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Expert Q&A
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| By Bridget Swinney, M.S., R.D. General Nutrition Expert Prenatal Nutrition Expert | ||
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Is snacking during pregnancy a good thing?
In general, snacking is a good thing, depending on what you snack on. I often recommend women eat smaller meals with snacks in between or six "mini-meals" a day. Snacking helps you fit all those healthy foods in your diet without overeating at meals. It also keeps your energy up, keeps nausea at bay and helps avoid heartburn. So as long as your weight gain is on track and you are eating healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, whole grains and lean protein, keep on noshing!
Some snack combinations I recommend are whole-grain crackers or fresh fruit and low-fat cheese, boiled egg on toast, baked tortilla chips and refried beans, peanut butter and graham crackers or just a handful of cashews, pistachios or almonds. Snacks that contain some protein and fat will keep you going until your next meal. Vegetable juice and raw veggies are always a great addition. Good luck!"
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