Are you looking for the best pregnancy smoothie recipes? If so, you have come to the right place! In this blog post, we will share with you some of our favorite smoothie recipes that are rich in nutrients and perfect for pregnant women.

These smoothies are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will help keep both you and your baby healthy during pregnancy. So whether you are looking for a quick and easy breakfast or snack, or want to add some extra nutrients to your diet, these pregnancy smoothies are sure to satisfy!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read full disclosure here.*

Are Smoothies a Good Choice for Your Pregnancy Diet?

Smoothies can be a great addition to your pregnancy diet, but it is important to choose wisely. Many smoothies are high in sugar and calories, which can lead to excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

So when choosing a smoothie to drink during pregnancy, make sure to look for one that is low in sugar and contains plenty of healthy ingredients. According to the most up-to-date prenatal nutrition plan, The Perfect Pregnancy Plan, smoothies (when made with the right ingredients) are highly recommended for your prenatal diet.

Additionally, there are certain ingredients that you should add to every pregnancy smoothie that really increase the nutrients that lead to a more healthy baby, but we’ll dive into those later!

Related: How to Gain Minimal Weight While Pregnant (Just the right amount!)

What Type of Smoothies Should You Avoid While Pregnant?

There are certain types of smoothies that you should avoid while pregnant. These include high-sugar smoothies, smoothies with a lot of caffeine, and smoothies with lots of artificial flavors and additives.

You need to be really careful when consuming smoothies that are already prepared, such as from a smoothie shop or grocery store.

Smoothies from smoothie shops are typically huge and absolutely loaded with sugars and calories. Yes, they are mostly sugars from fruits, but even too much sugar from fruits will still spike your blood sugar and can harm your growing baby even if you are not suffering from gestational diabetes.

For instance, one of Jamba Juice’s more popular healthy and less sweet smoothies, the Acai Smoothie, contains 88 grams of carbohydrates and 70 grams of sugar in only a medium.

You also need to be careful when consuming premade smoothies from the grocery store while pregnant, like Naked or Bolthouse Farms smoothies. While they might look like a great nutritional choice, they aren’t. In fact, they are really just glorified juice. You are getting the juice from all the fruits on the container, not the fiber-rich fruits themselves.

A single serving of Naked Mighty Mango contains 290 calories, ZERO grams of fiber, and 57 grams of sugar. Yikes. That is just a lot of empty calories that won’t fill you up. Plus without fiber, fat, or protein to slow down the usage of sugar in your body, you are looking at a major blood sugar spike!

So if you are pregnant, it is best to stick to smoothies that are homemade. Or at least smoothies that are low in sugar, contain healthy ingredients and are free of excessive caffeine. This will help ensure that you are getting the nutrients you need while keeping your calorie intake under control.

What Ingredients Should You Add to the Best Pregnancy Smoothies?

There are a number of ingredients that you should add to your pregnancy smoothie in order to increase its nutrient content. These include:

• Fruits: fresh or frozen fruit is a great addition to any smoothie. When choosing fruits, try to pick ones that are low in sugar and high in nutrients such as berries and apples.
• Vegetables: Vegetables can be added for extra vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Try adding leafy greens like spinach or kale along with other vegetables like beets and cauliflower!
• Protein: Adding protein to your smoothie can help keep you feeling full and satisfied. Good sources of protein include a pregnancy-safe protein powder, plain Greek yogurt, whole milk, or vegan proteins like hemp hearts or chia seeds.
• Healthy fats: Including healthy fats in your smoothie is a great way to boost its nutrient content. Good options include avocado, nut butter, or nuts and seeds like flaxseeds or almonds. Just be careful not to overdo it. 
• Superfoods: Superfoods are foods that contain a high amount of nutrients with minimal calories. They can help boost the nutrition of any smoothie recipe! Some good options include chia seeds, hemp hearts, maca powder, cacao nibs/powder (raw chocolate), and goji berries.

RELATED: Is Maca Safe During Pregnancy?

SECRET INGREDIENTS you should add into pregnancy smoothies to make them the best for your growing baby:

In the Perfect Pregnancy Plan (the most revolutionary and up-to-date prenatal nutrition and exercise plan, and the only one built around the most recent studies of epigenetics during pregnancy) you learn so much valuable advice about prenatal nutrition including:

• the nutrients we now know that can help to avoid diseases in your baby like heart disease, diabetes, autism, and ADHD
• How to source these nutrients
• How much of each nutrient you need in each trimester
• How to absorb more of the needed nutrients from your diet
• and so much more!

But you also learn a lot of amazing information about how to build the best pregnancy smoothie. The Perfect Pregnancy Plan highly suggests drinking a pregnancy smoothie every day throughout your pregnancy! 

According to the PPP you should include the following ingredients in every smoothie during pregnancy that you can.

1. Chia seeds.  Chia seeds are one of the top 5 foods that you should be eating daily while pregnant.

Chia seeds are great for you. They give you protein that is needed to grow a healthy baby. Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, calcium, and folic acid.

Chia is a vegan source of omega-3 fatty acids which provide similar benefits for pregnant moms as fish oil does. But they sure are a lot easier to stomach.

2. A spinach puck. Wondering what that is? Basically a cooked spinach ice cube. Spinach pucks are an easy way to add a lot of extra nutrition fast!

Pucks can be made by first cooking spinach, then blending it together, then placing the spinach into an ice cube tray. From there they can be stored in a bpa free freezer bags or bpa free tupperware in the freezer and added into your smoothies.

Why cook the spinach?

When spinach is cooked you absorb more of the nutrients in it. And spinach packs a TON of nutrition into its little leaves. The Perfect Pregnancy Plan teaches you so many amazing things about how to get the most nutrition out of the foods you eat during pregnancy that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

3. A high-quality protein powder safe for pregnancy. This ingredient especially should be added to every pregnancy smoothie. Our bodies and your baby’s growing body use protein to create new cells, making it imperative to consume enough throughout your gestation.

We require a lot of protein to grow a healthy baby and protein powder is an easy-to-stomach way to get there. Many women are turned off by meat (especially in the first trimester), though it is important to include in your prenatal diet anyways. So protein powder is a great way to fill in for not eating as much protein as you should from other sources like meat.

