There you are looking all adorably pregnant on the outside, and your body is working as hard as a mountain climber on the inside. Seriously! You can’t see its efforts, though no doubt on most days you feel it. Making itty bitty bones, vital organs, blood, and cute little toes are no easy task, so you must nourish your bod with all the necessary nutrients and this means eating “clean” and healthy. Oh, and not to mention, doing all of this while you possibly juggle a career or take care of your other children, and tending to all of the other responsibilities and directions that life pulls you in.
Here are four go to snacks for busy gals that choose health for themselves because they know how that translates into healthy babes, and a fitter post-pregnancy experience.
1. Nuts and seeds –With fiber, protein, and healthy fats, these powerhouses will fill you up. Best choices are walnuts, almonds, cashew (which is actually a seed), pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds. Add them to salads, blend them in smoothies, or just have them plain. The nut butter versions are good to spread on apples and gluten-free crackers and Barney Butter has the most delish varieties!
Aim for organic and raw nuts and seeds when possible for nutrient retention. I have seen many a person actually gain weight by eating too much of this good thing! Because of the fat content, they are super high in calories, so pre portioned packages are great because if you are anything like me, it it’s out, it may get gobbled up quickly.
2. Hummus has gone all worldly on us! With different blends such as edamame, roasted red pepper, jalapeño, and black bean, there is sure to be a combo that suits a mom-to-be’s “hankerin” for a tasty snack. Like our nut friends, they are high fiber and protein, but lower in fat. Slice a cucumber and use that instead of crackers for a healthier and lower carb snack.
This travels really well too, and Wild Garden Traditional Hummus comes in cute little travel packages that make it SO easy to say no to other less healthy options!
3. Avocado. Period. Yup…just as is…well, with a knife of course. These fruits are loaded with folic acid, which is crucial to the development of your healthy baby.
With heart-friendly fat, fiber, protein, and so many vitamins and minerals, you will be loving yourself and your baby in the yummiest of ways! Sure you can add them to a smoothie, a salad, or spread them on whole grain toast, but because they travel very well, you can just eat as is. I’ve taken them on airplanes before with a plastic knife all ready to just peel and eat. You can put what you don’t finish in a zip-loc. Voila!
4. Re -think your popcorn! Let’s face it…sometimes life calls for crunchy and salty…pregnant or not! Presto makes a great line of very affordable hot air and microwave poppers.
Once popped, spray your popcorn with a little olive oil, or coconut oil, add a dash of salt. Or, to kick it up a notch, add freshly chopped parsley (loaded with calcium) or sprinkle on your favorite seasonings like paprika or cumin. Get creative and enjoy because popcorn is actually a good source of fiber and it’s gluten free. Score!
About Jeanine Finelli
Jeanine Finelli is a Certified Health Coach, Speaker and Author of the Love Yourself to Health series. She received her Health Coach Certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC (where she was born and bred) in 2008, and has had the honor of learning from the best of the best, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Andrew Weil, David Wolf, Joshua Rosenthal, Walter Willet and many more.
