Snacks and your pregnancy

">"> Eating Well During Pregnancy: what types of snacks are healthy? Ensuring you have the right nutrition when expecting a baby is the best way in which one can give her baby a good head start in life. This makes the pregnancy also safer to carry and comfortable for you too. It is therefore important to check on the pregnancy diet one is taking and then get recipes for delicious dishes which you can take anywhere be it at home or at the restaurant. Incase hunger strikes between meals, it is always tempting for one to grab a bag of chips, or a chocolate bar. These snacks are usually loaded with fats, sodium and calories. But it is better to have homemade snacks to take whenever the craving for chips or cheese hits you. One can make a healthier version at home. Examples of snacks one can make include: High fiber cereal, milk and berries With almost all cereals being fortified with either vitamins or minerals, making a snack using them is very nutritious. If one does not like taking milk directly, there is always an option of pouring the milk on the cereals. This helps in adding calcium in the body both for you and the child you are carrying. When buying cereals in the shelves, always ensure that you choose the ones with high fiber and made with whole grains. Whole grains are very suitable for pregnant mothers since their coatings provide extra fats, sugars and calories. Then add berries on top of the cereals, and there you have a healthy snack. Berries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Banana Biscotti: If you are hit with a cookie craving during pregnancy, it is advisable to try the Italian biscotti recipe. Each piece contains approximately 100 calories and some fats in it. It comes with a sweet banana flavor. Hey are made from a banana bread mix and they are very quick and easy to make. If you want additional sweet, you can also add some dried cherries as they also add fiber to the diet MANGO CHIPS OR CUBES If all you need is a sweet substance, a box of the ripe beautiful orange is highly nutritious. It contains just over 100 calories. Most of these calories come from natural sugar, and, that is very healthy. In addition to the sweet taste, one also gets some fiber along with both vitamin A and C. It also has antioxidants. Vitamin C is very essential since it helps in repair and maintenance of body tissues while at the same time maintaining body immunity. Baked potato with toppers: Potatoes also make another group of portable snacks. They are easy to make and can be eaten while cold or warm. The potato skin is very rich in insoluble fiber and thus can help in preventing constipation. Potatoes are also rich in potassium and iron. Iron in the body helps blood cells in carrying oxygen all over the body, and also plays a role in brain development it’s thus helpful even to the baby. Instead of coating your potatoes with butter or sour cream, one can use a non fat yoghurt and sprinkle of chives. Yoghurt with cereals: Yoghurt is rich in both calcium and proteins. It is a perfect food for a pregnant woman. Some yoghurt are usually rich in active cultures which are very beneficial to the body since they enhance digestion of foods while at the same time improving nutrient absorption and boosting the immune system of the pregnant woman. It is advisable to choose low fat yoghurts since most flavored yoghurts tend to be highly rich in sugars. Star the yoghurt with cereals using little cinnamon and then top it off with a crunchy cereal topper. Always choose whole meal cereals which are rich in fiber and less sugar. Oatmeal and Raisins: Oatmeal does not have to be taken only during breakfast, anytime of the day is good. Oatmeal is rich of soluble fiber, it is very portable and easy to make. One is just needed t o add water or milk and warm it in the microwave and you are ready to eat. Avoid any form of flavored oatmeal since it could be rich in sugars. Instead, it is advisable to flavor your oats with raisins which are highly rich in fiber and potassium. Potassium is very important since it regulates fluid balance in body and helps nerves and muscles work properly ">">