It’s important to pay attention to what you are eating while you are pregnant. Your diet plays a significant role in your gut health, and in turn, it plays a large role in the gut health of your growing baby.

Yes, cravings can be strong, and it’s okay to meet those cravings, but understanding that your body needs proper nutrients will help you make healthy choices. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to meet cravings with ‘healthy’ foods because you may see them as boring or bland. This becomes even harder when you are at work or out and about all day long. Scanning a restaurant or fast food menu may seem like a decent plan, but bringing snacks and your lunch will help you stay on track.

Avoid boring snacks and lunches and take some time to prep for the week. Take into consideration your specific dietary needs, if any, and make sure you create high protein options with little to no processed choices. You’ll find yourself beating the afternoon exhaustion, feeling happier, and keeping your weight gain within a desired range.

On-The-Go Food For Pregnancy

Bringing food with you provides the following:

Healthy Options: For some reason, junk food tends to top the list of pregnancy cravings. Stay on track with home-prep foods.

More Variety: Instead of a single grab-and-go bag of chips, you’ll have several foods to choose from.

Less Stress: No more worrying about what you will eat throughout the week - or worrying about a sudden moment of hunger!

Portion Control: You aren’t exactly eating for two. Listen to your body and try not to over eat.

Tips to food prep:

• Make a list of all ingredients so you can make one grocery stop.
• Invest in glass Tupperware to avoid plastic.
• Portion everything the same day you shop.

Recipes and Easy Prep Ideas

Protein Pancakes and Fruit

These are delicious cold, topped with almond butter and some chia seeds or pine nuts.

Energy Fruit Balls

The recipe calls for Walnuts, Almonds, Seedless Dates, Pumpkin Seeds, Figs, Dried Apricot, Cashews, and Cardamom. But you can sub any of your favorites into these sweet snacks. Flax seeds, chia seeds, oats, and almond butter could also be used.

Dried Fruit and Almond Butter or Leftover Roasted Veggies and Hummus

(It’s a create your own recipe using your favorites!)

Both of these ideas are simple and delicious. Pack a dipping size Tupperware with almond butter and include several types of dried fruits (banana is a favorite!).

For the hummus, any flavor works, and after roasting several types of vegetables, let them cool and pack them up. You’ll wonder why you haven’t been dipping cool cooked veggies in hummus all of your life.

Breakfast Bistro Box

The idea behind a bistro box is to create variety and balance. Homemade (gluten-free, if you’d like) protein muffins, eggs, fruit, and nuts will keep you happy.

High-Protein Mason Jar Salads

You can create any type of salad that you’d like, but sticking with a high-protein variation with a homemade dressing will be your healthiest bet.

Greek Chicken Bowls

Chicken, cucumber salad, Tzatziki Sauce, and rice. It’s basically heaven in Tupperware.

Muffin Meatloaf

A comfort food on the go? YES! These are easy to make in a big batch and freeze perfectly, so make a big batch!

No matter what foods you choose to portion out, know that you are doing a great thing for yourself and your growing baby!