? Quality pregnancy foods include the vitamins and minerals your body (and your baby) desperately need. You might need to go out of your way to incorporate some of these, such as folate, iodine, and calcium.
Most processed snack foods are convenient but lack nutritional value. They include unhealthy trans fats, which hurt your body instead of helping it. Some contain white flour and sugar, which are tasty but don't contribute to your health.
Pregnancy is the perfect time to learn how to read nutrition labels. As a rule, however, foods with less packaging are more nutritious. Choose a banana (full of important potassium) over the bag of banana chips with added sugar.
If you're craving something sweet, choose all-natural peanut butter spread on a whole-grain product, such as toast or crackers. You'll get good fats, omega-3s, and protein. It has a low glycemic index, which can help you manage your blood sugar.
If you need a sugar boost, berries are nature's candy. Fresh fruit will always help you feel your best.
If you crave salt, grab a handful of lightly salted nuts and seeds mixed with dried fruit and a little dark chocolate. These sources of protein are easy to absorb. They have less sugar and more nutrients, such as folate, vitamin E, and magnesium.
Instead of ice cream, reach for protein-packed Greek yogurt, or whip up a fresh fruit smoothie. If you like texture, add fresh or frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, whole-grain granola, or a little nut butter.
If you want chips, you can make healthy chips in the oven. Buy a pack of enriched tortillas or wraps, prioritizing whole grains and fiber. Cut it into eighths, spray with some cooking spray, add a little sea salt, and bake for about 7-minutes in a 375-degree oven.
For more nutrition, dip your chips into some homemade guacamole. Avocados contain folate, potassium, and healthy fats for brain development.
If you usually grab a can of coke to beat the afternoon blues, consider swapping for flavored seltzer or soda water. You can even add fresh fruit juice to make an afternoon mocktail. Sugar from a natural source is better than added sugar in soda.
Many women also enjoy the natural sweetness in fruity herbal teas. Some minty herbal teas can help with nausea, too.
Everyone's snacking style is different. Many women need to change when they eat to help with reflux or heartburn during pregnancy. Some women find they need a snack at times of the day when they've never felt hungry in the past.
If you're not a big snacker, here are some healthy ideas to get you started. Each snack incorporates nutritionally-dense pregnancy foods to boost your baby's development and overall health.
Whatever you choose, ensure that the calories count and help you meet your body's needs. Many of these snacks can boost your baby's brain and organ development. Start the day with a pregnancy vitamin, and you'll be on the right track.
You may be eating for two, but what you eat matters. You and your sweet baby will reap numerous health benefits when you prioritize nutritionally-dense meals and snacks. All the healthy pregnancy snack foods described above are key to a happy, healthy pregnancy.
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