Healthy Snacks to Eat During Pregnancy
Eating healthy is a primary focus of most women during pregnancy. Indian women especially are blessed when it comes to making meal choices, as a traditional Indian diet is well-balanced in terms of taste & nutrition.
While there are many options available for the main meals, women often find themselves perplexed during those untimely hunger episodes when all they want is a delicious yet healthy snack.
As opposed to the common misconception you don't need to eat for two during pregnancy. However, you want to gain a steady weight while making healthy food choices during your pregnancy. It is easy to simply open a pack of chips or devour a candy bar when those snack cravings strike. Although this is alright once in a while, you want to keep your pantry stocked with healthy items to whip up a quick snack when you are hungry.
If you are confused about healthy yet yummy snacks, you are in the right place. The choices are endless, and we are here to help you make good ones. Let us look at some scrumptious snacks that won't make you feel guilty afterwards and will also satisfy your pregnancy cravings perfectly.
16 Healthy Snacks to Eat During Pregnancy
Peanut Chaat: Peanuts are rich in folic acid, proteins, healthy fats and other nutrients. Mix them with different vegetables to add the goodness of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Mix in your favourite chutneys, spices, and a squeeze of lemon juice, and you got yourself the perfect sweet, tangy, and spicy chaat that is yummy and healthy.
Vegetable Cutlet: Mix vegetable cutlets are a great Indian snack that is highly customisable as per your choice. Mix together all your favourite vegetables and spices, shape them into cutlets, coat them with breadcrumbs and shallow fry or air-fry. Enjoy these goodies with green chutney. The best part is you can make them in advance and freeze them. This will solve your search for healthy snacks during pregnancy. Similar choices may include Kala chana or Rajma kebabs.
Oats Banana Pancake: If you are looking for some sweet yet healthy snacks to eat during pregnancy, oats banana pancakes are a perfect choice. Mix together one egg, ¼ cup powdered oats, one banana, baking powder, and some milk to make these nutritious yet delectable pancakes.
Curd rice: If you have some leftover white rice, you can quickly whip up this yummy dish to cool your cravings on a hot day. Mix some leftover rice with yoghurt and add grated cucumber and carrots. Set aside for 10 minutes. Temper by heating some ghee and adding asafoetida, dried red chillies, mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Mini idlis: Fermented foods are highly nutritious. Idlis with coconut chutney are the perfect comfort food that has healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates to keep you satisfied.
Dhokla: Dhokla, another fermented food, is also one of the best healthy snacks for pregnant women. Dhoklas are low in calories but high in probiotics, protein content, and of course, taste. You can even increase their nutritional value by adding grated vegetables to the batter.
Mixed Nut Laddoo or Peanut Chikki: This is another great way to satisfy your sweet cravings. As Indians, we have a wide variety of nutritious laddoo recipes available; be it rava coconut laddoo, ragi badam laddoo, or besan laddoo, the choices are endless. The ghee and nuts provide healthy fats. You can add your choice of sweeteners like dates or jaggery to add to the health benefits. Peanut Chikki can also be a good option to treat your sweet cravings. These desserts should be eaten in portioned amounts. Also, if you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, talk to your doctor or dietician about how much and what type of sweets are allowed for you.
Bhel Puri: Puffed rice, or Murmura, is a light snack used to make Bhel Puri. You can mix a ton of toppings to make it tasty yet healthy.
Fruits Chaat/Salad: Fruit chaat or a fruit salad also works as a great pregnancy snack. It is full of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. You can also add soaked chia seeds or nuts to make it tastier and healthier.
Vegetable Sticks with Hummus: Hummus is one of the most nutritious dips. It is full of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Cut vegetables like cucumber, carrots, beetroot, and calcium into sticks. Dip them in hummus for a nutritious and high-fibre snack.
Fresh Fruits: If you are searching for a quick pregnancy snack without going through much hassle, fresh fruits are amazing. They help satisfy your cravings while providing great nutrition. You can even opt for mixed fruit smoothies if you are in the mood for something cold and refreshing.
Sprouts salad: Sprouts are high in nutrition content and are great for you and your baby. Sprouts are easily digestible and low in calories. They have a high protein content and work great in salads and chaats. Add some grilled paneer to your salad or chaats for added protein.