Plus protein (and the healthy fat from the chia seeds) will help your body metabolize the sugar from the fruits you are adding to your smoothie to prevent blood sugar spikes.

Tips for Making the Best Smoothies for Pregnancy

-Try to use fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables whenever possible. Canned fruits and vegetables often contain high levels of sugar, additives, and chemicals.

RELATED: How to avoid common dangerous chemicals during pregnancy: toxin free pregnancy

-If you are adding protein powder to your smoothie, make sure it is a pregnancy-safe brand. Some brands (in fact a lot of brands) of protein powder contain ingredients that are not safe for pregnant women.

-Avoid adding too many high-sugar fruits like mangoes, bananas, and pineapples to your smoothie.  These fruits can quickly send your blood sugar levels soaring. One of these choices at a time or a limited amount of a couple is fine, just don’t overdo it.

-Use a blender to create a smooth consistency. Blending the ingredients will help you digest them better and increase their nutrient absorption. My favorite blender is the Ninja. I’ve been drinking a smoothie every day for breakfast for about a decade now, I’ve tried them all, and my Ninja blender is by far the best at pulverizing everything for a great consistency.

-Drink your smoothie immediately after making it for the best results. The longer you wait to drink it, the more nutrients will be lost from oxidation. Plus some of the protein powders settle and banana gets weird and kinda gross after sitting a while.

-Always consult your doctor before adding a new ingredient or supplement to your diet while pregnant. Protein powders count as supplements.

-Be sure that all of the ingredients in your smoothie are safe for pregnant women. Fruits and vegetables will be fine but when you add in new exotic things, supplements, or superfoods is when you will want to pay close attention.

-Try to drink a smoothie every day or at least once per week. They are great for pregnant women and can help you get the nutrients that you need in a delicious way that is low-calorie! That is really important because you don’t need to add in very many calories a day while pregnant (around 300 extra calories is top).

Even though your nutrition requirements as much as triple during pregnancy, calorie requirements do not. That’s why it is so important to follow a nutrient dense prenatal diet plan like the Perfect Pregnancy Plan. And also why it’s important to include nutrient-dense low calorie meals like smoothies into your prenatal diet plan as well.

The Best Pregnancy Smoothie Recipes

Now that you know what ingredients to add to your pregnancy smoothie, let’s take a look at some of our favorite recipes! 

Berrylicious Pregnancy Smoothie

This Berrylicious Smoothie is the perfect blend of fresh fruit and healthy protein. It is low in sugar and calories, making it a great choice for pregnant women.

Ingredients:

-Handful of fresh or frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

-One cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice

-One scoop vanilla pregnancy recommended protein powder

-Two tablespoons chia seeds

-a spinach puck (if you can stomach it. Feel free to drop this ingredient if it bothers you.)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Enjoy immediately!

Green Goddess Smoothie

This Green Goddess Smoothie is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from fresh vegetables and fruits. It makes a great breakfast or snack for pregnant women.

Ingredients:

-One cup fresh spinach leaves or 2 spinach pucks

-One apple, cored and chopped

-One frozen banana, sliced

-One cup of vanilla protein powder

-One cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice

-One tablespoon nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew)

-Two tablespoons chia seeds

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Enjoy immediately!

Protein Power Smoothie

This Protein Power Smoothie is a great way to start your day with plenty of protein and nutrients. It is low in sugar and calories, making it a perfect choice for pregnant women.

Ingredients:

-One cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice

-One scoop vanilla pregnancy recommended protein powder

-1/2 frozen banana

-1 tablespoon chia seeds

-1 tbsp peanut butter powder

-1 spinach puck

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth. Enjoy immediately!

PLUS: More Pregnancy Smoothies You’ll Love

RELATED: Pumpkin Pie Pregnancy Smoothie

Wrapping Up the Best Pregnancy Smoothie Recipes

Now that you know about the best pregnancy smoothie recipes, it’s time to get blending! These recipes are packed with nutrients and vitamins that your growing baby needs.

Be sure to consult your doctor before adding any new ingredients or supplements to your diet, and drink a smoothie every day for the best results. Happy blending!

More Pregnancy Nutrition Articles You’ll Love

• Folic Acid Rich Foods for Pregnancy
• Is Maca Safe for Pregnancy?
• Are Collagen Supplements Good for Pregnancy?

The Best Smoothie Recipes for Pregnancy

The post The Best Pregnancy Smoothie Recipes: Healthy Smoothies for Pregnant Women appeared first on .

Do you know what the healthiest foods are for pregnant women? It’s not hard to guess, but do you know how to best blend them together so they can be most easily digested and provide the needed nutrients?

This article will teach you about protein-rich smoothies that can help you grow a more healthy baby, fuel your body with nutrients, and even reduce morning sickness. You’ll also find recipes with ingredients like ginger, turmeric, honey and cinnamon which have all been scientifically proven to ease nausea in pregnancy.

This post may contain links to items I own and love and am confident will benefit you immensely. Please read full disclosure here.

What is a Pregnancy Smoothie?

A pregnancy smoothie is a smoothie that is specially designed with a pregnant woman’s and/or her growing baby’s nutritional needs in mind. There are all kinds of smoothie recipes out there.

Some are just as bad for you as having a huge bowl of ice cream while others are loaded with more easily digestible nutrition than you could ever manage to get into a single meal.

Pregnancy smoothies keep the important aspects of prenatal nutrition in mind when their recipes are created. Things like the amazing tips and tricks to growing a more healthy baby that you can learn in The Perfect Pregnancy Plan.

The most revolutionary prenatal nutrition and fitness plan that is the only prenatal diet plan built around what we now know about epigenetics during pregnancy.

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan highly recommends including pregnancy smoothies into your diet and tells you all the tricks and tips to making the most healthy pregnancy smoothie, some of which I’ll share here!

How to Build the Perfect Pregnancy Smoothie

All the smoothie recipes in this post are healthy and delicious smoothies that you can drink during your pregnancy. But there are a few special ingredients that you should add into every pregnancy smoothie that you make so that you and your growing baby are getting optimal nutrition in every glass.

Add Chia Seeds into Your Pregnancy Smoothies

Chia seeds are good for you. They give you protein that is needed to grow a healthy baby. Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, calcium, folic acid.

