October 20, 2019

Eating wholesome, nutritious food is one of the best ways to fuel the body, but sometimes busy expecting moms simply don’t have the time or energy to prepare home-cooked meals or research healthy snack foods to satisfy between-meal cravings. In today’s post we’ll highlight some quick, easy and nutritious snacks that are perfect for expecting mothers.

Great On-The-Go Snacks

Being busy doesn’t mean having to sacrifice nutrition! These snacks are ideal for pregnant women who are working, taking care of other children, maintaining a household or going back to school.

Fruit and Cheese

The sweetness of fruits and the tanginess of cheese are great complementary flavors. But did you know these two foods are loaded with important nutrients? Adding fresh fruits to your snack choices during pregnancy can help you increase your fiber intake (which can help you maintain a healthy digestive system and reduce constipation1) as well as stay hydrated. The water from the fruit will help the fiber move through your system, but be sure to drink plenty of water, too. Some fruits that are good sources of fiber include fresh apples (1 cup of apples slices has 4.8 grams), fresh raspberries (1 cup has 8 grams) or dried figs (1 cup has 14.6 grams).¹

Cheese provides another essential nutrient during pregnancy: calcium. Expecting moms should consume 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium every day.² A one-ounce slice of cheddar cheese has 200 mg of calcium.

Homemade Smoothies

A lot of the smoothies sold at shops and restaurants are loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. Make a satisfying and simple smoothie at home by choosing your favorite fruits and adding nonfat yogurt. You can also add peanut butter to bump up your protein intake, which can help promote fetal tissue growth,³ or add green veggies to help meet increased iron needs during pregnancy.⁴ Check out the following recipes for inspiration!

• Spinach & Berry Smoothie: https://hungryhobby.net/pregnancy-smoothie/
• Pregnancy Smoothies: https://www.mom365.com/pregnancy/food-and-drink/7-pregnancy-smoothies

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Ditch the high-sodium, high-fat, store-bought potato chips and bake some crunchy and satisfying sweet potato chips instead! Slice up a few sweet potatoes, toss them in a little cinnamon and sugar, and bake! These will provide your mouth with that satisfying crunch sensation and give your body beneficial nutrients such as potassium, fiber and vitamins A, C and B6. Fun fact: The vitamin A in sweet potatoes may be linked to hormone synthesis and lactation during pregnancy.⁵

• Easy Homemade Sweet Potato Chips: https://www.deliciousmeetshealthy.com/baked-sweet-potato-chips/

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Eggs may have gotten a bad rap in the past, but these portable, high-protein snacks can be very nutritious when prepared well and included in a healthy diet. The egg white contains lots of protein, which has its own benefits, but the yolk is where the bulk of the nutritional benefits lie. Egg yolk contains lots of valuable nutrients, including choline, which can play a big role in the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.⁶ Yolks also contain folate, which can help prevent neural tube defects.⁷

• Quick Easy-to-Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs: https://thepioneerwoman.com/food-and-friends/easy-to-peel-eggs/
• Want to dress up your boiled eggs? Try these healthier deviled eggs: https://wellnessmama.com/326117/deviled-eggs/

Homemade Trail Mix

Combine some of your favorite nuts, seeds and dried fruits for a satisfying and nutritious snack that’s perfect for on-the-go. Some good choices are almonds, roasted pumpkin seeds, raisins, dried apricots, pistachios and cashews. If you want to add a little sweetness, mix in some dark chocolate chips (Dark chocolate is lower in sugar than milk chocolate). Be sure to choose raw, dry roasted or unsalted nuts to get the best health benefits. Once you mix together the ingredients, divide the mixture into small containers or plastic bags so you can grab one to go every day, or keep them in your purse.

• Check out this recipe for healthy homemade trails mix: https://www.walderwellness.com/healthy-homemade-trail-mix/

Prenate^® Vitamin Family

While healthy snacks can be a great way for expecting mothers to meet their changing nutritional needs, adding a prenatal vitamin can help ensure they receive complete nutrition throughout their pregnancy. The Prenate^® Vitamin Family may be included as part of a healthy pregnancy and overall nutritional health plan. Prenate^® offers a complete line of prescription prenatal vitamins created to support positive pregnancy outcomes and meet the changing nutritional needs of expecting mothers. Talk to your doctor to see if the Prenate^® Vitamin Family’s prenatal vitamins are right for you.