Roasted Chana or Peanuts: Having roasted chana or peanuts around the house is great for times when hunger strikes suddenly.
Chole Chaat: Chickpeas are a rich source of dietary fibre, folate, magnesium, potassium and iron, making their easy-to-make chaat a healthy snack.
Egg salad: Egg carries all the nutrients essential for your pregnancy. You can quickly whip up a boiled egg salad for a fast snack. You can make homemade mayonnaise or use Greek yoghurt dressing for a healthier alternative.
Grilled Chicken Whole Wheat Sandwich: Chicken works as a great source of lean protein. Make a healthy sandwich using wholewheat bread, leftover or freshly grilled chicken and a choice of vegetables. You can even add a slice of cheese and elevate the taste of the sandwich with green chutney for a yummy evening snack during pregnancy.
These are just a few options for healthy yet appetising items ideal as afternoon or evening snacks during pregnancy. You can always customise these snacks based on your preferences, allergies, and nutritional requirements.
We hope these snack ideas will work for you, and you will not have to turn to junk food when those crazy cravings strike!
Link: https://www.carehospitals.com/blog-detail/healthy-snacks-to-eat-during-pregnancy/
0 notes
Forbidden snacks unforbidden
Disclaimer: do not eat anything you are allergic, intolerant, or sensitive to! Moderate your diet according to your needs. Seek a dietician's help with this if needed.
CTRL + F to search for keywords in the list
* = only taste safe-- not meant to be eaten straight but eating a little won't kill you
Bar soap: avocado, banana, mango, dried papaya, peach, pear, ice, cereal, cheese, peanut butter oat balls, giant pretzels/pretzel bites/pretzel bun, crackers, steamed rice cake, butter, flan, cake, chocolate bar/melts, candy melts, gum*, candy corn, freeze dried ice cream, popsicles, taffy, Charleston Chews, tootsie rolls, fondant, valentine heart candies, Rice Krispie treats
Bone, teeth, metal: white foods, silver foods, bone/tooth-shaped foods, ice, raw baby carrots, almonds, walnuts, other nuts, frozen fruit/vegetables, ribs, chicken legs, bone-in wings, T-bone steak, uncooked pasta, edible tree bark, edible skins/shells of some foods, pretzel sticks, cereal, cookie straws, candy canes, valentine message heart candies, Takis, hard candy, snowcone, suckers/lollipops, chocolate coins, Whoppers candy, frozen chocolate/candy, popsicles
Chalk, coal, makeup: Parmesan cheese, spices, seasoning, puffed rice cakes, cereal, powdered/icing sugar, edible sands, drink flavoring, ground up crackers/chips/cookies, Whoppers candy, smarties, sweet tarts, mints, freeze dried ice cream, sprinkles, fun dip, pixie stix, cotton candy, valentine message heart candies, mints
Cosmetic creams, whipped soap, spackle: yogurt, peanut/etc butter, cream cheese, sour cream, hummus, condiments, butter, thick drink, Nutella, frosting, whipped cream, ice cream, pudding, candy gel, marshmallow fluff
Dice, marbles, coins, trinkets: ice, polyhedral candy, frozen peas, frozen fruit, banana chips, other dried fruit, Kix/Cap'n Crunch/Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, other cereal, cheese cubes, snacks shaped like trinkets, mini pepperonis, seed beads, jawbreakers, Whoppers candy, jolly ranchers, candy shaped like trinkets, chocolate chips, Tic Tacs, mints, decorative sugar pieces, valentine message heart candies, sugar cubes, candy coins, candy legos/bricks, gum*
Dog/pet treats: foods cut into bone/fish/etc shapes, banana, blueberries, sweet potato, dried fruit, deli meat, fish, red meat, bacon, pepperoni, poultry, bread, pasta, crackers, Cheerios, Rice Krispies cereal, other cereal, human-safe dog treats, cookies, oatmeal, peanut butter oat balls, granola, jerky, Slim Jims, cooked bugs or worms, mints, gummies, sprinkles
