Figuring out what to eat during your pregnancy can be tricky. Your body will require nutritious food, but you will also crave yummy snacks all the time. To keep obesity at bay and ensure proper development of the fetus, you have to create a perfect balance between having dietician-approved meals and resisting unhealthy snacks. As your appetite will increase significantly, you must come up with delectable yet nutrient-rich snack ideas to relish in between meals. Not sure what to eat and what to avoid to have a blissful pregnancy? Then here’s everything you need to know about healthy pregnancy snacks and meals.
Recipes to Add to your Pregnancy Meal Plan
Pregnancy is rewarding but it isn’t all fun. From sore breasts to constipation to morning sickness during the first trimester – pregnant women must deal with a range of side effects. However, if your meals are planned and you look after yourself, most of the symptoms like nausea, depression, heartburn, etc. will subside. Read on if you are looking for tasty dishes for your lunch, dinner, and breakfast to get optimal gestational nutrition.
- Classic overnight oats
What could be a better way to start your day than by having oats with fruits and nuts? Moreover, this is a pre-made recipe that you can have when you are in a hurry to go to work. To make your oatmeal delicious, take fruits, berries, cashews,s and other nuts of your choice. You can also add some seeds like chia seeds and flax seeds as they are good sources of antioxidants.
You will get 448 calories from this type of breakfast.
- Egg- chicken wrap
Protein-rich pregnancy meals are mandatory for developing the baby’s bones and teeth. And if you are a non-vegetarian, an egg-chicken wrap is one of the tastiest dishes to have for lunch or dinner. Besides scrambled/ boiled eggs and boiled chicken, you can add onions and tomatoes. Make sure you take whole-wheat tortillas instead of the ones made of refined flour.
600+ calories can be derived from this dish and you can make it within minutes.
- Avocado sandwich
Avocado is a superfood and an avocado sandwich is a recipe you’ll fall in love with. You will require a ripe avocado to make this vegetable sandwich with your chosen vegetables. Lastly, grill the sandwich to make it crispy, and savor the dish with fresh fruits or fruit juice.
The dish contains 564 calories.
- Fiesta Salad
If you are a fan of Mexican-inspired dishes, a fiesta salad could be an ideal lunch for you. To make this, you will need some diced tomato, thawed and frozen corn kernels, baked sweet potatoes, black beans, and chopped lettuce. To enhance its taste, garnish the salad with salt, pepper, lime juice, low-fat shredded cheese, and olive oil.
You will get 542.7 calories from one bowl of this salad.
- Pineapple and pork kebabs
A dinner recipe that will become your instant favorite is pineapple and pork kebabs. First, add some chopped garlic, lime juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil to boneless pork and keep it aside for at least 30 minutes. After that, take skewers and thread the pork pieces with onion cubes, tomato, capsicum, and pineapple pieces. Let the flame be medium-high and grill so that the pork is soft and juicy.
This dish will provide 640.6 calories and is loaded with calcium, folate, and protein.
Healthy Snacks for Pregnancy to Satisfy Your Taste Buds
When you are pregnant, you should always have some snacks with you, especially when you are away from home. To keep you happy and your baby nourished, here are some scrumptious and nutrient-dense snacks to include in your maternity diet plan:
- Fruit and yogurt parfait
Who says healthy fetal foods have to be insipid? Try some Greek yogurt with granola and berries and you’d feel like having this snack during pregnancy almost every day. Moreover, yogurt has probiotics and will help keep your bowel movements smooth.
- Rice cake served with nut butter
Everyone has eaten rice cakes but very few know how great it tastes with nut butter. 2 rice cakes with 2 spoons of butter have 242 calories and it can be a great midday snack. Prepare the rice cakes with bananas if you have a sweet tooth. Then you won’t end up having sugary snacks that can spike up your blood sugar levels.
- Boiled eggs
Eggs have healthy fats and are fantastic calcium sources for expectant mothers. High in protein, the yolk is loaded with choline which aids the brain development of the baby. Warm boiled eggs are also very tasty.
Quick Tip: The eggs should be hard-boiled so that you do not suffer from foodborne illnesses.
- Apple slices and cheese
Cheese and apple are a match made in heaven. But why should a pregnant woman try this combination? That’s because apples have filling fiber, vitamins C and A, fat, calcium, and protein. So, have some apple slices and your tummy will also remain full for some time.
- Dried beans
Feel like having some chips? We all know that packaged potato chips are extremely unhealthy. So, dried beans can be a healthier substitute. You will get roasted chickpeas, soybeans, and fave beans in different flavors. It is not just loaded with protein but also one of the iron-rich snacks that will decrease your chances of getting iron-deficient anemia.
- Kefir
A fermented beverage, kefir has calcium and probiotics that are essential for a baby’s bones. Although it is a milk product, the amount of lactose in it is minimum. So, even people with lactose intolerance can have a kefir smoothie.
- Parmesan popcorn
A list of healthy pregnancy snacks and meals is incomplete without including parmesan popcorn. The gourmet treat will taste heavenly if you have it with some melted butter and black pepper.
Consult a Dietician to Learn More About Healthy Pregnancy Snacks
As the female body undergoes major changes after conceiving, taking care of yourself can be challenging if you aren’t mindful of what you eat. Your food is also the source of nourishment for the growing baby in your womb. And you can’t know everything – be it about hydration during pregnancy or the importance of iron during this phase.
So, you will require the help of an accomplished dietician who will monitor your journey closely. He will curate a nutritious diet for you and tell you how to control pregnancy cravings with healthful snacks and what foods to avoid.
Parting Thoughts
The bottom line is to remember that the food you choose will directly impact your health and the well-being of your baby. So, you must rely on healthy pregnancy snacks and mealsto stay energetic and keep excessive weight gain in check.
Luckily, now that we have shared so many nutritious recipes, you will not run out of options. Hence, eat well, stay happy, and irrespective of what you consume, don’t forget your prenatal vitamins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are some healthy snack options for pregnant women?
Peanut butter balls, crispy fries made of sweet potato, Greek yogurt with nuts and berries, kale chips baked at home, dark chocolate, whole grain crackers, hummus with carrot, trail mix, cottage cheese salad, and biscuits with almond butter are some excellent low-sugar maternity snacks all expecting moms should have during their first, second, and third trimesters.
Q. How can expecting mothers ensure a balanced diet during pregnancy?
A balanced diet for an expecting mother should have foods that are rich in key nutrients like omega-3 for pregnancy, folate, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin C, protein, etc. The best way to meet your body’s daily requirement of calories is by sticking to the diet chart provided by your nutritionist.
