Portable Snacking During Pregnancy

SparkPeople.com

By Laura Bofinger, for BabyFit

Eating is no longer an activity that stands alone. Quick, how many times this past week have you eaten on the run? No place is safe either--the car, your desk, maybe even the shower! Our time is strapped, our bodies are tired, and we need food that's easy to grab 'n' go. And during this mad-chaos of finding food on our way out the door, one detail is easy to forget--eating healthy. If you fail to get enough nutrients throughout the day, you'll be doing you and your growing baby a disservice.

Unfortunately it's mostly the bad stuff that falls into the "fast" and "easy" categories - chips, candy bars, sodas, etc. Well, what if we took some time and ingenuity to make our own healthy snacks portable and easy for on-the-go eating? Snacking is a great way for pregnant women to fight off nausea throughout the day, but only if the right things are eaten.

I'm talking about things that can fit into our top drawer at work (not jelly beans or Kisses!) or snacks prepared ahead of time that can be popped into a lunch bag. Yes, some of these items WILL require some thinking ahead. Some might even require refrigeration or special containers. But they are fast, simple, and easy. Most take less than 5 minutes to prepare. You'll also be thankful that you've saved yourself the cash that normally goes to vending machines or convenient stores. Your body will be grateful as well. The benefits of health outweigh the costs.

Check out these suggestions:

  • Celery sticks with peanut butter and several raisins on top (ants on the log!)

  • Rice cakes with peanut butter (good for getting a protein punch)

  • Low-fat cheese cubes (these can come pre-packaged)

  • Hardboiled eggs (the yolks are crammed with iron)

  • Fruit yogurt cup (add in your own fresh fruit for a vitamin boost)

  • Trail mix

  • Handful of nuts or nut mix (full of folic acid)

  • Vegetable sticks with a little packet of dip (lowfat salad dressing packets found in salad bars work as easy-to-pack dip)

  • Broccoli or cauliflower bites

  • Cucumber slices (lightly salted or with nonfat Italian dressing)

  • Yogurt and granola (great source of that needed calcium)

  • Healthy fiber-rich or grain cereal (keep the digestive system moving)

  • Pickles (wrapped in foil or plastic wrap)

  • Box of raisins or other dried fruit

  • Half a large whole wheat bagel with light cream cheese

  • Apples, bananas, strawberries (any fruit works; these are naturally portable)

  • Mixed berries (these freeze well in plastic bags)

  • Whole-wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese

  • Grapes in a baggie

  • Fruit smoothie in a thermos (loaded with vitamins)

  • Tuna (limit 1-2 servings/week) and cottage cheese in mini-containers

The trick here is to be prepared and get creative! Get your fresh fruits and vegetables on the weekend in preparation for the week's snacking. Keep small-sized plastic containers for packing up small portions. Take note of the healthy foods you need to keep stocked in the house for future quick and healthy snack preparation. These will become automatic items for your grocery list. You may find that you start to replace a few nonessential, unhealthy items with your new nourishing snack list.


Related links:
Healthy Snacking at Work
Snack Rehab
Keep Healthy Snacks Handy


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