Fight the Fatigue: Healthy Snacks for Pregnancy

It’s no surprise that pregnancy brings on a new level of exhaustion unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. As a mom of a toddler who is currently pregnant with her second, I get it. Why? In the first trimester, your body is going through a lot of changes and is working extremely hard to develop your baby's major organs. In the second and third trimesters, it has more to do with “pregnancy insomnia,” which can be caused by a host of triggers like a shift in hormones, the inability to get comfortable in bed, dealing with a growing baby that thinks they are in Cirque du Soleil at night, frequent urination, the anxiety of what’s to come, etc. As much as you would like to think that you’ll squeeze in a nap or go to bed earlier, it doesn’t always happen. The good news? You can uplift your spirits, increase your energy levels, and appease your ever increasing appetite through nutrient dense foods.

Throughout pregnancy, you will most likely feel best eating small, frequent meals to minimize nausea, hunger and heartburn. My healthy snack formula that I recommend to my clients can also be applied to prenatal nutrition, and includes a combination of healthy fat, fiber, protein and greens (when possible!) to maximize nutrients, stay satiated, improve digestion and give your body the fuel it needs to sustain a growing baby. (Note: This formula should be applied to your main meals as well.) Lastly, eat when you're hungry and don't wait too long because you won't always make a healthy choice if you're hangry!

Here are the best healthy snacks to keep you rockin’ and rollin’ this pregnancy:

• Banana Breakfast Cookies: Not only are these easy to have for breakfast or as a quick snack, but they also include many ingredients that can increase milk supply while nursing and can serve as a healthy cookie option for when your baby starts eating solids.
• No Bake PB Power Bites: These are great to eat first thing in the morning to combat that feeling of nausea, hunger and fatigue. I make these weekly in our house!
• Homemade Trail Mix: Easy way to keep you satiated while also satisfying your sweet tooth.
• Guac or hummus with veggies or GF crackers/chips/pretzels: You can always opt for  pre-made guac and hummus and pre-cut veggies for a super fast, healthy snack that is also easily packed for on-the-go.
• Nut butter with fruit or veggies: Who doesn’t love sliced apple with peanut butter? Perfect for that mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack. 

Do you know what else will improve your energy levels during pregnancy? Daily movement! Not only can you try my FREE 19 Minute Prenatal Sculpt Workout, but you can also tune into one of my Birthly Community fitness/nutrition classes. I'd love to see you there!

Happy snacking, mamas!