High Protein Snacks and Sides for Pregnancy

My name is Julie and I’m a carboholic.

It’s bad, it’s really bad.

Miraculously, my metabolism has hidden this fact from the world, but I know it won’t last.

I become especially concerned about my eating habits during pregnancy. If you’ve been through the blessed nine months, your healthcare practitioner surely emphasized the need to consume a TON of protein, (like up 80-100 grams, eek!).

I’m not a big meat-eater, so I tend to shy away from a big plate of steak, but these ideas for high protein snacks for pregnancy help me keep my carb addiction in check.

Snacks

• Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels: Peanut Butter ANYTHING really! Add PB to your fruit of choice as well.

• Greek Yogurt: I jumped on the Greek Yogurt bandwagon a while ago and don’t really have plans to jump off. Plain, it tastes just like sour cream so I put it on my nachos, mix it into casseroles, whatever. With some fruit and honey, it’s a filling, sweet snack!

• Cashews, and other Nuts: Nuts are great sources of protein and they’re sure to be a yummy one that satisfies your taste buds!

• String Cheese: Remember how fun it was to pull the little strands on string cheese as a kid? Welp, give it another go, cuz these little guys are FULL of protein!

• Hummus: Made from chickpeas, this is a delicious dip for all sorts of things like veggies and pita chips!

Sides

• Beans: They’re a great non-meat way to pack in the protein. Add beans to all sorts of recipes, even brownies! (Yes, brownies.)

• Brown Rice/Whole Grain Rice: I was so please when I found out brown rice is a decent source of protein! Yea, for more Asian food!

• Quinoa: Hard to say, easy to eat! This grain is delightful and can be dressed up a million different ways!

 

So there you have it. When your midwife hits you with the cold truth that your organic chocolate cereal isn’t exactly a health food, you have some high protein alternatives to turn to!

Interested in what you should include on your baby registry if you’re a natural minded mama? Check these out! 

(My son is HERE! Check out our birth story and the wild health ride we’ve had since then!)

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