Chia is a vegan source of omega-3 fatty acids which provide similar benefits for pregnant moms as fish oil does. But they sure are a lot easier to stomach.

Chia seeds are one of the top 5 foods that you should be eating daily while pregnant.

Add a Spinach Puck into Your Pregnancy Smoothies

A spinach puck is a way to add more nutrition to your smoothies. Pucks can be made by first cooking spinach, then blending it together, then placing the spinach into an ice cube tray. From there they can be stored in a bpa free freezer bags or bpa free tupperware in the freezer and added into your smoothies.

Why cook the spinach?

When spinach is cooked you absorb more of the nutrients in it. And spinach packs a TON of nutrition into it’s little leaves.

The only time I would recommend leaving this special pregnancy smoothie ingredient out is if you are suffering from nausea. Though spinach is typically pretty tasteless in smoothies, there’s a good chance you’ll notice it with the enhanced sense of smell and taste during pregnancy.

RELATED: a Dozen Moms Weight in on the Best Tricks for Morning Sickness

Add a High Quality Protein Powder to Your Pregnancy Smoothies

Protein powder should be added to every pregnancy smoothie. Our bodies use protein to create new cells, including those for your baby. We require a lot of protein to grow a healthy baby and protein powder is an easy to stomach way to get there. Many women are turned off by meat (especially in the first trimester), though it is important to include in your prenatal diet anyways.

Additionally, smoothies tend to become loaded with sugar (even natural sugar can spike your blood sugar) as we add in various fruits. Frequent spikes in blood sugar can be detrimental to your growing baby.

Adding protein and healthy fats to the smoothies helps your blood sugar to elevate at a slower and remain at a more sustained level for longer.

But you can’t drink just any protein powder while pregnant. Be sure you are choosing a high quality protein powder perfect for pregnancy.

The Best Healthy Pregnancy Smoothie Recipes

Instructions and Tips to Making the Best Healthy Pregnancy Smoothies:

 All of these these smoothies are super fast and simple to make and have the same instructions. So I’m just going to add them in once.

Add all items into a blender like my favorite Ninja and blend until smooth.

1. I recommend adding the wet ingredients first because the dry ones have a tendency to stick to the edges otherwise.
2. Another tip is to add and frozen fruit after the wet ingredients and to chop it small. This helps to prevent the blades getting stuck as they chop up the frozen fruits.
3. You can always add water to these recipes until you get your desired consistency if they are too thick.
4. Conversely, if you prefer a thicker smoothie, add ice cubes and blend until smooth.
5. You can always add a healthy sugar alternative to these smoothies as well. That refers to anything that is not artificial. The best choices are stevia, monk fruit, and xylitol.
6. If you let the chia seeds sit for a few minutes (up to 10, before or after blending they will thicken the smoothie as well.

1. Pineapple Sunrise Pregnancy Smoothie

• 1 cup of Greek Yogurt
• 1/2 c. milk of choice
• 1/2 cup of ice
• 2 tbsp. of chia seeds
• 2 spinach pucks
• handful of fresh mint leaves, stems removed
• a few pineapple chunks
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pregnancy Smoothie

• 2 cups of milk of choice
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tbsp. of vanilla extract, or almond extract– whatever you prefer!
• 2 tbsp. chia seeds
• 2 tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1 spinach puck
• 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
• 3-5 ice cubes

3. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pregnancy Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1 cup of milk of choice
• 2 oz of a baker’s chocolate bar
• 1/2 frozen banana
• optional: 1 scoop of baker’s cocoa
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 spinach puck
• 1 scoop of vanilla OR chocolate protein powder

4. Frozen Avocado Cherry Bomb Smoothie

• 1 cup of fresh or frozen cherries
• 1/4 frozen avocado
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 spinach puck
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 8 oz. milko of choice
• water/ice to taste
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

5. Morning Sickness Smoothie from Plant Based Juniors

6. Pineapple Ginger Morning Sickness Smoothie from Salty Canary 

This tropical smoothie is fresh and super cold because you freeze most of the fruit. It is super refreshing and should calm that morning sickness with a delicious healthy option. 

While on a nutritional standpoint I ALWAYS suggest putting chia seeds, a spinach puck, and protein powder into your pregnancy smoothies I change that suggestion when dealing with morning sickness. Or all day whenever it wants to strike sickness during pregnancy.

I would leave out the extra nutrition and focus on following these recipes to aid nausea. However, if they do not include any protein powder I would definitely add a scoop of vanilla protein powder in. The boost in protein can aid  morning sickness as well.

7. Orange Anti-Sickness Smoothie from Meraki Lane

I really like the inclusion of coconut water in this pregnancy smoothie recipe. Chances are that if you are suffering from morning sickness there has been some puking going on. Stripping your body of electrolytes. The absolute best way to replenish those in a healthy way is through coconut water. There are a lot of really beneficial drinks for pregnancy like that that are amazing to include in your prenatal diet.

Wrapping Up the Best Healthy Pregnancy Smoothies

Pregnancy can be a time of increased cravings for sugary foods, but if you are eating healthy pregnancy smoothies, then there’s no need to worry. Healthy fats like chia seeds and omega-3 fatty acids in your vegan protein powders will help keep your blood sugar stable so that you help grow a healthier baby and have more energy during this exciting time.

When making these delicious drinks, try adding spinach pucks and healthy fats for an added nutrient boost to every sip!

Remember when choosing your ingredients that it is best to use high quality ones with no artificial additives–you’ll want food sources rich in nutrients for both you and your growing baby. These recipes should give you plenty of ideas on how to start mixing up some new favorites!

More Prenatal Nutrition Articles You’ll Love

• The Pros and Cons of Drinking Shakeology While Pregnant
• 5 Surprising Foods You Should Avoid Eating During Pregnancy
• Surprising Drinks to Avoid While Pregnant

The post Pregnancy Smoothies for Growing a Healthy Baby appeared first on .

Majka is marketed to postpartum moms and many of their products benefit lactation. But is it safe to drink Majka protein powder while pregnant? How about their other products? Are Majka products ok for pregnant women to consume?

