When a woman becomes pregnant, everything she eats goes to the baby. That’s why ensuring you eat a well-balanced diet when you’re expecting is important.
Moms-to-be must frequently snack, so choosing the right snack is a must.
Today, we’re going to cover the best snacks for pregnant women. We’ll talk about what nutrients are vital throughout all three trimesters and what snacks you need to eat to get these nutrients.
Read on to learn more.
Snacks For Pregnant Women
Instead of eating three large meals a day, it’s recommended that pregnant women consume smaller meals and eat snacks in between.
When a pregnant woman gets into the routine of eating snacks at regular intervals throughout the day, there can be many benefits for her body. This includes:
- A regular boost of energy
- Combat pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and heartburn
- Consume plenty of vitamins from fruit and vegetables
- Reduce the risk of not eating enough daily calories
- Prevent yourself from overeating during meals
Healthy Snacks For Pregnancy
It’s normal to have all sorts of different cravings during pregnancy. Many pregnant women crave flavors they never gave much thought to before conception.
But no matter how intense your cravings are, choosing healthy snacks is important.
Let’s look at the core types of snacks you should include in your pregnancy diet.
1. Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of the pregnancy diet. This is because they can naturally provide your body with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and other important nutrients.
Each individual type of product will have different vitamins and nutrients. This is why it’s a good idea for pregnant women to include a healthy variety in their diets.
Another great thing about most fruits and vegetables is their high water content. Pregnant women need to consume plenty of fluids.
The right fruits and vegetables can help you stay hydrated if you have difficulty drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily.
2. Low-Fat Dairy
Pregnant women crave milk, ice cream, cheese, and other dairy products. This is good because women need to consume more calcium and protein during pregnancy.
Women should consume dairy products during pregnancy because they’re a great source of the following nutrients:
- Calcium
- Protein
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Phosphorous
- Vitamin D
So, why should pregnant women choose low-fat instead of regular dairy products?
Full-fat dairy has a high amount of cholesterol. With low-fat dairy, you can consume all essential nutrients without extra calories.
Of course, pregnant women do need to increase their calorie intake. But this should be done with healthier food choices.
3. Lean Meats (Lean Protein)
One of the most important nutrients to consume during pregnancy is protein. This nutrient is important because it supports the healthy growth and development of the baby.
This is why craving red meat, eggs, seafood, and legumes is natural.
You must consume enough protein daily during pregnancy to support your body’s changes.
The fetus will grow rapidly, and you will need strength to keep up with it.
If you’re feeling fatigued, a quick protein-rich snack, like a protein bar or peanut butter toast, is an excellent pick-me-up.
4. Whole Grains
Another common craving among pregnant women is carbs.
If bread, bagels, pasta, and other flour-based foods sound great to you right now, you’re not alone.
However, before you get your toaster ready, you should ensure you buy products made from whole grain.
Whole grains are an excellent source of folic acid and vitamin B. On top of that, they’re also loaded with fiber, magnesium, and potassium.
First Trimester Snacks
Did you know that certain nutrients will be important to help support your baby’s healthy development throughout each trimester?
The following nutrients are essential for your baby’s development during your first trimester.
- Folic acid
- Calcium
- Protein
- Iron
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
- DHA
Now that you know what you need, here are some healthy and delicious snack ideas for your 1st trimester.
1. Yogurt Parfaits
You can’t go wrong with a yogurt parfait. You can customize one of these parfaits in many ways, allowing you to eat one every day of your pregnancy without getting tired of them.
If you don’t want to use yogurt, you can make a similar type of parfait using cottage cheese.
Healthy yogurt parfaits can be made by layering yogurt (or cottage cheese) and toppings of your choice.
You can use plain yogurt, Greek yogurt, or even dairy-free yogurt. The toppings are entirely up to you.
Fresh fruit is always an excellent choice. But, if you’re in the mood for a sugary treat, you can get away with adding a few spoonfuls of crushed cookies or candies without overindulging.
2. Homemade Guacamole
Potassium is an excellent way to help your body maintain fluids.
Avocado is an excellent source of potassium.
To ensure you’re getting enough potassium is to have homemade guacamole on hand.
This go-to snack can be eaten in so many ways. It’s delicious on sandwiches or can be eaten as a dip with fresh vegetables, whole-grain tortilla chips, or whole-grain crackers.
Homemade guacamole can also be made based on your preferences. You can make it with limited spices if you’ve been feeling nauseous.
