Health, Filling Snacks

A balanced diet will maximise your body’s stores of vital nutrients, which in turn will maintain your energy levels and overall health during pregnancy & post pregnancy

It’s really tempting to grab a chocolate bar or other sugary snack when you’re feeling low on energy, but although it will give you an instant lift, the effect will always be temporary and followed soon afterwards by a new low. This is because these foods release their energy in a rush. What you want is food that releases its energy slowly and evenly and helps keep you on track for a normal pregnancy weight gain or post pregnancy weight loss.

Here are a couple of easy ideas to choose from:

• A piece of wholemeal or granary toast with a topping of your choice – peanut butter, cottage cheese or hummus would be good.
• A handful of dried apricots or other dried fruit.
• A banana has lots of minerals and digestion aiding fibre. A single banana gives you approximately 27g of carbs. Team it with a handful of blueberries which are high in anti-oxidants, low-calorie and fat-free. A banana is easy to carry with you in your bag if you feel hungry.
• A wholemeal pitta stuffed with hommous and sliced tomato.
• A couple of rough oatcakes and a low-fat dip.
• A couple of Rice Cakes, some light Philadelphia and sliced tomato. Tesco’s have a nice Mild Chilli flavoured wholegrain rice cakes, it gives a little more flavour and taste than plain Rice Cakes – if pregnant stick to the plain rice cakes to avoid heartburn!
• A chopped pear/apple with a little natural fromage frais topped with a handful of seeds.
• Yogurt – especially with some fresh fruit. The ‘good’ bacteria in yogurt enhance the body’s ability to absorb nutrients so it’s a real winner.
• Yogurt with granola is good too! Granola can be high in sugar so a small portion is good.
• A glass of milk – high energy and extra calcium too. If you’re monitoring your pregnancy weight gain opt for low fat or non-fat milk – all the benefits with fewer calories. Likewise if you’re losing post pregnany weight, opt for the low fat milk or semi skimmed milk.
• Whip up a smoothie with ground almonds for added energy and Vitamin E.
• Nuts and seeds are packed full of healthy fats and oils and naturally high in zinc and other minerals too. Avoid peanuts during pregnancy, serious allergies affect some people.
• A bowl of raspberries – full of antioxidants, Vitamin C and Iron and lower in sugar than other fruits
• – Measure all portions – approx 25g of nuts and seeds/1 tbsp hommous/2-3 tbsp natural yoghurt