**This post contains links to products I use and I feel will benefit you immensely. Read full disclosure here.**

The Importance of Prenatal Nutrition

Prenatal nutrition is of the utmost importance to focus on. We now know that the prenatal diet can affect your baby’s health throughout their entire lives. Proper prenatal nutrition can prevent ADHD, autism, and propensity towards diabetes, heart disease, and obesity in adulthood. Pretty powerful stuff huh?

The only prenatal program that breaks down proper prenatal nutrition and exercise to help you grow the healthiest baby possible (and have the most healthy pregnancy possible) is The Perfect Pregnancy Plan. Created by a certified health coach and fitness trainer who is certified in nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy, this mom of 3 created an incomparable prenatal nutrition program every mother to be deserves to have.

See what moms and doctors are saying about The Perfect Pregnancy Plan!

Majka Products While Pregnant

Majka is a relatively new company (about 3 years) that was one of the very first of it’s kind within it’s market. A nutrition company aimed specifically at mothers postpartum. There were lactation teas available but not much else on the market for moms looking to increase their breastmilk supply.

Majka launched with their Nourishing Lactation Protein Powder and Majka Lactation Bites made with the protein powder and some other great nutritious ingredients.

Over the years their line of postnatal nutrition products has grown to help a mother postpartum in almost every way you can think of.

From a postnatal protein powder with a beauty blend of collagen and other ingredients to help refresh you after who knows how many months of sleepless nights (I’m going on two years of them over here) to a hydration booster that helps your body actually make the most of the water you drink. (Got to be my FAVORITE new product!)

But what about during pregnancy? Majka is built by moms for moms but is marketed mostly for postnatal health at this time. But since they pay such close attention to mothers and babies, their nutritional content, and more… are Majka products safe to consume while pregnant?

Is Majka’s Protein Powder Safe for Pregnancy?

As always, I must preface by saying that you should always discuss any dietary changes and supplements you take during your pregnancy with your trusted physician or midwife prior to taking them. Not everyone’s pregnancy is a straightforward case.

But overall, Majka’s main product: 

their Nourishing Lactation Protein Powder, is a perfect choice to drink daily for added nutrition that your baby requires, Let’s take a closer look at why this product is a great choice to use while pregnant.

Majka Nourishing Protein Powder (loaded with extra nutrients!)

Amount of protein in this shake and it’s source:

• 13 grams of protein in 100 calories from organic pea protein, organic hemp seeds protein, organic sunflower seed protein, organic quinoa sprout protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, and organic chia seed protein.

What is NOT in it?

• vegan
• non GMO
• gluten free
• soy free

What extra nutrients are in this protein powder to enhance pregnancy health?

Because Majka is created specifically for mothers postpartum to drink during lactation (another time when consuming clean high-quality nutrition is vital) you can be sure that they have taken the utmost care in choice of ingredients, making it a safe and nutritious choice to use as a pregnancy protein powder.

• Majka is designed to replace your postnatal vitamin. For which most people simply continue taking their prenatal. Because of this many of the additional nutrients are exactly what you need to be taking during pregnancy!
• 400mcg as l-methylfolate, the type of “folic acid” that everyone can absorb and utilize to help prevent NTDs as we discussed in the chapter on prenatal vitamins.
• 362 mcg iodine which is very important during pregnancy and very difficult to get in most diets without making a conscious effort. (it’s from the kelp in the greens blend!)
• Spirulina and amino acid chelate for vegan sourced iron. It’s tough but vital to get enough iron during pregnancy, and we’ve already discussed the benefits of spirulina. You really should be taking it every day, this makes it really easy to do so and you can’t taste it in Majka.
• An amazing digestive enzyme blend to aid in digestion.
• A probiotic blend to keep your gut healthy and boost your immune system.

Approximate price point of this protein powder:

Majka Nourishing Protein Powder comes in both chocolate and green vanilla varieties. (I prefer the chocolate myself.

One bottle (15 servings) costs $65 but you can save 10% by purchasing 2 bottles for $117 or by subscribing to get a canister each month for 10% off as well.

It is one of the higher priced protein powders but that is because it is including so much more than just a simple protein powder in one scoop.

You will be able to eliminate taking additional probiotics, digestive enzymes, spirulina, AND will be getting a higher nutritional content as well when compared to the lower price pointed protein powders. Plus you can save 20% on your first order by using my custom code VIGORITOUT20

Try the vanilla option here, or try chocolate here.

DISCOUNT CODE ALERT!! If you want to try any of these products yourself, use my exclusive code VIGORITOUT20 for 20% off your first order.

What About Majka’s Other Products During Pregnancy?

Majka’s Replenishing Powder

Majka now has a second protein powder I love on the market but deciding whether or not it is right your your pregnancy requires a closer look. It’s called Majka’s Replenishing Powder.

This amazing collagen protein powder has enough nutrition in it that it is akin to taking a prenatal vitamin. It also has more than collagen in one single scoop. It also includes:

• tons of nutrition
• a digestive enzyme blend
• greens
• adaptogens.

One point worth noting though is that this collagen powder does contain ashwagandha, which there are opposing views as to whether or not it should be consumed during pregnancy.

It has been used in India and in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to support the energy of a pregnant woman and her fetus. This is in small doses.

There have been scientific studies done on the effects of very high doses of ashwagandha in pregnant animals causing miscarriage. Once again this is very high levels. For this reason some doctors will advise you to stay away from it altogether though others believe the opposite.

So do your own further research on ashwagandha and if you would want to use this during pregnancy or wait until the postpartum period. This collagen powder has a blend of multiple beneficial ingredients that add up to one gram together in which ashwagandha is an ingredient.

Whether yourself and your trusted medical provider favor more traditional medicine or more modern Western medicine may be the deciding factor on whether you can’t wait to use this protein powder while pregnant, or you may choose to abstain from trying it until the postpartum period.

Check out Majka’s Replenishing Collagen Powder now.

Majka’s Lactation Bites

These delicious little snacks are addictive. And I can’t keep my kids from eating them. They contain Majka’s lactation blend like the protein powder but is also loaded with lots of other delicious and nutritious ingredients. Things like:

• Chia seeds
• Flax seeds
• Unrefined coconut oil
• Coconuts
• Dates
• Almonds

The “lactation bites” are sweet also, and really can help with those sugary pregnancy cravings as they only contain 6 grams of sugar and sourced from the included fruit. (Dates are naturally super sweet.) 

