34 Weeks Pregnant Chalkboard + 10 Healthy Pregnancy Snacks
By Kate Horney
How far along? 34 Weeks, 2 Days
Maternity clothes? Gym clothes and all things stretchy have been moved to the front of the closet. I’m looking forward to wearing some more “normal” clothes soon.
Best moment this week: Ordering Jackson his “Big Boy Bed!” We transitioned his crib into a toddler bed a few months ago in preparation, and now that we’re super close to the arrival of baby #2, it’s time to move THAT crib into the nursery and give the big brother his official big boy bed. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does (Fingers crossed for some sleep next week).
Miss Anything? Officially having trouble painting my toenails. (Not sure I mind having an excuse for a pedicure… BUT it is weird having trouble reaching my feet! lol) And man it’s crazy to look back at how much my belly has grown!
Movement: Lots of big movements- elbows in the ribs, etc. I’m hoping Baby H #2 will start to make his way “down” soon. Not only to give my poor ribs a break and to ease up on some of the lung squishing, but also to prepare for the BIG DAY (which, as of today, is just 5 weeks and 5 days away… WOW!)
Food cravings: CHEESE with EVERYTHING. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s the go-to healthy fat of choice. I’m also still a berry monster and could seriously eat an entire pint of strawberries in one sitting. (See below for more of this week’s favorite healthy pregnancy snacks).
Looking forward to: Having TWO boys to love on. Lately I’ve been making it a special point to spend extra time with Jackson doing the things he loves…. Farmers market, watching boats downtown, taking walks, feeding ducks, eating at his favorite lunch spot, etc. I find so much joy is watching HIM experience enjoyment. I can’t wait to add another little man to the mix.
Biggest Struggle This Week: Finding HEALTHY Pregnancy Snacks
I’ve noticed this week that I’ve been increasingly hungry between meals. When hunger strikes between meals and I’m out on the go, it’s really tempting to grab a bag of chips or a candy bar.
I know that taking care of myself is one of the best gifts I can this sweet little baby belly, but I’m not going to lie and pretend that it’s not hard to eat right when facing a snack attack.
If you’re not careful, lots of pregnancy snacking lead to packing on some serious poundage.
And even when you are being careful and do plan ahead, the same old, same old snacks get to be…well…old.
Solution: Get creative with healthy homemade snacks!
I promise that these can be just as quick and easy as those prepackaged options. (The key is PLANNING ahead!)
And as a bonus, these healthy pregnancy snacks are nutrient-dense to leave you satisfied, energized, and nausea-free without overloading you on fat or calories. Plus, these easy-to-make snacks deliver the good stuff your baby-to-be needs to grow.
Here are 10 nutrient-packed HEALTHY PREGNANCY SNACKS that I’ve been loving this week…
1) Apple with Cheese- An apple a day is good for everyone, including pregnant women. Apples are a great source of both insoluble fiber, which fights constipation, and soluble fiber, which can help lower cholesterol. All that fiber also keeps you full. Add in a small slice of protein-rich cheese for an even more satisfying snack. When buying apples, you might want to consider organic apples since the regular ones tend to have lots of pesticide residue on the skin.
2) Double Blueberry Muffins- Plain and simple, these muffins help me beat the “cake” cravings. They have lots of protein and fiber to keep me full and satisfied, plus plenty of berries for additional vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants! (Get a super easy recipe HERE!)
3) Grape Tomatoes- When you just need something to munch on without a lot of calories, try a cup of grape tomatoes. You can snack on an entire cup for less than 50 calories — a lot less than a handful of potato chips. Packed with vitamin C, tomatoes also deliver a big dose of lycopene, an antioxidant associated with lower rates of cancer and heart disease. Plus tomatoes contain a fair amount of fiber, some vitamin A, and even a little folate.
4) Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Chips – When you crave something crunchy with a hint of sweetness, these homemade chips will do the trick. They’re coated in a little cinnamon and sugar instead of salt, and then baked, which makes them much lower in sodium and fat than regular potato chips. Plus you’ll reap the many health benefits of sweet potatoes, including fiber, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and B6. Here’s how I make mine…. Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray. Spread sweet potato slices on baking sheet and lightly sprinkle with sea salt and optional cinnamon/stevia, if desired. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until cooked through, stirring once halfway through.
5) Fruit Smoothie- Smoothies you buy at your local store are often high in sugar and low in fruit. Whip up your own at home using nonfat Greek yogurt and your choice of fruit and you’ll get a healthy serving of protein, calcium, and other important nutrients. Frozen fruit will give your smoothie a thicker texture, so use fresh fruit if you like a thinner consistency. And don’t go overboard on the juice. The calories and sugar in juice — even 100 percent fruit juice — can add up quickly.
6) Oats- You don’t have to save oatmeal for breakfast. It’s great any time of the day. Full of heart-healthy soluble fiber, both oat bran and steel cut oatmeal is portable and easy to make. Just add water or unsweetened almond/coconut milk and microwave. Avoid flavored instant oatmeal, which is high in sugar and may have artificial flavors and/or colors. Instead, flavor your oats with berries, which have fiber and potassium, a mineral that regulates fluid balance in the body and helps nerves and muscles work properly. (Told you I’m a berry lover!)
7) Hard boiled eggs- Portable and high in protein, hard-cooked eggs are a great snack when you’re on the go. If you’re an egg white-only type of gal, now’s the time to eat that yolk. While the white is high in protein, the yolk is full of valuable nutrients, including choline, which plays a role in fetal brain and nervous system development, and folate, which helps prevent neural tube defects. Cook up a batch of eggs once a week so you can easily grab one when time is short.
8) Homemade chocolate covered almonds- Almonds are nutritional powerhouses filled with fiber, protein, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. They’re rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals and have good amounts of nutrients such as fiber, iron, and calcium that are especially important for pregnant women. You can eat almonds raw but personally, I find you can’t go wrong by adding some chocolate… just grab a handful when hunger/sweet tooth cravings strikes. (Here’s my 5 minute recipe for this chocolate fix!)
9) Greek Yogurt- Speaking of Greek Yogurt, it’s a GREAT healthy pregnancy snack! Rich in calcium and protein, yogurt is a nearly perfect pregnancy food. Some yogurts contain live active cultures, which are beneficial bacteria that are believed to enhance digestion, improve nutrient absorption, and boost the immune system. Choose low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt since flavored yogurts tend to be high in sugar. Stir in a little cinnamon, stevia, or even some berries for flavor.
10) Almond Butter Cookies- Almond butter is rich in magnesium, which can nix those nasty nighttime leg cramps and help prevent preeclampsia. Plus, your baby will benefit from almond butter’s stockpile of protein, which supports brain growth. Lately I’ve been using this simple 4 ingredient recipe (how easy is THAT) and using almond butter in place of the PB.
What are some of your favorite healthy pregnancy snacks?
Comment below! 🙂
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P.S. Want More Fit Pregnancy Tips?
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