I’ve always considered myself a relatively healthy eater. By that, I mean I rarely eat junk food. I eat ice cream and sweets in moderation. And I try to make sure my diet consists more of vegetables, lean meat, and fruits. But when I found out I was pregnant, I became even more conscious about what I ate!
If you’re looking for healthy snacks for pregnant women, here are some of my staple snacks. I hope you can get some ideas from my list!Healthy Snacks for Pregnant Women
When I was dealing with morning sickness during the first trimester, one thing I started doing was eating small but frequent meals a day. It was easier for me to combat my nausea and queasiness. But I made sure that the things I ate were also healthy to get my fill of essential nutrients! Below are some snacks I enjoyed preparing and indulging in.
Apples, Pears, Pomelos, Papayas, Oranges, and Grapes
These are currently some fruits I like to munch on. Luckily, our village selling group has fruit vendors who always have these fruits on hand. Every weekend whenever I visit my family, my dad loves preparing these fruits for me, too. The good thing about eating fruits, especially pomelos and papayas, is that I’m never constipated despite taking iron supplements as part of my prenatal vitamins.
Oatmeal with Milk and Honey
I’m a huge fan of eating oatmeal with a little milk and honey! Oats provide fiber to help avoid constipation and hemorrhoids and contribute to a healthy cardiovascular system. This is usually one of my stable breakfasts, too.
Avocado Toast
Avocado has always been one of my favorite fruits. I was so sad when I had an aversion to it during the first trimester after I made some guacamole. But now that I’m in my second trimester and no longer suffering from morning sickness, I’ve been eating avocados again! They contain high amounts of folate and potassium, which are both crucial for fetal growth and development. I love making avocado toast more than anything. It’s such a simple but delicious recipe anyone can do!
My recipe consists of one mashed avocado seasoned with salt and pepper. For my toast, I like to spread a little butter on a thick slice of bread before grilling it on a pan in low heat. Once golden brown, I take off the toast and use the same pan to cook an egg. Twice, I indulged in semi-runny eggs but most of the time, I cook the egg thoroughly to avoid the risk of salmonella.
Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese and Capers
There was one day I was craving salmon sashimi so bad. But I knew I wasn’t allowed to eat it. My OB, who is quite lenient with my diet, says I can eat anything in moderation except for raw food. Keeping that in mind, I did my research and discovered that smoked salmon can be eaten by pregnant women as long as it’s hot-smoked.
I searched online and found that Pacific Bay sold all the ingredients I needed for a salmon bagel with cream cheese and capers. But since the smoked salmon they carried was cold-smoked Atlantic salmon, I decided to fry mine a little. According to the American Pregnancy Society, the omega-3s found in salmon are essential for the neurological and early visual development of a baby. It can reduce the risk of allergies in infants as well. Lastly, it can help prevent postpartum depression.
Aptamom Cereal Bar: Healthy Snack for Pregnant Women
As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I started snacking on Aptamom’s prenatal cereal bar. It’s handy to have especially when I’m lazy to put together something! I personally prefer their Rasin and Chocolate variant. Aside from providing nutrients and vitamins to help support a successful pregnancy, each bar includes vitamin D for healthy bone development, iron for immune function and cognitive development, folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, and omega 3 for brain growth. You can grab a box of 18 bars from Lazada, Shopee, or BeautyMnl!
My Healthy Snacks for Pregnant Women
Those are some of my go-to healthy snacks for pregnant women. If you have any questions about them, comment below! To stay updated with all things beauty, home, pets, travel, and lifestyle, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. For more articles on my pregnancy journey, visit my Motherhood category.