Want healthy meals your kids will love?

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks

16 Comments

Pregnancy is definitely a time when snacking is encouraged.  It is almost like eating like a kid again, because instead of just eating 3 meals and maybe a snack, it feels like you are eating every few hours.  Sometimes thinking of what to eat is a challenge though and it is just so easy to justify grabbing a handful of chocolate chips instead of a handful of carrots…………hmmm……..I am all for balanced eating, but it is nice to have some go-to snack ideas when those chocolate cravings come.  We have 12 ideas that can be just as satisfying as the biggest handful of chocolate chips.

Avocado Cones

Great source of healthy fats! 12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Veggies and Red Pepper Hummus

Great source of protein!

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
  • 1/3 cup tahini
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice 
  • 1/2 cup roasted red peppers
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil

In an electric food processor, combine garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, and lemon juice. Process until the mixture is smooth. Add roasted peppers and basil; process until the peppers are finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer hummus to small bowl, cover and chill until you are ready to serve.

Fresh Citrus Smoothie

Great source of energy from complex carbs!

  • 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice (~4 oranges)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 cup strawberries, tops removed, and cut in 1/2
  • 1 to 1 1/2 ripe bananas
  • Ice

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

Black Bean Nachos

Great source of healthy protein, and fiber.

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!
Ingredients
  • 4 whole wheat tortillas
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1/2 cup black beans
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
  1. For tortilla chips, stack tortillas and cut into wedges with scissors or a sharp knife. Place wedges in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove the chips from oven.
  2. Arrange chips close together on the baking sheet.
  3. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
  4. In a medium saucepan combine black beans and the 1/2 cup salsa; cook and stir over medium heat just until heated through. Remove from heat; spoon bean mixture over chips.
  5. Sprinkle cheese on top of bean mixture and chips.
  6. Place in oven for 3-5 minutes.

Cheesy Parmesan Popcorn

Great source of energy! 12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Ingredients
  • 4 cups air-popped popcorn
  • 1 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
  1. Place popcorn in a large bowl. Drizzle with butter.
  2. Combine the remaining ingredients; sprinkle over popcorn and toss to coat.

Strawberries and Fruit Dip

Great source of energy and phytonutrients!

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Granola and Yogurt

Great source of energy & calories!

Build your own parfait. Take any fruit, granola, and some yogurt! Lots of varieties here.

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Homemade Crunchy Cheese Crackers

Tasty!! Also good source of energy & salt.

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!
Ingredients
  • 1Ā½ cups (6 oz) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Put everything except the milk in a food processor. Pulse the processor, 5 seconds at a time, for about 5 or 6 times, until the dough is in coarse crumbs.
  3. Add the milk and process until the dough gathers together in a ball.
  4. Roll the dough out on a floured board with a rolling pin that has been floured until it is about 1/8 inch thick.
  5. Cut the dough into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. You can put a bit of flour on the blade of the knife to keep it from sticking.Use the flat end of a wooden skewer to poke a hole in the center of each cracker.
  6. Place the crackers at least Ā¼ inch apart on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until the edges are just starting to brown.
  8. Put the baking sheet on a rack and let the crackers cool completely.
  9. Eat! Or store in a covered container to eat within a day or two.

Sweet Potato Chips

Great source of antixodants!

These sweet potato chips give a nice sweet and salty crunch!

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Jazzed Up PB&J

Great source of healthy fats!

Peanut butter and jelly doesn’t have to be boring! Make it into a waffle sandwich!

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Healthy Grilled Panini

Great source of protein.

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Banana Bagel with Cream Cheese

Great source of potassium and energy.

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Spread low-fat cream cheese on half of your favorite bagel.  Slice a banana and layer on the cream cheese.  Enjoy!

Trail Mix

Great source of fat, protein, and fiber!

12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks. Satisfy your cravings with this snack list!

Mix your favorite nuts, seeds and dried fruit.  Store in an easy to grab and go container!  Some of our favorites include:

  • -Almonds
  • -Pumpkin Seeds
  • -Dried Cranberries
  • -Dried Apples
  • -Honey Roasted Peanuts
  • -Chocolate Chips!
12 Quick and Healthy Pregnancy Snacks | Healthy Ideas and Recipes for Kids

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

Leave a Comment:
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

16 Comments

I’m not pregnant, but I think I’ll add some of these to my snack plans. The veggies and repper humus and the black bean nachos look like real winners. Thanks for taking the time to share all of this.

Ladies, I have a question about the fresh citrus smoothie. We are planning it into our menu for the week. I should probably be able to figure this out, but how much does this recipe make? Would you say that is just one serving? Thanks!

It makes enough for 2 adults OR 3 kids – depending on how much smoothie you like to drink. 1 adult could definitely finish it off, but when we make it we usually split between 2 of us. Hope that helps!

Nice post you got here. I love to visit this blog, as i am working on fitness and workout. There also an update about pregnancy fitness. Hope i will find more useful guide on your blog, thanks

These are tasty healthy snacks for moms-to-be, and they contain a good amount of protein derived from soy. Many women get their daily allowance by snacking on foods rich in protein. This is a great way to stay healthy, and keep the stomach full of nutritious food.

Focusing on your health during pregnancy is vital for both you and your baby. These snacks are very healthy indeed but I was wondering what you ladies think about gluten-free energy bars. I recently discovered a product made by Nouribar, one of the companies that give back and they give one meal for one child for each chocolate bar they sell. I am craving for chocolates now and I would also like to support their cause because it makes me feel that I am doing something good for myself and for others at the same time.

Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems
with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to figure out
if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.