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Snacking during pregnancy is often necessary whether it's to help keep morning, or all day, sickness at bay, or just because you're a little hungrier than usual while your body is working hard growing a human!
Most women need to consume about 300 extra calories per day throughout pregnancy. Increased calorie needs continue into the postpartum period while your body is recovering from pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding..
Of course it's more important to focus on listening to your body and fueling it with what it needs rather than focusing on a number, but you'll probably feel the need to incorporate an extra snack or two throughout the day to meet your nutritional needs.
Maybe you're not usually a snacker or you're just looking for some fresh ideas for snacks during pregnancy. Here are 10+ ideas for healthy snacks to consume throughout your pregnancy as well as postpartum.*
Snacking during pregnancy is often necessary whether it's to help keep morning, or all day, sickness at bay, or just because you're a little hungrier than usual while your body is working hard growing a human!
Most women need to consume about 300 extra calories per day throughout pregnancy. Increased calorie needs continue into the postpartum period while your body is recovering from pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding..
Of course it's more important to focus on listening to your body and fueling it with what it needs rather than focusing on a number, but you'll probably feel the need to incorporate an extra snack or two throughout the day to meet your nutritional needs.
Maybe you're not usually a snacker or you're just looking for some fresh ideas for snacks during pregnancy. Here are 10+ ideas for healthy snacks to consume throughout your pregnancy as well as postpartum.*
Toast topped with avocado or nut butter
Toast up your favorite whole-grain bread, bagel, english muffin, or waffle and smash on some avocado + salt and pepper, or slather on some nut butter or cream cheese + a drizzle of honey.
Toast up your favorite whole-grain bread, bagel, english muffin, or waffle and smash on some avocado + salt and pepper, or slather on some nut butter or cream cheese + a drizzle of honey.
Yogurt topped with granola and/or berries
Choose your favorite yogurt - full-fat, plain, yogurt is optimal, greek yogurt will also give you an extra shot of protein - and top with a combination of berries, granola, and/or a drizzle of honey, plus a sprinkle of chia seeds or hemp hearts for an extra nutritional boost.
Choose your favorite yogurt - full-fat, plain, yogurt is optimal, greek yogurt will also give you an extra shot of protein - and top with a combination of berries, granola, and/or a drizzle of honey, plus a sprinkle of chia seeds or hemp hearts for an extra nutritional boost.
An apple with nut butter or cheese
Slice up an apple and serve alongside your favorite nut butter or cheese - keep string cheese or mini-Babybel on hand for grab-and-go simplicity! Bananas are a good alternative to apples and taste great with nut butter.
Slice up an apple and serve alongside your favorite nut butter or cheese - keep string cheese or mini-Babybel on hand for grab-and-go simplicity! Bananas are a good alternative to apples and taste great with nut butter.
Cottage cheese topped with fruit
Serve up some cottage cheese topped with fruit, tomatoes, a drizzle of honey, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Serve up some cottage cheese topped with fruit, tomatoes, a drizzle of honey, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Hard-boiled eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are easy to make ahead and can be grabbed for an on-the-go snack. Top them simply with some salt + pepper, or try (smoked) paprika, ground chipotle chile or a drizzle of hot sauce for a little kick, or even a squeeze of mustard for a pseudo-deviled egg!
Hard-boiled eggs are easy to make ahead and can be grabbed for an on-the-go snack. Top them simply with some salt + pepper, or try (smoked) paprika, ground chipotle chile or a drizzle of hot sauce for a little kick, or even a squeeze of mustard for a pseudo-deviled egg!
Veggies and dip
Pre-slice some veggies - cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and celery are all good options - and serve alongside healthy dips like hummus, greek yogurt ranch, creamy avocado dip, guacamole, or even nut butter.
Pre-slice some veggies - cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and celery are all good options - and serve alongside healthy dips like hummus, greek yogurt ranch, creamy avocado dip, guacamole, or even nut butter.
Nuts and cheese
Your favorite variety of nuts along with some cheese, or dried fruit. A healthy trail-mix is also a good option.
Your favorite variety of nuts along with some cheese, or dried fruit. A healthy trail-mix is also a good option.
Fruit and nut or granola bars
Fruit and nut bars or granola bars are a great grab-and-go snack. Either make them at home or buy them pre-made - brands like Larabar, KIND, and Clif offer good options, but you want to watch out for added sugar and artificial ingredients.
Fruit and nut bars or granola bars are a great grab-and-go snack. Either make them at home or buy them pre-made - brands like Larabar, KIND, and Clif offer good options, but you want to watch out for added sugar and artificial ingredients.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a great versatile option that come in every color of the rainbow. They can be made in a variety of flavors whether it's a berry smoothie, a green smoothie, or something more seasonal like pumpkin spice. You can make smoothies ahead of time and freeze them in individual servings, or make up smoothie freezer packs that have all of your ingredients pre-portioned and ready to pop in the blender. Greek yogurt and/or nut butter can be included for a tasty punch of protein.
Smoothies are a great versatile option that come in every color of the rainbow. They can be made in a variety of flavors whether it's a berry smoothie, a green smoothie, or something more seasonal like pumpkin spice. You can make smoothies ahead of time and freeze them in individual servings, or make up smoothie freezer packs that have all of your ingredients pre-portioned and ready to pop in the blender. Greek yogurt and/or nut butter can be included for a tasty punch of protein.
Dates
Dates are a wonderful little superfood! Stuffed with nut butter or cheese, blended in a smoothie, or just eaten plain, there are tons of options for how to eat dates. Plus, there is evidence that they help your body prepare for a shorter, easier labor. Yes, please!
What's your current go-to snack?
*Disclaimer: These are just snack ideas, not personalized nutritional recommendations. I am not a nutritionist nor am I a doctor, but once upon a time I was a pregnant mom in search of snack ideas and these are options that I myself enjoyed. Obviously if you have an special dietary recommendations or personalized questions direct them to the appropriately educated provider :)
Dates are a wonderful little superfood! Stuffed with nut butter or cheese, blended in a smoothie, or just eaten plain, there are tons of options for how to eat dates. Plus, there is evidence that they help your body prepare for a shorter, easier labor. Yes, please!
What's your current go-to snack?
*Disclaimer: These are just snack ideas, not personalized nutritional recommendations. I am not a nutritionist nor am I a doctor, but once upon a time I was a pregnant mom in search of snack ideas and these are options that I myself enjoyed. Obviously if you have an special dietary recommendations or personalized questions direct them to the appropriately educated provider :)
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