"Fast Food" for Moms-to-be

by Kimmama | More from this Blogger

19 Jun 2009 05:39 PM

For some moms, pregnancy means an overhaul when it comes to diet. For others, it's nothing new. Whether or not healthy foods are part of your regular diet, eating healthy on the go can be tricky, especially in a world where cheap, fast food is available everywhere. When your stomach is growling, fight the urge to pull into the drive through by keeping your purse and car stocked with healthy snacks. Prepare snacks ahead of time, storing them in zippered sandwich bags, ready to grab on your way out the door. Not sure what to bring along? Here are some ideas:

Some snacks can be kept in your glove compartment or purse without going bad:

• Cereal bars I love cereal bars because they can be eaten with one hand when I'm busy doing something else. Some of my favorites include Nutri-Grain, Special K and Fiber One bars.
• Triscuits or other Whole Grain Crackers Throw some cheese slices in the bag, too, while you're at it! (If you do bring cheese, keep it cold or it will get soft and oily.)
• Trail Mix Buy a bag or make your own. Include ingredients like Dry Roasted Peanuts, Raisins, Craisins, Sunflower Seeds, Coconut, Banana Chips, Dried Apricot, Dried Pineapple, Dried Mango and M&M's. I really like Sam's Club Indulgent mix.

Other snacks should be kept in the fridge until you are ready to walk out the door:

• Carrot Sticks, Cucumber Slices & Other Veggies Baby carrots are so portable. You can enjoy them with or without dip, and they are chock full of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Thiamine, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate and Manganese!

  When I buy a cucumber, I slice it up as soon as I get home and split it up into several baggies to eat later, otherwise it will sit in my fridge for weeks. Cucumber slices are especially good on rye cocktail bread with low fat cream cheese spread and chives.

  Depending on your tastes, other veggies might suit you better. If you bag them up ahead of time, they are just as convenient as a bag of chips.

• Yogurt Remember to bring a spoon to enjoy this tasty treat. Sometimes I throw a cup of yogurt in the freezer to switch things up a bit.
• Apple Sauce This was a favorite of mine since pregnancy can sometimes get your digestive system all tangled in knots. The individual cups come in all different flavors, but I preferred unsweetened natural.

Don't forget about Water!

The most important part of your snack pack is water. I bought two 32oz "everyday" bottles from Nalgene (BPA free, of course) and I fill them up each morning. As long as I empty them out by the end of the day, I'm good. It's a good practice to continue even after pregnancy, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Learn more about Kimmama

Kim is a freelance writer and stay at home mom to her newborn, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger