15+ Super Healthy Pregnancy Snacks For A Fit Pregnancy

You’ve got the prenatal workout routine down, but are you eating the proper post-workout pregnancy snacks to give you the results you need? Not only that, but you need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and the baby by giving yourself the right nutrition throughout your pregnancy. Today I’m outlining a few of the best healthy pregnancy snacks for you and your baby.

Side Note: Don’t miss the Free Pregnancy Printable at the bottom of the post!

Let’s do a quick summary of what you should be eating before you exercise.

Carbohydrates and a small amount of protein(if possible) are the most important things you need before a workout. The carbs are really important as they will give you the energy you need to push through the routine and help you recover properly. I know I can speak for all of you pregnant Momma’s out there by saying we need that extra energy!

Now, keep in mind that if you just had a healthy lunch you don’t need to eat a snack. The lunch will keep you covered as long as it was packed with good carbs and a healthy protein.

Pre Workout Pregnancy Snacks

• apples with natural peanut butter
• rice cakes with almond butter or natural peanut butter
• banana
• hummus and carrots
• whole grain pita and hummus
• whole wheat bread with natural peanut butter or almond butter(My go to!)
• whole wheat bread with avocado
• hardboiled eggs and whole wheat toast
• pretzels and dried fruit
• trail mix of nuts and dried fruit
• Healthy Muffins- Try any of these muffin recipes. They are a perfect pre workout snack. I typically have two mini muffins before a workout.
• Oatmeal- I eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning with a tiny bit of honey and cinnamon (The plain oats that you buy in a canister and not the pouch oatmeal that has the added sugars).

If you’ve just read my Prenatal Fitness Routines workout post and plan on starting a strength training routine than you definitely need the protein and carbs to recover properly to get the results you want.

You need to build and repair your muscles with proper after workout nutrition so they won’t break down. After all, you want to make sure you get the most for your hard work so what you eat after your workout is key for you and your little one!

Don’t make the same mistake I did years ago before I knew anything about nutrition and fitness! I wasn’t getting the results I wanted because I wasn’t eating right and I wasn’t fueling my body correctly after a workout.

I was always told it was best to eat your post-workout snack within 30 minutes of completing your workout for optimal results. However, if I work out late in the day I just wait till dinner as long as I’m eating within the hour.

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Post Workout Healthy Pregnancy Snacks

1. Cottage cheese and pretzels

This sounds gross, but I love it! 🙂 This is my other go to healthy snack. I don’t put a lot of pretzels in it, but having the pretzels mixed in is the only way I can eat cottage cheese! Cottage cheese is packed with protein and is great for a post workout snack. I also eat this for a bedtime snack!

2. Cottage Cheese and Fruit

This is a more commonly know snack and you can buy these in packs together or buy your own cottage cheese and mix in whatever fruit you like. I buy full fat cottage cheese, but there is also low fat and no sodium. All good choices!

3. Greek Yogurt, Chopped Dates and Walnuts

I buy Chobani Full Fat Greek Yogurt. This is another fantastic after workout snack because there is 22 grams of protein in one cup. That is as much as one scoop of protein powder! Mix in something sweet to make this taste good.

I actually use this as sour cream on my tacos so that gives you an idea of the taste. There is no added sugar to this yogurt so you will need to add fruit. Dates and figs are excellent choices. I buy a small jar of dates and chop up about 5 for my yogurt. Then I grab a handful of walnuts, chop them up and throw them in.

This is the healthiest snack for you and your baby. Loaded with protein and Omega’s 3’s.

4. Protein Shake/Smoothie

When I became pregnant I changed protein supplements because I heard that it was dangerous to use any protein that had artificial sweeteners in it. Some proteins also contain things like creatine or ingredients that can enhance performance.

I searched for an all natural protein that had no added ingredients and I found an all natural protein powder at Puritan’s Pride that was safe for pregnancy.

Please check with your doctor about any protein or supplements. I am not a doctor (see disclaimer) and I made sure to get this approved before taking it.

I use this protein powder , Pea Protein Unflavored.

It is a non-gmo pea protein. There is no flavor at all though so you can’t drink this alone!!

It tastes horrible by itself.

This is meant to mix in with a smoothie. You can add this to any smoothie recipe you want due to the fact that it has no flavor to it.

I would find a smoothie recipe I wanted to try and then add a scoop of this protein powder to it. I still use this protein powder today.

I struggle with allergies and I love that this has no added ingredients to it and the fact that it’s non-gmo because I have it every day.

I always throw spinach into my smoothies to sneak veggies in any way I can. Spinach is excellent for you and the baby and is an important part of your pregnancy diet. If you pick an all fruit smoothie try throwing in a handful of spinach. I bet you won’t taste much difference!

In addition, I always add about a tablespoon of ground flaxseed to my smoothies. Flaxseed is high in Omega 3’s which promotes brain development for your baby so this is a perfect opportunity to get them into your diet!

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The most important thing is to check all of the ingredients in your protein supplements to make sure it’s safe for the baby. I stayed away from protein bars for the most part and that’s why I didn’t recommend any to you because not all are safe.

Post Workout Dinner

If you worked out close to dinner than you can skip the snack and go right to your meal. Just make sure it has lean protein and carbs. Don’t skip the protein! I say that because I feel like it’s easy to get the carbs especially being pregnant because that’s all I wanted!!

Remember, like we talked about earlier the protein is very important so try to add some into your meal.

Here are a few quick meal ideas….

• Chicken/Salmon on top a bed of greens, load it up with your favorite veggies, fruit and nuts.

• Eggs and Whole Wheat Toast- Make a nice omelette, load it up with veggies and a little bit of cheese. Have a side of whole wheat toast.

• Chicken or salmon with a side of sweet potatoes/rice and veggies. For the sweet potatoes, instead of always having them baked I chop them up into cubes, toss with olive oil and sprinkle a little paprika over them. Bake for about 40 mins(or until desired doneness) at 400 degrees. My kids love them! It’s a weekly dish in my house.

Here are some other recipes that you can try if you’re looking for quick and healthy meals.

Chicken Recipes

Sheet Pan Recipes

Healthy Pioneer Woman Recipes

I hope this has guided you and given you ideas on some healthy pregnancy snacks(and a few meal options too!).

These are of course great healthy snacks to have at any time during pregnancy. This is not only for those that are working out!!

Pregnancy Printable

Below is one of the printables I created to help you stay on track for a fit pregnancy! You can plan your healthy meals and snacks in addition to tracking your water intake and exercise.  Subscribe to my email list( top of this page) and get access to my library of free printables. There are more!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if the printable is helpful!

By The Way, You Don’t Want To Miss This: Hilary from Pulling Curls is offering a free Prenatal Pregnancy Class and a Free Birth Plan Template . Hilary is a Labor and Delivery Nurse who has a gazillion tips and advice on pregnancy that you’ll want to check out.

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