I would however skip on a snack including sugar or fruit in cases of gestational diabetes, or definitely run it by your doctor first. Every baby can be negatively effected by frequent spikes in blood sugars from mom during gestation, so always eat sweet treats within reason during pregnancy. And sweets that are naturally sweetened like these lactation bites are ideal.

Also the healthy fats are vital to consume with sugars to keep you full longer, and help your body to utilize the sugars more slowly and keep your blood sugar from spiking, These Majka bites are loaded with healthy fats! These really are a perfect combination, especially for pregnancy.

Don’t forget, you can try any of these Majka products using code VIGORITOUT20 for 20% off your first order!

Wrapping Up Majka for Pregnancy

Sure Majka is currently aimed at high quality nutrition that fills the needs of moms postpartum, but because of that many of their products can double as phenomenal choices to consume during pregnancy to help grow a more healthy baby. 

Spoiler alert: they are starting a line for pregnant moms too, and I can’t WAIT to see the things they come up with since their lactation products are already so high in nutrition that they even make great prenatal nutrition products as well.

If you have enjoyed learning about these amazing tips for prenatal nutrition be sure to check out The Perfect Pregnancy Plan, it’s right up your alley. It is the only course that will break down all the most up to date prenatal nutrition information so you can grow the most healthy baby possible.

More Prenatal Nutrition Posts You’ll Love

• Is Celery Juice Safe for Pregnancy?
• Is Maca Root Safe for Pregnancy?
• Top 5 Foods to Eat Daily for a More Healthy Baby

The post Majka for Pregnancy appeared first on .

In this article, we will discuss collagen and collagen supplements as well as collagen benefits for pregnant mothers to be. We will also cover collagen safety during pregnancy. By the end of this article you should have a better understanding of collagen and if it is safe or unsafe to take collagen while pregnant.

**This post contains affiliate links to items I am confident will benefit your immensely. Please read disclosure here.**

The first thing many people need to know about collagen is what it even is.

Collagen is a protein that makes up the tissue in your bones, ligaments, tendons, and skin. In addition to collagen’s role in maintaining structural integrity within the human body, it also acts as a chemical signal which promotes collagen production by cells. This collagen signaling is how collagen benefits skin health and beauty just to name one of its most well known benefits.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your entire body.

The collagen production process starts with collagen building blocks called amino acids. Your body synthesizes collagen amino acids from lysine which comes from collagen rich foods like collagen supplements, collagen powders, bone broth, and slow cooked meats .

Have you heard of amino acids? They are the building blocks of protein. I promote a lot of high quality protein powders on my two blogs and in my prenatal nutrition program because they are a phenomenal way to get a ton of nutrition in an easy and tasty way and something you will always want to be searching for within your plant based protein powders is a full amino acid profile.

RELATED: The Best Protein Powders for Pregnancy

How can collagen benefit your baby while pregnant?

1. Collagen proteins are building blocks of every aspect of your growing baby’s body. Enough collagen nutrition is vital for collagen synthesis by the collagen producing cells in your baby’s bones.
2. Collagen helps protect your baby from infections during pregnancy. Collagen deficiency increases infection risk.
3. Collagen aids in proper growth of your baby’s brain.
4. Collagen is one of many amino acids that are critical to development and health of a baby’s developing central nervous system.

Did you know collagen protein is the most abundant protein in your body?

And that is true within your baby’s body too. Getting enough collagen during pregnancy is vital to proper fetal development.

Why is Proper Prenatal Nutrition so Important?

Did you know you have the power to dictate your baby’s health and genetic outcome based on your pregnancy lifestyle? Between proper prenatal exercise and nutrition you can influence you baby’s health throughout their entire lives!

We now know through the studies of epigenetics during pregnancy that what you eat during pregnancy has a direct effect on the way that your baby’s genes are expressed. Essentially meaning that you can “turn on” good genes and “turn off” bad genes by eating the right amount of the correct nutrients at the right times during your gestation.

But only one prenatal program breaks all that down for moms in an easy to understand and easy to implement way. It’s called The Perfect Pregnancy Plan.

If you want to know more of the best nutrients for growing a healthy baby and how to source them, check out the Perfect Pregnancy Plan for yourself and give your baby the best start in life.

How to Take Collagen While Pregnant

The collagen that is abundant within collagen supplements and collagen powders is the same collagen that your baby needs for proper growth and development.

It is always best to source as much of your prenatal nutrition as possible through your diet though.

#1 Bone Broth

Collagen can be found in super high concentrations in bone broth. You can pick some up at the store if you like, but it’s always best to make your own bone broth if you have the time.

If not, (and honestly I rarely do, mom life is busy!), here is a really great one you can pick up on Amazon by the 12 pack. Add a warm 8 oz glass with a dash of sea salt per day into your pregnancy diet plan or use it to cook with!

#2 Slow Cooked Meats

Tougher cuts of slow cooked meats like beef and pork also have very high amounts of collagen. Meals like pot roast made in the slow cooker are a great way to get the collagen that your growing baby needs.

You will find amazing recipes high in collagen within the huge recipe book that comes with The Perfect Pregnancy Plan. My favorite recipe loaded with collagen from that book is homemade pasta sauce in the slow cooker with pork roast. It is devine and loaded with collagen!

#3 Collagen Supplements

Your baby’s requirements for many nutrients is so high that it is a good idea to not only eat for nutrition, but to add in some high quality supplements to fill in any nutritional gaps as well.

RELATED: The Best Supplements to Take While Pregnant for Optimal Fetal Health

Collagen supplements like collagen protein powder are a great way to get collagen nutrition into your diet during pregnancy without compromising flavor, since collagen tastes neutral.

Carefully chosen collagen supplements or collagen supplement powders can be a great way to ensure collagen intake during pregnancy. However, even collagen supplements are not one size fits all because collagen absorption differs from person to person.

The Best Collagen Supplements for Pregnancy

Collagen supplements like collagen protein powder come in many different forms. Not all collagen supplements are created equally though.

Did you know there is significant variability between collagen types for absorption?

Some collagen types can be very poorly absorbed by your body, while others are easily and efficiently absorbed. So what collagen source should you choose for pregnancy collagen supplementation?