Dough, clay, puddy: mashed potatoes, sweet potato, avocado, peanut/other butter, peanut butter oat balls, noodles/pasta, gravy, pancakes, fondant, yogurt dough, Kool-Aid dough, cocoa dough, peeps playdoh, Nutella dough, peanut/etc butter dough, warm chocolate, warm candy corn, taffy, egg-free cookie dough, ice cream, thick frosting, Charleston Chews, caramels, marshmallow fluff
Fabric, foam/sponge, slowrise squishies: peach, apple, pear, cucumber, watermelon, dried fruit, puffed rice cakes, Chinese steamed rice cakes, bread, pita bread, muffins, shredded jerky, giant soft pretzels, Rice Krispies, cake, donuts, pancakes/waffles, fondant, soft cookies, freeze dried ice cream, pop tart bites, cotton candy, marshmallow, dried apple
Glitter: cake luster dust, crushed/ground ice, warmed sugar, crushed/ground hard candy
Glitter bottles, potions, glowsticks, cleaning products: cake luster dust in any beverage, edible fluorescent colorant in any beverage, citrus juice, water with lemon, water with orange, water with grapefruit, water with other citrus fruit, dyed beverage
Inedible plants and flowers: lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, peas, carrots, corn, pumpkin, other veggies, watermelon, peach, apple, mango, banana, dragonfruit, pineapple, grapes, cherries, strawberries, other fruits, dried fruits, skins of some fruits/vegetables, mushrooms, seeds, nuts, herbal tea, dandelions, other edible flowers, herb seasonings, edible tree bark, breath strips, edible rice paper, edible sugar paper, edible money wafers, edible grass candy, cotton candy, gushers, wax bottle soda candies, decorative sugar pieces, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*, shredded gum*
Jelly soap: peaches, other fruit, dried papaya, pumpkin, jelly/jam, gummies, Jell-O, agar, candy gel, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*, gum*, edible/xylitol-based toothpaste*
Lava, liquid soap, molten glass, wax: hot drink, thick drink, soup, oatmeal, sauce, gravy, dip, dipping/nacho cheese, honey, nectar, jelly/jam, condiments, beverage flavoring syrups, soda/juice, syrup, pudding, caramel, melted candy/chocolate, melted butter, candy gel, edible/xylitol-based toothpaste*, fondant, milk duds, gum*
Lipstick, candles: cheese, Baby Bell cheese, butter, avocado, mango, dried mango, dried papaya, banana, raisins, pepperoni, pasta, gummies, wax bottle soda candies, candy melts, chocolate melts, frozen pudding, fruit rollups, gushers, marshmallow, fondant, starburst, candy corn, pudding, taffy, tootsie rolls, milk duds, candy buttons, jolly ranchers, Charleston Chews, candy gel, valentine message heart candies, caramels, gum*
Mochi squishies, silicone/rubber, fungi: peaches, pears, avocado, dried mango, dried papaya, mushrooms, eggs, beans, tongue, fish, medium red meat, other meats, dried fruit, noodles/pasta, dumplings, cheese, yogurt, Chinese steamed rice cakes, butter, seed beads, cheese curds, gummies, caramels, taffy, tootsie rolls, marshmallow, milk duds, Charleston Chews, candy gel, agar, gum*
Orbeez, animal eggs: eggs, peas, blueberries, grapes, baby tomatoes, peaches, acini di pepe/pastina, boba, dippin dots, gummies, Jell-O, agar, seed beads, mini marshmallows, gumballs*, candy buttons, milk duds, Kix cereal
Paint, ink, makeup, glue: soup, sauces, gravy, dip, peanut/etc butter, honey, nectar, syrup, caramel, condiments, cream cheese, sour cream, frosting, icing, whipped cream, ice cream, dyed beverage, pie filling, pudding, candy gel, melted candy/chocolate
Paper and cardboard: skins of some fruits/vegetables, iceberg lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, puffed rice cakes, Kix, Cheerios, Rice Krispies cereal, other cereal, breath strips, edible rice/sugar paper, edible money wafers, crackers, ice cream cone, pizzelle, fruit rollups, fruit by the foot, frozen chocolate, frozen pudding, freeze dried ice cream
