What’s your pregnancy diet look like? If you’re fighting a hankering for junk food – or you just can’t bring yourself to step away from the simple carbs, there’s still hope for you. Staving off cravings – or worse, suffering from food aversions – can make healthy eating an uphill battle. Give your prenatal diet a much-needed boost by focusing on eating more of the following foods. Each of these items is easy to find in any supermarket – and most importantly – each is chock full of minerals, vitamins and nutrients to benefit both you and baby. Now, when your little one is growing and developing, paying attention to the foods you eat is more important than ever. These foods promise to kick start your journey toward more healthful eating – and make sure your son or daughter gets all the nourishment he or she needs.
Avocado: Delicious, creamy and loaded with healthy omega-3 fats, the humble avocado is a boon to your baby’s brain and eye development. The benefits to you include silkier hair and clearer skin – not to mention these fats are heart healthy too.
How to eat it: Still battling morning sickness? Go easy on your taste buds with this simple dish: Mash one half avocado with a fork until creamy and spread it on whole wheat toast. If you can stomach it, add ground black pepper, turmeric and a diced hard-boiled egg for a well-rounded and protein-packed meal.
Salmon:
A great source of docosahexaenoic acid, a healthful omega-3 fatty acid, salmon aids in proper neurological development. For you, salmon is not only incredibly versatile and delicious, it’s also good for your heart too.
How to eat it:
The next time you have a taste for fish, try this easy recipe: Heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Tuck a defrosted salmon filet into a pocket of tinfoil, topping it with a drizzle of olive oil, a few thin slices of onion and garlic, and one-half cup marinara sauce. Seal your packet of fish and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Swiss chard:
Move over, kale! This dark leafy green is ready for its moment in the limelight. Swiss chard, like kale and spinach, is brimming with vitamins A, C and K. It’s also a good source of folate, which may help to protect your developing baby from neural tube disorders like spina bifida. Swiss chard is also a good source of calcium, which both you and baby need.
How to eat it:
Opt for rainbow chard for a bright and colorful take on dinner. Chop chard and saute lightly with olive oil, kosher salt and garlic. Or, use chard leaves as wraps, stuffing them with yummy rice or quinoa and veggie concoctions.
Eggs: We love a good hard-boiled egg for its portability and protein power. A simple egg is filling and packs a punch with 12 healthy vitamins and minerals. For baby, choline boosts brain development.
How to eat it:
Boil it, scramble it, fry it, bake it – no matter what delicious route you take, keep this in mind: Undercooked or runny eggs can make you sick during pregnancy and be harmful to your little one.
How are you changing your diet during pregnancy? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
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