Healthy Fast Food During Pregnancy

It’s easy to find out which foods to avoid during pregnancy and which foods are ok to eat but sticking to a healthy diet full of the right foodstuffs in a fast moving world where time is precious can be difficult. This article contains tips for quick, easy healthy eating.

The  Five A Day rule where fruit and vegetables are concerned has never been more apt than when you are pregnant. Try keeping a bowl or prepare crudite in the fridge (carrots, peppers, cucumber, celery, broccoli and cauliflower are all good raw, cut into sticks or florets and accompanied with houmous or other dips when you are feeling peckish. Avocadoes are great halved and eaten with a teaspoon, sprinkled with lemon juice and black pepper or mashed and spread on bread or made into a sandwich with ham or chicken.

• Stir Fries are quick and nutritious. Add cashews, chopped chicken, ham, beef or tuna for protein.
• Home made vegetable soup can be made in bulk in advance and stored in the freezer. Home made soup is much better than shop bought which can still have additives and added salt. Home made soup is ideal for those days when you don’t feel like eating proper food.
• Bread, pasta and wholegrain cereals are all excellent sources of fibre. Try cereal for breakfast with skimmed milk. It’s higher in calcium, lower in fat and therefore easier to digest than other kinds of milk. Sardines or mushrooms on toast are an excellent way to boost fibre and protein intake.
• Calcium is an important mineral and helps in the formation of baby’s teeth and bones during pregnancy. Dairy products are the easiest sources of calcium. Cut cheese into sticks or cubes to snack on during the day or melt on to wholegrain toast as a snack. Avoid all soft mould ripened cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, blue cheeses and unpasteurised cheeses. However, hard cheeses such as cheddar, double Gloucester and Edam  are all good sources of calcium.
• Yoghurts are a great source of calcium too. Try adding to milk and fruit to bulk up a breakfast smoothie. A little grated ginger added to a smoothie can help with morning sickness.
• Carbohydrates are vital fuel food. They can also be good to snack on if you’re suffering with morning sickness. Dry toast, crackers and plain boiled rice can all be good sources of starchy carbohydrates.