When you found out you were pregnant, you became hyper-aware of everything you were eating. You wanted to give your baby the best and were advised to “eat healthy” but didn’t know where to begin. As most moms do, you were often worried that you would overlook some foods or eat too much of one food type or too little of another. What’s worse is that once your food cravings kicked in, your anxiety increased and you felt afraid and guilty that you were compromising your baby’s health. This is when you discovered superfoods and they quickly became a part of your daily diet. You found different ways to use them in your meals and snacks and noticed that you had more energy and less anxiety because you knew that your baby and you were getting all the nutrition you needed.
5 Must-Have Pregnancy Superfoods
1. Leafy Greens
Let’s be honest, unless you’re Popeye, no one craves spinach! Yet whenever we hear about nutrition during pregnancy, spinach and leafy greens are always at the top of the list. The main reason for all this attention is that these veggies are high in folate which is important because this vitamin helps to prevent neural tube defects. However, there is another reason why leafy greens are important during pregnancy and that is because they are a great source of magnesium. Studies show that magnesium supplementation reduces the risk of issues such as preeclampsia and low birth weight. However, not all supplements are equally good so you should compare the top magnesium supplements that have been recommended by independent experts so that you can choose one that suits your needs. You should also talk to your doctor before taking any supplements to make sure of the dosage.
2. Berries
Berries are high in antioxidants, vitamin C, and other nutrients that are essential for your baby’s growth and development. You can add them to your bowl of oats, blend them into smoothies or make your own healthy popsicles during hot months. When you have sweet cravings, just snack on them plain! It is suggested that you should keep a container with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and other berries of your choice in your fridge so that you have a ready sweet treat whenever you want one.
3. Nuts
Nuts are another convenient and healthy snack that you can have on the go when you’re pregnant. Walnuts are considered the best option since they are high in omega-3 fatty acids which play a key role in the development of a baby’s brain. However, it’s best to have a variety of nuts on a daily basis so that you get a wide range of nutrients. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, Brazil nuts, and hazelnuts are all good options so you can keep a small box of mixed nuts to snack on whenever you like. Several studies have found that nut intake during pregnancy, especially early pregnancy, has a long-term positive impact on the child’s cognitive function.
4. Sweet Potatoes
When you found out that you were pregnant, you probably promised yourself that you would only eat healthy throughout your pregnancy and that you would completely give up all junk food. You probably lasted a few weeks or even a few months before caving and you feel terrible about it. Stop! Don’t make junk foods your “forbidden fruit” or you will keep craving them until you are stressed or you give in and overindulge – both these things are not good for your baby. Give yourself permission to indulge in some junk food while pregnant and try to balance that with some healthy but tasty snacks such as roasted sweet potato wedges that are, tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and sinfully delicious! Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta carotene which is necessary for the healthy development of your baby’s eyes.
5. Eggs
Eggs are a nutrient-dense food that provide everything from protein and healthy fats to vitamin, several of the B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin D and iron – all of which are important for both you and your little one. You can have them scrambled, in an omelet with veggies or just boiled. A lot of moms avoid eggs because they believe that eating eggs will make them gain weight but two eggs contain just about 150 calories. Furthermore, pregnancy weight guidelines are not meant to be absolute so don’t fixate on your scale but instead focus on eating healthy and staying active.