Pills and medicine: ice, beans, nuts, seeds, frozen peas, frozen blueberries, corn, acini di pepe/pastina, rice, cereal, soda/juice, dyed beverage, empty gelatin/edible capsules, jellybeans, jolly ranchers, Tic Tacs, mints, Mike n Ike's, sweet tarts pills, nerds, gushers, smarties, sweet tarts, valentine message heart candies, sprinkles, small hard candies, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*, fake blood capsules*
Pottery, ceramic, porcelain: nuts, seeds, ice, dried fruit, avocado, banana, cheese, puffed rice cakes, granola, cereal, pancakes/waffles, bread, crackers, pita chips, pita bread, uncooked pasta, uncooked Ramen, Ice Chips, ice cream cone, pizzelle, frozen chocolate/candy, frozen pudding, freeze dried ice cream, popsicles, cookies, Whoppers candy, smarties, sweet tarts, mints, chocolate bar, valentine message heart candies, edible rice/sugar paper, edible money wafers, hard candy, mints
Rocks, crystals, beads: nuts, seeds, ice, table salt, beans, tea, jerky bites, meat chunks, acini di pepe/pastina, couscous, cheese cubes, uncooked Ramen, popcorn, popsicles, crystallized honey, jelly/jam, frozen honey/syrup, dyed beverage, boba, mints, crushed crackers/cookies, chocolate rocks, crystal sticks, freeze dried ice cream, jawbreakers/gobstoppers, nerds, hard candy, decorative sugar pieces, Cheerios, other cereal, sprinkles, jellybeans, chocolate chips, candy legos/bricks, ring pops, dippin dots, crystal/rock sugar, sugar cubes, frozen chocolate/candy, jolly ranchers, suckers/lollipops, ring pops, gum*, Whoppers candy, dippin dots, valentine message heart candies, seed beads, candy necklace, candy bracelet, mints
Sand and soil: couscous, quinoa, rice, poppy seeds, other small seeds, Parmesan cheese, spices, seasoning, edible fake dirt, ground up cereal, ground up crackers/chips/cookies, brown sugar sand, flour sand*, Kool-Aid sand, crumbled cake, sugar, powdered/icing sugar, pixie stix, fun dip, ground up hard candy, crushed Whoppers candy
Sea glass, plastic, resin/rosin: ice, Ice Chips, uncooked pasta, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, watermelon, chips, pita chips, crackers, sorbetto/flavored ice, frozen honey/syrup, caramels, popsicles, breath strips, mints, edible rice/sugar paper, edible money wafers, jolly ranchers, fruit rollups, fruit by the foot, crystal sticks, crystal/rock sugar, fondant, clear suckers/lollipops, clear hard candy, crushed hard candy, mints
Slime, puddy: thick soup, thick beverage, melted/liquid cheese, sauce, gravy, jelly/jam, dip, yogurt, edible oobleck*, fondant, candy gel, Jell-O, Nutella slime, pudding slime, pizza slime, seed slime, syrup slime, psyllium slime*, starburst slime, chocolate slime (1-2-3-4-5), bubblegum slime, Kool-aid slime, milk slime, taffy, caramels, egg-free cookie dough, gum*, edible doughs, marshmallow fluff
Tide pods: seaweed water pouch/bubble/bottle, baby tomatoes, peas, grapes, blueberries, pb&j, Uncrustables, gushers, pop tart bites, gummies, mentos, wax bottle soda candies, jelly donut holes, Reese's, Jell-O, tide pod jello shots, tootsie pops, gel/juice-filled gummies/candy, gel/juice-filled gum*
Wood: ice, uncooked pasta, edible tree bark, edible tree bark tea, pine/tree tea, puffed rice cakes, granola, almonds, pine/tree nuts, other nuts, seeds, sunflower seeds with shell, poppy seeds, dried fruit, jerky, uncooked pasta, uncooked Ramen, chips, crackers, waffle cone, Kit Kat's, Twix, pretzels, pretzel chips, cookie straws, ochre, canned bamboo, canned sugar cane
Yarn, string, wire: spaghetti squash, pumpkin, shredded fruits/vegetables, grated fruits/vegetables, banana, pulled pork, celery, honey sticks, string cheese, shredded/grated cheese, noodles/pasta, Ramen, mozzarella sticks, jerky, hot pizza, shredded gum*, Spaghettieis, sour straws, nerds ropes, gummy worms, cotton candy, fruit by the foot, fondant strands, edible candy grass
104 notes
·
View notes
3/7/21
Breakfast - serving of smoothie (avocado, tinned passionfruit, tinned pineapple, carrot, cashews, mango yoghurt), sweetened black coffee.
