Healthy Snacks

The snacks you choose can make or break your nutrition for the day.   It's in this area that cravings can take over your good judgment.  The key is to remember that moderation is your friend.  You can still have a candy bar if you feel you need it, but stop at one.  The last thing you want is the added stress on your body of too much weight gain, which can cause other complications like gestational diabetes, severe stretch marks, swelling, high blood pressure, and difficulty pushing.  That's not to mention the added task of trying to lose the weight after the baby comes.


By selecting healthy snacks, you can keep your weight gain at the desired level while still meeting your daily nutritional guidelines.


Proteins

Peanut Butter
Roasted Nuts
Shrimp Cocktail
Deviled Eggs
Tofu Slices
Bean Curd
Bean Soup
Bean Dip
Turkey or Chicken Deli Slices
Protein Shakes/Bars (but watch these labels closely)



Dairy

Cheese Sticks
Cheese and Crackers
Milkshakes
String Cheese
Yogurt-Covered Raisins
Ice Cream
Cottage Cheese
Instant Pudding



Beverages

Herbal Tea
100% Fruit Juice
Water with Lemon
Lemonade
Iced Tea
Decaffeinated Coffee
Flavored Water (check labels carefully)



Fruits and Veggies

Remember to think colorful when planning your daily menu.  Fruits and vegetables provide unique sources of nutrients that your body is better able to use than the ones contained in prenatal vitamins and supplements.  Here are some unique ideas for snacking with fruits and veggies:

Fruit Smoothies
Veggie Sticks
Vegetable Soup
Fruit Pizza
Apple Slice & White Cheddar on Whole Grain Crackers
Bananas & Peanut Butter
Celery & Peanut Butter
Dried Fruit & Nuts



Grains

Grains can become a difficult gap to fill in your daily nutrition.  It's common to crave sweets while pregnant and grains can fall out of favor.  Try some of these suggestions:

Lo Mein Noodles
Bran Muffins
Melba Toast
Brown Rice
English Muffins
Lite Popcorn
Whole-grain crackers
Granola Bars
Cereal Bars
Cheerios
Wheat Toast