Life
Growing a human is hella hard, and it sure can make a sister hungry. Pregnancy is a time when women may find they have to eat more than they normally do, just to keep up their energy. If you are pregnant — and gazing into the pantry every 20 minutes — you may be searching for some nutritious pregnancy snacks that will satisfy your craving while filling you up with nutrients.
One of the first things doctors cover in the initial pregnancy visit are foods to avoid while pregnant. While this is crucial information that can effect the health of the growing baby, it's also important to know what is considered good to eat throughout the next three trimesters. To keep a balanced diet, Mayo Clinic recommends incorporating foods packed with folate, calcium, vitamin D, protein and iron into your daily meals and snacks.
Although this seems like a long list of nutrients to remember when you're roaming the aisles of the grocery store, adding these healthy elements to your daily diet is easier than you may think. As tempting as those brownie bites and loaded potato skins may be, the next time you need to fill up between meals, try out one of these 9 nutritious snacks to kick your pregnancy craving to the curb.
1No-Bake Energy Bites
The protein in Gimme Some Oven's customizable energy bites will help you and your growing baby feel full.
2Caprese Avocado Salad
For a refreshing dish that full of fiber, whip up Damn Delicious's Caprese avocado salad.
3Granola And Pomegranate Bowl
Love and Lemons granola and pomegranate bowl isn't just for breakfast. Packed with hearty ingredients like pecans, yogurt, and rolled oats, you can top it off with a little honey to keep your sweet tooth happy.
4Green Monster Smoothie
Don't be afraid to drink your greens! Naturally Ella's green smoothie incorporates banana to help sweeten any bitterness from the spinach.
5Carrot Raisin Snack Cakes
Want to feel like you are indulging while eating something healthy? Make a batch of Oatmeal With A Fork's carrot raisin snack cakes, a nutritious (and gluten-free) confection that tastes like your favorite carrot cake.
6Nachos With Cauliflower Queso
It won't even feel like your loading up on veggies when you make a platter of Feed Me Phoebe's nachos with mushrooms, jalapeños and cauliflower queso. If you're pregnancy is causing you acid reflux, you'll probably want to hold off on the jalapeños, but this dish is so flavorful, you won't even notice they're gone.
74 Ingredient Apple Cinnamon Snack Mix
The name says its all. This 4 ingredient apple cinnamon snack mix from Ari's Menu can be made in a big batch and divides it into small bags to take with you on the go.
8Peanut Butter Crunch Banana Bites
The Scrumptious Pumpkin has peanut butter crunch banana bites down to a science. Using only four ingredients, you can be chowing down on these in five minutes flat.
9Peach and Tomato Crostini
If you're in the mood for a sweet and savory snack, try this peach and tomato crostini from Love and Lemons. Make sure to slather on tons of the homemade herbed pine nut spread before adding the fresh fruit to this satisfying snack.
Images: Courtesy of Feed Me Phoebe; Gimme Some Oven; Damn Delicious; Love and Lemons; Naturally Ella; Oatmeal With A Fork; Feed Me Phoebe; Ari's Menu; Scrumptious Pumpkin; Love and Lemons
