Let's be real, it's hard to eat healthy! All. The. Time. So, when you read these healthy eating blogs, keep in mind that it's ok to splurge on occasion. No judgement here! The key is ON OCCASION. If you completely deprive yourself, you'll find yourself pulling a food binge like the lady above!! This is one of the reasons why we are listing a variety of foods to choose from. This will help keep things fresh and new and leave you feeling satisfied. Today we have even listed a couple of highly nutritious fruits which can help with those sweets cravings!!
Mangoes
Stomach doing flips at the thought of veggies? Good news: Mangoes are another great way to get your fill of vitamins like A and C.
How to eat them: Use fresh diced mango in a zippy salsa that’s tasty on top of fish or chicken, or blend the frozen cubes with yogurt for a sweet-tart smoothie.
Eggs
You probably know that eggs are an inexpensive, easy-to-cook source of protein — a single large egg delivers 6 grams of the nutrient. But that’s not all. Eggs are one of the few food sources of vitamin D, serving up 44 IU per large one.
Vitamin D plays a key role in helping calcium build strong bones and teeth for your baby, as well as keeping your immune system in fighting form. What’s more, getting enough of the nutrient may help to reduce the risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and low birth weight, findings suggest.
How to eat them: If you’re looking for ideas beyond the usual scramble, you’ve got plenty to choose from. Pile a poached egg on top of a grain and veggie bowl or salad, or sprinkle sliced hard-boiled eggs with everything bagel seasoning and enjoy as a snack. Just be sure to cook eggs thoroughly — until they’re firm and no longer runny — to avoid getting sick from Salmonella.
Kale
The leafy green is always a good choice, and it’s a particularly potent pregnancy superfood. Kale serves up folate, iron, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K and fiber — all in a tasty package that can be enjoyed in a million different ways.
How to eat it: Try swapping kale for basil in your favorite pesto recipe and tossing it with pasta or slathering it on a sandwich, or swirling it into scrambled eggs.
Oats
Getting the recommended 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day can help you feel fuller longer and keep uncomfortable pregnancy constipation at bay. And good news: A cup of cooked oatmeal serves more than 4 grams.
More good news? That same cup also delivers more than 30 percent of your daily magnesium, another mineral that plays a key role helping your baby build healthy bones and teeth.
How to eat it: Not a fan of hot oatmeal for breakfast? Try grinding oats in a food processor to make a flour and using it in place of all-purpose flour in your favorite baked goods. Another great alternative to hot oatmeal is overnight oats which can be eaten cold. There are so many great ways to make it. Be creative! If that's not your thing though, go ahead and google overnight oats recipes or check out this site http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/21919/mealtimes/breakfast-brunch/cereals/oatmeal/overnight/
Bananas
They’re a tasty source of energy when you get hit with that urge to eat something, anything, ASAP. Plus, they’re easy on your stomach even when you’re feeling queasy.
Bananas are also rich in potassium, a mineral that plays a key role in promoting healthy blood pressure. They might even help you manage annoying pregnancy bloat, since potassium helps your body release puff-promoting minerals like sodium through your urine.
How to eat it: If a banana by itself doesn’t cut it for a snack, try piling sliced bananas on top of a piece of peanut butter toast. Or toss frozen banana chunks in the food processor to make a delicious — and surprisingly creamy — dairy-free ice cream.
There are so many healthy yet tasty food options available. Next week we will finish up the list of foods that pack a powerful punch of nutrition as well as list foods that you should absolutely avoid during the pregnancy and after if you're nursing.
