Congratulations, you’ve got a baby in the momma oven! But along with pregnancy comes several restrictions—completely reasonable, as you only want to create the safest, most nurturing environment for your baby. But just because you’re expecting doesn’t mean you have to expect dietary restrictions that will prevent you from happily snacking the day away.
We’ve put together a list of healthy and pregnancy-friendly foods for you to try out:
- Unsweetened Cashew Milk
Try a glass of unsweetened cashew milk to curb your daily dairy cravings. Cashews are especially healthy for pregnant women as they are rich in iron, dietary fiber, calcium, and many other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which helps your baby’s development. Its high protein and carbohydrate content will also give you enough energy to last the day.
- Apples
Pregnancy increases your daily fiber requirement 28-30 grams. Pregnant mothers struggle to meet that requirement, especially those suffering morning sickness. An apple is the perfect snack to get a daily dose of sweetness and fiber. With 4g of fiber and only 95 calories, apples provide a refreshing and crunchy treat. Additionally, the pectin in the peel also aids digestion.
- Cheddar Cheese
Calcium is integral for pregnancy, as expecting mothers need a whopping 1,000 milligrams of it daily. It keeps your bones strong, and it also helps develop your baby’s own bones. If you don’t get enough calcium into your system, your growing baby may end up sourcing calcium directly from your bones. Snacking on some cheddar cheese is a great way to meet your daily calcium needs. Just one 1 oz slice of cheddar contains 200 mg of calcium, which is already 20% of your daily requirement.
- Trail Mix
The premise of trail mix was to pack a wholesome nutrient punch for hikers, but store-bought trail mix is usually filled with too much sodium and sugar. Try to make your own by mixing your favorite nuts, dried fruit, and even some dark chocolate bits. Many recommend adding pumpkin seeds, for their high magnesium content, of which pregnant mothers need 300mg daily. Just a quarter of a cup of pumpkin seeds already offer your daily magnesium requirement!
Your choice of dried fruit will also provide benefits for your pregnancy. Take dried tart cherries, for example. They are full of melatonin, a substance that assists in sleep—which is something pregnant women often have trouble with.
- Greek Yogurt Parfait
This is great for pregnant ladies craving an indulgent sweet treat, as it’s quite decadent by itself, but is considered healthy and beneficial on all fronts. Greek yogurt contains twice as much protein as a glass of milk, and 15% of your daily calcium requirement. Its probiotics also guarantees a healthy digestive system.
Feel free to add as much fresh fruit, nuts, and whole grain granola as you please. The fruits provide vitamins, the granola provides fiber, while nuts provide healthy fats and carbohydrates.
- Veggie Platter with Guacamole
Pregnant women suffer bloating and swelling, so avoiding excess sodium by eating more vegetables will help. Vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, and celery sticks have high water content, which helps to flush away the excess sodium from your system.
Guacamole will also make a delicious dip, as well as potassium source. Potassium maintains the fluid and electrolyte balance in your cells, so eating it in tandem with vegetables won’t only satiate you need for a snack, but also be good for you and your baby as well.
Watching your diet so your baby can thrive and develop properly doesn’t mean you have to be unhappy with what you eat. Make sure to ask your doctor for healthier snack recommendations to keep you satisfied and happily snacking throughout your pregnancy.