Pregnancy and Food: Tips, Tricks and Snacking Ideas

Now that the nausea is beginning to subside you may find yourself a bit more snacky than usual. It's great to graze throughout the day, but the trick is to ensure that you're snacking on the right stuff.

Read the full Healthy Pregnancy Faire: Tips, Tricks & Snacking Ideas post here

Quick and easy snacks:

Frozen grapes or yogurt. I always throw some grapes and several yogurts into the freezer. The frozen grapes are great for snacking when you want something cool and refreshing. Instead of reaching for the ice cream grab your favorite yogurt only frozen. It's a nice way to calm the impulse for ice cream, but in a healthier fashion.

Greek yogurt. I just love the taste of Greek yogurt. It's thick and creamy, but super low in calories. It's a great way to get your calcium in as well as enjoy a refreshing snack. Right now it's my breakfast and post dinner snack (and dessert) of choice. Greek yogurt offers a variety of snacking options. If you go with plain, then you can dress it up or down any way you like:

- Greek yogurt with barley wheat cereal and blueberries (and/or strawberries)
- Greek yogurt with oats, walnuts and maple syrup (you can even throw in some chopped apples)
- In the need for a healthy sweet treat - top with crumbled graham crackers or ginger snaps with a pinch of cinnamon

Assorted snacks. A hand full of grapes, wheat crackers (I like Ak-Mak or Wasa) and goat cheese gives variety and satisfaction.

Avocados and crackers. Spread ripe avocados on toast or wheat crackers (cracker options above) - sprinkles with a little sea salt and fresh cracked pepper or add some tomato.


Lunch and light dinner ideas:

1. Avocado wraps - slice up fresh avocado and wrap in a leaf of bib lettuce. That's it. You can dress up as you'd like. Maybe a little mustard or olive oil, salt and pepper. Why not add a piece of fresh goat cheese or a little mozzarella.

2. Goat cheese and tomato open faced sandwich (*this is one of my husband's favorite) - simply toast up a slice of sour dough or multigrain bread. Spread on some goat cheese, add a few slices of tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and pepper if desired. So simple, yet so good! For an extra kick, we add some fresh parmigiana.

3. Tomatoes, olives and cottage cheese - diced tomatoes and olives added to plain cottage cheese is a savory and easy snack or a light dinner time treat.

4. Green apple and walnut salad with maple honey mustard vinaigrette - in the mood for something light? Then simply pull together a bed of baby spinach topped with green apple slices and walnuts. I like to make up a maple honey mustard vinaigrette to top it all off. The vinaigrette is simple: just whisk together maple syrup, honey mustard, olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Green apple sandwich with bib lettuce and goat cheese (recommended on toasted sour dough) - a variation of the goat cheese and tomato open face. Again with toasted sour dough, but this time with goat cheese, bib lettuce and green apple slices. This fresh and filling closed sandwich is perfect for work or an evening at home. Why not drizzle a little bit of that extra maple vinaigrette right on top?

Discussion: What are your favorite pregnancy snacks and food must haves? Join the discussion.