Pregnancy is an exciting time for any expecting mother, but it can also be a difficult one. With the added stress of eating healthy and staying active, sometimes finding the right snacks to eat during pregnancy can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious snack options available that will help you stay energized throughout your pregnancy journey!
One great option for pregnant women are nuts and seeds. They’re packed with essential vitamins and minerals like zinc, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids – all important nutrients needed when pregnant. Nuts such as almonds or walnuts provide protein while sunflower or pumpkin seeds offer up some vitamin E which helps protect against birth defects in babies. Eating just a handful each day is enough to get all these benefits without overdoing it on calories or fat content.
Another popular snack choice among expectant mothers are fresh fruits like apples or oranges which contain lots of fiber along with other vitamins including folate (which helps prevent neural tube defects). Fruits also make great dessert alternatives since they’re naturally sweet yet low in sugar compared to processed sweets like cakes/cookies, etc. Plus they come prepackaged, so you don’t have to worry about portion control either.
Dairy products such as yogurt provide calcium (important for strong bones) plus probiotics that aid digestion. Another common issue during pregnancy due its hormonal changes causing uncomfortable stomach issues at times. Yogurt cups make convenient snacks too since most brands have single serve portions already made up, making them perfect grab-and-go treats when out running errands.
Finally, no list would be complete without mentioning whole grain crackers and toast. Both ideal sources of complex carbohydrates, providing energy throughout the day, plus B vitamins necessary for cell growth & development within the baby’s growing body. Just try not going overboard on toppings here, since extra fats/sugars tend to cancel out their nutritional value.
In conclusion, there’s definitely no shortage of healthy snacking options available even if you’re expecting. So remember, keep things simple by sticking mostly unprocessed foods while avoiding anything overly high in sugars / saturated fats whenever possible. This way, not only do moms benefit nutritionally, but the baby does too, a win-win situation all around.