Dinner - serving of mixed steamed veggies, potato salad, roast chicken with stuffing, 0.5 corn on cob, large buttered white bread roll, cheese sauce and chilli garlic sauce.
Dessert - 2 servings milk chocolate, sweetened green tea.
Snack - 2 servings cheese and bacon balls, 1 serving cheeseburger pringles, 1 watermelon popsicle.
Water - 2L, excellent.
Exercise - 30 mins on the treadmill at 5km/h and incline of 6%.
Overdid it with the snacks. What can I say; movie nights get me craving crunchy things.
4/7/21
Breakfast - serving of smoothie (avocado, tinned passionfruit, tinned pineapple, carrot, cashews, mango yoghurt), sweetened black coffee.
Dinner - serving of white rice with sweet potato wedges, brinjal pahi, leek theldala, tuna paste, fried sprats, fried chillis.
Dessert - serving of Tim Tams, serving of Sri Lankan fruitcake, sweetened black tea.
Water - 2L, excellent.
Exercise - 30 mins on the treadmill at 5km/h and incline of 6%.
Currently the goal is to walk for my exercise, until I reach or surpass my current lowest recorded weight. By that point I'm hoping my endurance will be back at a level I'm happy with, and I'll add workout vids back to my schedule.
I felt pretty good after today's walk, and with all the desserts I reckon I could start doing workout vids tomorrow. 🤔
5/7/21
Breakfast - 1 mandarin, sweetened black coffee, serving of oats with 1 banana, peanut butter, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, and full cream milk.
Dinner - 1 large white bread roll with beef curry, dhal, brinjal pahi.
Dessert - 1 serving chocolate fudge brownie, sweetened black tea.
Snacks - 2 servings cheeseburger pringles, 1 cyclone popsicle.
Water - 1.8L, good.
Exercise - none (doctors appointment).
I'm hoping to slim down a bit by the Saturday after next because there's a big family event coming up and I want to be comfortable in my fancy clothes :P
Stayed up until 3AM after binge watching Netflix.
6/7/21
Brunch - serving of pancakes with chocolate sauce, sweetened black coffee.
Dinner - serving of instant migoreng with gherkin dip, veggie stir fry, 2.5 servings plant based tuna, 3 pieces mini spring rolls.
Water - 1.6L, alright.
Exercise - none.
Brunch and lack of exercise due to being thrown off my rhythm by the Netflix sesh last night. Spent all of today watching Netflix x)
7/7/21
Breakfast - serving of rolled oats with full cream milk, banana, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and maple syrup; sweetened black coffee.
Dinner - serving of chips, mixed steamed veggies, and crumbed fish fillet with sriracha in a large buttered bread roll.
Snack - packet of salted popcorn, 6 pieces Starburst chews, sweetened green tea.
Water - 1.8L, good.
Exercise - none (grocery shopping).
More movies and snacking tonight.
8/7/21
Breakfast - serving of smoothie (avocado, green capsicum, spinach, cashews, yoghurt, sultanas, honey), sweetened black coffee.
Dinner - serving of roast chicken with mixed steamed veggies, veggie stir fry, potato bake, spicy sauce, and 2 servings roast chicken stuffing.
Dessert - lemon cheesecake slice, sweetened green tea.
Snacks - serving of salted popcorn, 1 mandarin, sweetened black tea.
Water - 2L, excellent.
Exercise - none.
Made a weird improvised lemon slice from ingredients I found in the pantry + fridge. The base didn't solidify so it was pretty much crumbs and cheesecake topping. 😂 It tasted okay though!
9/7/21 Weight
SW: 80KG
CW: 62.6KG
GW: 60KG
No change from last week.
Breakfast - serving of smoothie (avocado, green capsicum, spinach, cashews, yoghurt, sultanas, honey), sweetened black coffee.
Lunch - 2 servings linguini carbonara with chicken, small sweetened cappucino.
Dinner - 1.5 servings spaghetti bolognese.
Snacks - 1 serving almond praline, 1 serving buttered microwave popcorn, 1 serving cheesy puffs.
Water - 1.6L, alright.
Exercise - none.
Spent the day with a friend. :)
2 notes
·
View notes