Are you in the “pregnant but nothing sounds appetizing” category? First, I am so sorry, I know how frustrating it can be, I know because I’ve been there. Trying to find foods to eat while you’re pregnant can be hard, trying to find nutrient filled foods that also sounds appetizing can be next to impossible. But with the right list of ideas and inspiration you might find a few items that you hadn’t thought of before that your stomach might just be ok with. I used the book Eating Well When You’re Expecting to find ideas whenever I was stumped and wanted to share a few of my favorites here.
35+ Foods to Eat When Pregnant
Complete Proteins
One thing I really struggled with was making sure I ate enough protein. When I did I felt great but often the chicken I had planned for dinner all of a sudden sounded like the last thing on earth that I could stomach. Having a list of alternatives for those nights really helped. Also, eating enough protein will often help keep the sugar cravings at bay.
- Hard Boiled Eggs — make a big pot at the beginning of the week so they are available and easy to grab throughout the week. Add some salt, turn them into deviled eggs, or make egg salad sandwiches for lunch, it’s nice to have options!
- Canned Salmon
- Milk, Yogurt, Cheese & Cottage Cheese — great sources of calcium as well.
- Chicken, Turkey & Beef — I encourage you to source your meat as close to the farmer as possible.
- Flaxseed
More Protein Options
“Complete proteins — such as those listed above — come from animal products and contain all the essential amino acids needed for tissue growth.” — Eating Well When You’re Expecting.
The following are great options as well especially if you incorporate complementary sources of protein within the same day.
- Beans, Split Pees & Chickpeas
- Garden Peas
- Peanuts or Peanut Butter
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Oats
- Whole-Grain Bread
- Nuts: Walnuts, Pecans Almonds, etc.
Green Leafy Vegetables, Yellow Vegetables and Fruits
Because these are so nutrient dense I wanted to list a few here, try to incorporate a couple a day!
- Romaine, Red & Green Leaf Lettuce
- Spinach — this is an easy one to slip into your smoothie without it affecting the taste too much.
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Alfalfa Sprouts
- Carrot
- Apricots
- Mangos
- Cantaloupe
- Nectarine & Peaches
More Food Ideas
- Whole Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes
- Avocados/Homemade Guacamole — a delicious and healthy fat.
- Whole Grain Cereal — oatmeal or granola.
- Garlic & Onion — great immune boosting foods!
- LOTS OF WATER — squirt some lemon in it here and there to switch it up.
- Red Raspberry Tea is also a great one to mix in to help strengthen the uterus and help balance your hormones.
Snack Ideas
To avoid dizzy spells while pregnant make sure you are drinking lots of water and eating often.
- Mid Morning Smoothie — throw some flaxseed in to add a little extra protein.
- Mixed Nuts
- Crackers and Cheese
- Veggies with Dip — broccoli, bell pepper (green, red, yellow or orange), snap peas, etc.
- Peanut Butter Toast
- Fresh Fruit — blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapefruit, orange (and orange juice) cantaloupe,mango, fresh pineapple, watermelon and grapes are all great sources of Vitamin C.
- Dried Fruit
For a complete list of food ideas I strongly encourage you check out the book mentioned above: Eating Well When You’re Expecting, which is a wonderful reference book. I also loved their book, What to Expect® When You’re Expecting and used it a lot during my first pregnancy to settle any and all unnecessary worries.
The best part about the books (and the reason why it’s such a bestselling series!) is that there’s information on practically any question expectant or new moms might have! You can also read more about the books including information on purchasing them here.
We also have an awesome giveaway, where one lucky reader will win a What to Expect® series (ARV $61.80)! Enter below.
GIVEAWAY
The What to Expect Series is timeless and trusted! What to Expect® When You’re Expecting is the long-running book on the New York Times Bestseller list and is the bestselling pregnancy book, recommended by moms and doctors alike. Now’s your chance to win all four books:
What to Expect® When You’re Expecting | What To Expect® the First Year
What to Expect® the Second Year | Eating Well When You’re Expecting
*Must be 18+ years old to enter. US only. Contest ends July 18th. Winners have 24 hours to claim their prize. a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
P.S. Are you looking for extra side income? I make full-time income blogging part-time—check out this easy step-by-step tutorial on how start a blog (no tech knowledge required).Download My Free Family Organizer
Ready to de-stress + spend more time with your kids?
Life gets busy. I hear you. I'm here to show you how to CREATE more time for what matters most. Get a free family organizer as a thank you for joining our newsletter – includes monthly calendars, chore charts, meal planners and more...
Leave a Reply