However, if you’re craving bold or spicy flavors, add spices, lemon juice, or hot sauce.
3. Fruit & Peanut Butter
Throughout your pregnancy, you should eat plenty of protein and vitamins. But you don’t have to make it complicated.
You can use fresh fruit and natural peanut butter or almond butter to make a fast and healthy snack.
You can enjoy this combination by spreading peanut butter or almond butter on a whole-grain tortilla wrap. Then, you can add fresh berries, dried fruit, or banana slices.
Another way to eat this combination is even simpler. Cut up apple or pear slices and spread peanut butter on them. It’s even tastier if you sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top.
4. Certain Cereals
It’s important to eat foods with folic acid during your first trimester. This isn’t hard to do if you buy the right cereals.
Plenty of nutritious (and tasty) cereals include this nutrient. Review the ingredients list before adding cereal to your grocery cart.
Second Trimester Snacks
During the second trimester, the morning sickness stage should come to an end. At this point, you may be craving more of your favorite snacks (or other weird combinations).
These are the nutrients that are important to eat during the second trimester.
- Iron
- Folate
- More fluids
- Protein
- Omega 3-fatty acids
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
Now that you know what nutrients you need, let’s look at some snacks you should include on your menu.
1. Hummus
Hummus is one of the best pregnancy snacks. It tastes terrible for you, but it’s made from healthy ingredients (chickpeas and tahini).
This is an excellent snack for you and the growing baby because it’s low in fat, high in fiber, protein, and calcium.
2. Fruit Smoothie & Fruit Juices
You must stay on top of your fluid intake during the second trimester.
Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water daily may not appeal to you. So, there’s another way to get your fluids while also getting a boost of natural vitamins and antioxidants.
Make fresh juice or smoothies from your favorite fruits.
3. Egg Salad (with yogurt dressing)
Eggs are an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
The best way to cook eggs is boiled to avoid extra saturated fats. You can get all the nutrients from eggs by eating soft or hard-boiled eggs.
But if you want more flavor, we suggest making a homemade egg salad on whole-grain toast.
Our tip for the egg salad is to replace the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. It will be just as tasty and much healthier for you and your growing baby.
4. Sweet Potato Chips (or Fries)
It’s normal to crave french fries and potato chips when pregnant.
You should get a sweet potato instead of buying regular fries or chips loaded with salt and saturated fats. Sweet potatoes are nutrient-rich and can help relieve constipation.
If you own an air fryer, you can make homemade sweet potato fries or chips with minimal oil and a dash of salt. They will be just as delicious as deep-fried potatoes from a pub.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can still make this snack using a baking pan in the oven.
Third Trimester Snacks
Your baby is still developing in the third trimester. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the right snacks.
The following nutrients are essential at this point in the pregnancy.
- Fresh produce
- High-protein
- Whole grains
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Iron-rich foods
- Healthy fats
1. Trail Mix
Trail mix is an excellent way to get protein and healthy fats and satisfy a sweet tooth. You can put anything you want in the trail mix.
The main ingredients should be nuts and seeds. Then you can add dried fruit, chocolate chips, and other ingredients.
Some of our favorites include:
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Dark chocolate chips
- Dried cherries
- Raisins
- Dried apricots
- Dried blueberries
2. Bagel & Nut Butter
One of our favorite comfort pregnancy snacks is a bagel.
We suggest eating a whole-grain bagel with nut butter to ensure you get healthy nutrients. This will ensure you get fiber, protein, healthy fats, and other vital nutrients.
3. Fresh Salad With Boiled Egg or Tuna
Don’t neglect omega fatty acids during the third trimester. One of the best healthy pregnancy snacks is a fresh salad with a boiled egg or tuna.
This quick and easy snack can be made with vegetables in your fridge.
4. Homemade Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream is a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth without consuming unwanted ingredients.
There are many different ways you can make your own ice cream. The best part is that it contains minimal refined sugar.
One of the easiest (and healthiest) ways to make homemade ice cream is by slicing bananas, freezing them, and then blending them.
You can add toppings, like nut butter, dark chocolate, coconut, or whatever you want after the bananas are blended.
Final Words
During pregnancy, you must consume snacks that contain essential vitamins and nutrients. You must eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and lean protein.
Healthy pregnancy snacks are important for your body and the developing baby.
Which pregnancy snacks sound the tastiest to you? Let us know in the comments below.