Five healthy snack ideas to satisfy pregnancy hunger

Pregnancy may mean glowing skin, luscious hair, and an adorable bump. But for the rest of us, it means turning into ravenous hunger monsters desperate for anything to satisfy our rumbling bellies.

Sound familiar?

Instead of reaching for a sugar-loaded granola bar or diving head-first into a bag of potato chips, consider trying snacks that will fuel your body and keep you satisfied.

Pregnancy Power Foods

These snack ideas are based on healthy fats, paired with protein, fruit, or vegetables.

Consuming healthy fats during pregnancy aids in baby’s brain and eye development, plus helps mom stay satisfied longer. Monounsatured (unsaturated) fats also contain folate, a critical nutrient that protects against birth defects.

These five healthy snack ideas to satisfy pregnancy hunger are not only nutritious, but easy to make, and even perfect on the go. No more snack rut, and no more tearing the kitchen apart for your next hunger raid!

Strawberry Nut Energy Balls

What you’ll need:

• 7 medjool dates
• 1/4 cup shelled pistachios or raw cashews
• 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries

Directions: Place the pitted dates and pistachios to a small food processor or mini chopper. Pulse or blend until the nuts have broken down and the mixture is well combined. Then add the freeze-dried strawberries and pulse for 5-10 seconds, just until the strawberries have broken down and are incorporated into the date/nut mixture. Scoop out a tablespoon at a time and press the mixture together, then gently form into a ball. These will be slightly crumbly, so rolling into a ball may not work as well as pressing and forming, in order to keep the mixture together. Wash hands every 2-3 balls to ensure the mixture doesn’t stick to your hands as you go. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Yields 12 balls.

Hard Boiled Eggs with Olives

What you’ll need:

• 1-2 hard-boiled eggs
• olives of choice

Directions: Pair the hard-boiled eggs with olives or chop olives and serve over halved eggs. Yields 1 serving.

Blueberry Pie Chia Seed Pudding

What you’ll need:

• 3/4 cup almond or coconut milk
• 1/4 cup blueberries (if frozen, thaw)
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• pecans or nuts of choice to top

Directions: Pour almond milk into a food processor or blender and add blueberries and honey. Blend until well combined. Pour liquid into a glass or plastic container and mix in 1/4 cup chia seeds. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Once chia seeds have soaked up all the liquid, layer in mason jars with pecans or other nuts between each layer and more sprinkled over the top. Yields 1 serving.

Mashed Sweet Potato with Maple Tahini Dressing

What you’ll need:

• 1 sweet potato
• 2 tablespoon tahini (ground sesame seeds)
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• water to thin out the sauce

Directions: Bake the sweet potato at 400 degrees for roughly 45 minutes. Or you can spear the potato with a knife and microwave for 7-10 minutes. Once potato is cooked and soft inside, combine the tahini, pure maple syrup, and water, then top the mashed sweet potato with the tahini dressing and serve. Yields 1 serving.

Toasted Coconut Clusters

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups raw, unsweetened coconut chips
• 3/4 cups raw pistachios or sliced almonds
• 1/3 cup cacao nibs (or sub with mini chocolate chips)
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 tablespoons raw honey or pure maple syrup

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and place into the preheated oven. Watch the coconut closely, baking for 4-5 minutes until lightly toasted. Remove the coconut from the baking sheet and let cool slightly. Beat the egg whites for 2 minutes until frothy. Add the toasted coconut, pistachios, cacao nibs and mix well. Add sweetener of choice if desired. Spread the mixture evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, pressing the mixture down slightly once spread. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool before breaking into clusters. Yields roughly 12 clusters.

Quick and Healthy Meals

Now that snacks are covered, how about nutritious meals to fuel your body the best way during pregnancy? Read this healthy kitchen hacks guide for simple and easy meal prep hacks that make healthy eating not only quick, but delicious too!