The collagen protein that is best sourced for pregnancy collagen supplementation comes from collagen protein powder.

You could also choose to source collagen through collagen supplements like collagen capsules, but collagen powders are generally better absorbed by your body.

Another reason why collagen protein powder works better than other collagen types during pregnancy is that it contains hydrolyzed collagen which is collagen that has been broken down into peptides.

Protein supplements like collagen protein powder are also very advantageous for pregnancy collagen supplementation because they do not require stomach acid to be absorbed properly by your body. Collagen needs to go through some digestion first before it can be fully absorbed, but collagen powders are already broken down into small collagen peptides which can be absorbed much more easily. (Source)

1. Collagen Peptides Powder

As previously mentioned collagen is best and most naturally sourced from animal products. Slow cooked meats and bone broths. So most collagen proteins will be animal based as well. (If you want a vegan option skip ahead to #2 on this list.) 

This collagen peptides powder is hydrolyzed for better absorption and mixes well with both hot or cold drinks! It contains 11g of collagen and 10g of protein per serving! Making this a phenomenal supplement to work into your pregnancy diet plan.

This powder is tasteless and very well absorbed, really love these collagen peptides for pregnancy!

2. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder

This is a clean bioavailable bovine sourced collagen powder that is one of Amazon’s best sellers! It’s great because it is readily absorbed and utilized by your body and your baby’s growing body as well.

Mix into your smoothies easily because it has no flavor. Got to be one of the best things about collagen protein powder for pregnancy. Stomaching some of the essential nutrients for proper prenatal development can be tough sometimes. Flavorless (especially if you are dealing with nausea during pregnancy) is awesome.

This is one of my top choices because in addition to being a super clean collagen powder it also contains 20g of protein per scoop! Quite a lot! Try these collagen peptides for yourself now.

3. Plant Fusion Complete Plant Collagen Builder

This is an amazing choice for a collagen powder to drink during your pregnancy because it is completely clean and well absorbed. It really is a triple punch in that Plant Complete Collagen Builder doesn’t just fuel your body with high quality, clean, collagen powder that is readily absorbed.

But it contains ingredients that help you to build more collagen within your body! Additionally this complete collagen builder contains oxyphyte plus hyaluronic acid which help prevent collagen breakdown in your body to protect the collagen you are creating.

This collagen powder contains none of the bad stuff: no artificial colors or sweeteners, lactose free, gluten free, vegan, and more! Give Plant Fusion’s Complete Collagen a try now!

3. Majka’s Replenishing Powder

This collagen powder is marketed for postpartum recovery, but is one of my favorites so I needed to include it on this list. This amazing protein powder has enough nutrition in it to replace your prenatal vitamin if your doctor ok’s it. It also has more than collagen in one single scoop, tons of nutrition, a digestive enzyme blend, greens, and adaptogens.

I love when you can get so much nutrition into one scoop instead of taking so many additional supplements. One point worth noting though is that this collagen powder does contain ashwaghanda, which there are opposing views as to whether or not it should be consumed during pregnancy.

In India and in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to support the energy of a pregnant woman and her fetus. This is in small doses.

There have been scientific studies done on the effects of very high doses of ashwaghanda in pregnant animals causing miscarriage. Once again this is very high levels. For this reason some doctors will advise you to stay away from it altogether though others believe the opposite.

So do your own further research here on if you would want to use this during pregnancy or wait until the postpartum period. This collagen powder has a blend of multiple beneficial ingredients that add up to one gram together in which ashwaghanda is an ingredient. Check out Majka’s Replenishing Collagen Powder now.

Wrapping Up Can You Take Collagen While Pregnant?

Can collagen supplements really benefit your baby?

You bet! While collagen can be found in many foods, collagen supplements are a great way to get collagen into your diet. Collagen protein powder is one of the most efficient collagen nutritional supplements available. It is derived from collagen protein, which has already been broken down into collagen peptides. Using collagen supplements during pregnancy is a great way to ensure your baby’s collagen needs are met.

More Prenatal Nutrition Articles You’ll Love

• Is it safe to drink celery juice during pregnancy?
• Is it safe to take Maca Root During Pregnancy?
• 5 Foods You’ll Be Surprised You Should Avoid Eating While Pregnant

The post Is it Safe to Take Collagen During Pregnancy appeared first on .

Easy Healthy Pregnancy Lunch Ideas for Work

 

You really need to get creative when picking a healthy packed lunch for pregnancy. These pregnancy lunch ideas for work or on the go are all healthy, easy, and fast to make!

 

**This post might contain affiliate links to items that I own and love and am confident will benefit you immensely. Please read full disclosure here.**

 

 

Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas for Pregnancy While On the Go

Most of us busy women these days have to work all the way through our gestation! That can be exhausting and tough. But we do it.

 

So right off the bat let me congratulate you on your pregnancy! And mention how amazing and strong you are for planning to work while pregnant! Whether it’s just for a bit or for as long as you can, you are one tough mama-to-be!

 

This list of easy and healthy lunch ideas for your pregnancy can be used for any time you are on the go actually. Even if you aren’t working anymore, maybe you have older kids and are busy running them around to activities and school, or maybe you are just one busy mom to be!

 

No matter where you are going to, these healthy packed lunches for pregnancy will keep you full and fueled to make it through the day!

 

 

Healthy packed pregnancy lunches for work and on the go

 

Eating healthy during your pregnancy is more important than we ever knew. In fact through the study of epigenetics we now know that what you eat while pregnant has the ability to actually change the genetic makeup of your child.

 

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan is the only prenatal nutrition program that explains all of that and more in an easy to understand and easy to apply format. 

 

Can you believe that we now know which nutrients you should eat and at which point during your gestation to make your baby more genetically predispositioned to health and longevity?

 

There’s a lot of amazing information out there these days about prenatal nutrition that just isn’t shared by most prenatal doctors at all. It’s not the expecting moms nor the doctors’ fault. A lot of them don’t even know this information yet, though it is published and shared in the most recent prenatal nutrition courses.

 

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan has been getting a rave reviews from both mothers and doctors alike. It walks you through exactly the nutrients are going to need for pregnancy, tells you how to source them and also explains exactly why you need them and how they’re going to benefit your baby. 

