Pregnancy is a period of profound emotional and physical change. Eating healthy, balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do as a pregnant mother to support your unborn child’s growth. Eating the right foods will help you stay healthy and promote the growth and development of your unborn child.
You don’t have to follow a specific diet, but it’s crucial to eat a variety of foods to ensure that you and your child are getting a balanced diet full of nutrients.
While eating a healthy diet is the best way to obtain vitamins and minerals, pregnant women should also take a folic acid supplement (prevents miscarriage and birth defects) to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need.
It is likely that you will feel more tired and hungry than usual. Even if you are expecting twins or triplets, you do not need to “eat for two”. Eat a nutritious breakfast each day as this will help you stay away from high-fat and high calorie snacks.
Here is list of some healthy snacks that you can consume during pregnancy without any guilt
Yogurt
Yogurt contains calcium, which is essential for your baby’s bone and tooth development, as well as heart, nerve, and muscle function. If you do not consume enough calcium, your body will derive it from your bones and will make the bones weaker and raise the risk of osteoporosis. Yogurt is also rich in proteins (the building block of tissues) and probiotics (good bacteria that aid digestion).
Berries
Berries are high in antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, water, and carbohydrates. Additionally, their glycemic index is low, which implies that consuming berries shouldn’t result in noticeable blood sugar spikes.
Due to their high fiber and water content, berries make a snack. They have comparatively few calories but are full of flavor and nutrition. Blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, strawberries, and acai berries are a few of the healthiest berries to consume when expecting.
Dried Fruits and Seed Mixture Laddu’s
Almonds, raisins, apricot, dates, figs, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and other dried fruits are excellent sources of healthy fats, crucial for a baby’s drain development. These dried fruits can also be used to make laddus (balls). Dried fruits and seeds work together to control blood sugar levels.
Avocado
There are monounsaturated fatty acids in avocados. Rich and buttery in taste, avocados give any recipe creaminess and depth. A trusted source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamin K, potassium, copper, vitamin E, and vitamin C , avocados are an excellent option for pregnant women due to their high potassium, folate, and healthy fat content.
Your child’s skin, brain and tissues are all developed with the help of healthy fats, and folate may help prevent neural tube defects and abnormalities in the development of the brain and spine, like spina bifida.
Dhokla
Rice and besan batter that has been fermented to make dhokla is a good source of protein and fiber. It is typically steamed rather than fried, it has fewer calories and is easier to digest. Dhokla can be enhanced nutritionally by adding different ingredients, such as grated vegetables, spinach or fenugreek leaves.
Dried Beans
A healthier option for satisfying your chip cravings during pregnancy are snacks made from dried beans. Roasted chickpeas and soybeans come in a variety of flavors that you can buy at the store or prepare yourself.
Beans lower the risk of spinal cord birth defects, folic acid, which is found in beans, is essential for expectant mothers. Beans have plenty of iron too, which is needed to produce more red blood cells, responsible for delivering oxygen to your body and your unborn child. The most prevalent nutritional deficiency among pregnant women is deficiency of iron which causes anemia.
Being pregnant can be a fulfilling and thrilling experience. It can be overwhelming at the same time. Your body experiences physical strain when you are a parent. Your body needs more folic acid, protein, iodine, iron, and calcium when you are pregnant.
Pregnancy also makes women tired, which makes it challenging to organize and cook wholesome meals every day. You can support your baby’s growth and development while also meeting your own nutritional needs by making healthy food a priority and including simple, quick nutritious snacks.
Diksha Nayyar is a versatile writer with a passion for creating engaging and insightful articles on a wide range of topics. With a background in Journalism, she brings a keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality content. Diksha has written extensively about health, social issues and technology, aiming to inform and inspire readers. Outside of writing, she enjoys trying out new restaurants and playing with dogs.
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