 

 

 

Not to mention it comes with over 80 amazing and easy recipes that help you source these nutrients to have the healthiest pregnancy and baby possible. And lots of them are great for batch meals and easy to take to work!

 

 

Easy and Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas for Pregnancy

Pregnancy is exhausting. The first trimester is the worst but really it’s tiring all the way through. That makes focusing on nutrition a little bit harder especially when you feel as hungry as you do during pregnancy.

 

RELATED: What to expect the first trimester

 

Having a solid idea of the nutrients that you need to grow a healthy baby while pregnant and having a lot of great easy recipes on hand make a world of difference.

 

There are a lot of tricks that made eating healthy while working and pregnant a lot easier for me such as:

• Batch prepping my meals.
• Using a slow cooker at home to batch create healthy options (that are then ready to heat up at work. Just don’t do it on plastic because it leaches chemicals into your food.)
• Prepping bags of cut up fruits and vegetables in bulk and having them ready to go in the fridge at all times.
• Having healthy desserts like energy balls ready and on hand at all times.
• Having healthy and delicious dips on hand for those fresh fruits and veggies
• And having a lot of high protein prepackaged snacks like hard boiled eggs, string cheese, and nuts.

 

Why these are great easy lunch ideas for work while pregnant

All the lunch ideas on this list are void from the foods that you want to be avoiding during pregnancy, which actually might not be the ones that you’re used to hearing. And full of the top foods that you want to be adding into your prenatal diet regularly.

 

On top of that, all these rest lunch ideas for on the go are fast and easy to create and also work well with batch prepping. 

 

A few tricks that help you create batch meals for your pregnancy at work are as follows:

• First, do not fully prepare any sandwiches or wraps until the morning of (ideally) or the night before if necessary. Bread especially is not very forgiving with moisture. So instead prep everything you’re going to need for the sandwiches and wraps by either layering the ingredients as necessary or mixing up the center of it and leaving it in tupperware so that it only takes you a few seconds the morning of to slap some of that between bread and stick it in a reusable BPA free lunch bag for your work lunch.
• Another hack is subbing out breads or tortillas for a vegetable like lettuce, chard, or kale. This will actually increase the nutritional density of your wrap AND let you prep it further in advance. While pregnant you should be focusing on increasing the nutritional density of every meal beside pregnancy requires a huge increase in nutrients with only a slight increase in calories.

 

Also I am breaking up these recipes by cold packed ideas for work and hot packed lunch ideas for work.

 

Reason being is not everyone has access to a microwave at their job. Most of us do, but just in case you work outside you might only want to pay attention to the cold pregnancy lunch ideas for work below. Unless you’re weird like me and don’t mind cold soup.

 

Also always remember to pack extra during your pregnancy for your lunch at work. I found that a lot of times, especially early on in my pregnancy, I misjudged what my appetite would be. This left me running next door to Walmart during my break to grab anything as quickly as I could to munch on; and that is when you end up filling up with empty calories, overeating and becoming nauseous, or just not making the best choices overall.

 

Do not be afraid to pack too much food. This is when those healthy protein-filled snack ideas come into play. Think hard boiled eggs, nuts, healthy energy bars, your favorite pregnancy safe protein powder, or some string cheese.

 

The best hot easy packed lunch ideas for pregnant women

1. Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

2. Gluten Free Beef Stew

3. Ground Turkey Vegetable Soup

4. Easy Fish Tacos

5. Healthy Crockpot Pulled Pork

6. Gluten Free Eggplant Parmesan

7. Sweet Potato Zoodles with Garlic and Kale

The Best Healthy Cold Packed Lunch Ideas for Pregnant Women

1. Easy Chopped Salmon Salad

2. Easy Salmon Salad Recipe #2

3. Best Cobb Salad Recipe

4. Thai Zoodle Salad

5. Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

6. Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

7. Healthy Egg Salad

8. Healthy Vegetable Frittata Recipe

 

Wrapping Up the Best Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas for Pregnancy

Which of these is your favorite idea for your packed lunches? Rest assured these meals are filling and loaded with the nutrients you and your growing baby need for a healthy pregnancy!

 

Want some more amazing healthy lunch ideas (and other meals) for pregnancy? Check out:

• Healthy Pregnancy Lunches for Work
• The Healthy Pregnancy Lunch Idea Roundup
• The Best Breakfast Ideas for a Healthy Pregnancy and Baby

The post Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas for Pregnancy appeared first on .

What you eat while your are pregnant has a huge impact on the growth and development of your child. With these nutrient dense pregnancy lunch ideas for work, you will have delicious and nutritious lunch ideas for the whole week!

Why is Pregnancy Nutrition So Important?

We now know through the study of epigenetics during pregnancy that what you eat while pregnant has the power to change the way your growing baby’s genes are expressed.

Basically meaning you have the power to “turn on” good genes and “turn off” bad genes based upon your prenatal diet. 

Pretty amazing huh?

So knowing the right foods to eat while pregnant isn’t just about having a bump only pregnancy, it is actually ridiculously important for your baby’s development!

So if you are interested in knowing absolutely everything you could possibly want to know about optimal prenatal nutrition, check out the Perfect Pregnancy Plan now!

Why These Work Lunch Ideas for Pregnancy

When working while pregnant it is really important to pack a healthy lunch (in addition to lots of healthy snacks) Sure, picking up some fast food is most convenient while working, but even with healthier options like sandwiches and salads might have lots of extra hidden calories and for sure won’t be as nutrient dense as what you make at home.

You don’t need a bunch of extra calories when preggo… think about 300 extra calories a day on average. BUT you will need LOTS of extra nutrients (up to three times your prepregnancy requirement for some) and you’ll probably be super hungry too.

So this list of lunch ideas for work during pregnancy is based on nutrient dense meals that are also easy to batch create. It saves time and money. And when dealing with exhaustion during pregnancy, we all need that.

And don’t worry, these foods all have lots of ingredients listed in the Perfect Pregnancy Plan prenatal nutrition program. It’s such an awesome program because it not only explains what nutrients your baby needs and why, but it also tells you how much and even how to source those nutrients!

Related: What are moms and Doctors saying after taking the Perfect Pregnancy Plan?

The Best Pregnancy Lunch Ideas for Work

Taking care of the diet is during the whole pregnancy is very important. This is the time when you need the highest amounts of vitamins, iron and other nutrients for both yourself and your baby.

In this round up the healthiest but delicious recipes that are packed with nutrients and low carb, which will make your menu expand from plain boring to exciting. 

1. Salmon Salad: 

The recipe that we are referring to is seared salmon fillets with cucumber, feta cheese, tomato, olives, avocado, and red onion prepared by tossing it in a garlic and herb dressing. This is a very light meal that is not only delicious, but also vibrant and beautiful. 

Scared of fish while pregnant? Learn the top foods you need to eat to grow a healthy baby and you’ll be surprised!

You can find the complete recipe on this link: Salmon Salad

2. Nut Butter Overnight Oats: 

The best thing about this dish is that you don’t need to cook anything, and can whip it up quickly in a short amount of time.  It is so fast and easy. Line a whole row of your fridge with jars of these in only a few minutes! 

You can find the complete recipe on this link: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

3. Sheet Pan Tilapia And Roasted Veggies: 

Roasted veggies taste delicious, and prepared that way they fill you with satisfaction. Not only that, this recipe is very easy to follow, and does not require you to slave away in your kitchen for long. Plus it’s amazing for batch prepping!

You can find the complete recipe on this link: Sheet Pan Baked Tilapia Recipe  

 
4. Pumpkin Spice Pregnancy Smoothie: 

Only solid food dishes are not enough. Liquids like high protein shakes and smoothies will also be a wonderful addition to your daily food intake and are highly recommended in The PPP nutrition plan.

You can also experiment yourself by mixing up different fruits and vegetables to make smoothie, but the recipe given below is an ideal option while pregnant. 

You can find the complete recipe on this link: Pumpkin Spice Pregnancy Smoothie

5. Cobb Salad: 

Another salad recipe that consists of bacon, chicken, tomatoes, avocado, hard boiled eggs, blue cheese, chives. The addition of simple red wine vinegar dressing will finish off this traditional dish with a fresh zing. 

You can find the complete recipe on this link: https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/cobb-salad/ 

6. Lentil Soup: 

All you need are lentils and small a amount of bay leaves, and some spice extra flavorings with a dash of lemon to make this yummy dish!

You can find the complete recipe on this link: Lentil Soup

7. Low Carb Spinach Turkey Wrap: 

A very simple dish that can be used for quick lunches or even breakfast at work. It’s perfect for when you are out of time, as it does not take that long to make. Just not the best for batch creating, it can get soggy, but perfect for this list of lunch ideas for pregnancy because it’s still fast and easy.

You can find the complete recipe on this link: Low Carb Spinach Turkey Wrap

Wrapping Up the Best Lunch Ideas for Pregnancy

It does not matter which phase of your life are going through, having delicious and heavy food can help you stay healthy and happy. This roundup of different recipes was done with the intention of helping soon to be mothers to plan a diet that will be enjoyable as well as a source of necessary nutrients for them. 

You’ve now got a full week of healthy recipe ideas for work! Which one is your favorite?

More Prenatal Nutrition Articles You’ll Love

• 5 Surprising foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
• Is celery Juice Safe During Pregnancy?
• More Lunch Ideas for Pregnant Women

The post Pregnancy Lunch Ideas for Work appeared first on .

Are you considering the use of Maca while pregnant? There are many questions that women have regarding taking the maca root while pregnant.

Is Maca safe during pregnancy? Below will provide some key topics and points to consider before deciding if taking maca during pregnancy is something that you want to choose to do. 

**This post may contain affiliate links to items that I own and love and am confident will benefit you immensely. Please read the full disclosure here.**

What is Maca Root and What is it Used for?

More than likely, you’ve been hearing people talk about maca more frequently these past few years. It’s become more common to talk about and gaining traction as a point of conversation in the health food and nutrition industries. 

Maca root is the root of a plant that is naturally found growing in locations near and around the Andes Mountains.

There are a lot of different uses that people use Maca for but it’s important to point out that nothing is “proven” to be a guaranteed use or option that works or “treats” conditions. 

Some of the main ways that people have used maca for their own needs are:

• to try to help with infertility issues in men
• assist with health problems that arise from menopause
• and also potentially assist with helping bone health in women as well

Is Maca Safe During Pregnancy?

It’s important to know that while I am knowledgeable in prenatal nutrition, I am not a doctor. Please always consult your trusted physician before altering your prenatal diet.

The short answer about taking maca root during pregnancy (as with most adaptogens) is that there isn’t any definitive proof that it is – or isn’t – safe to take. There just haven’t been enough tests done on the use of maca root during pregnancy to clearly define whether or not it is safe to continue taking throughout your pregnancy.

I know many women personally who indeed have taken maca supplements or protein powders containing maca while pregnant and don’t know a single one who has had any complications or negative effects from doing so.

However the lack of testing means that it’s extremely important to talk to your doctor, nutritionist, or midwife and see what their medical opinion and knowledge is based on the subject and what decision is right for your pregnancy.

Keep in mind that many people do believe that changing up your diet or intake of certain foods/herbs for the first time during pregnancy might not be the best course of action. This is because you’re choosing a time to introduce something new and different to your system in a time that you’re wanting to be very careful about being safe and aware. 

RELATED: The Top Rated Protein Powders for Pregnancy to Grow a Healthier Baby

What are the Benefits of Maca Root While Pregnant?

Again, depending on what you and your physician talk about, there can be many benefits to taking maca root while pregnant that he or she might discuss with you.

One of the best potential benefits is to help try and balance out your pregnancy hormones.

We all know that during these months, your hormones are more than likely going to be all over the place so the thought of a bit of hormonal stability can be quite nice. 

Personally this is why I was instructed to take maca root the first time, as a hormone balancer.

Maca root can help you handle stress.

Pregnancy is a wonderful time but also a very stressful time for a multitude of reasons. Everything in your life is about to change. Finances, expenses, physical discomfort and more… pregnancy can be a stressful time!

Maca root is an adaptogen, meaning it is believed to help your body adapt to stress, anxiety, and depression over time with continuous use. It is known to help you adjust to dealing with the stresses of life and even pregnancy too.

Maca can give you a burst of energy.

And really who doesn’t need more energy during pregnancy?

Maca root may also benefit your bones during pregnancy.

Another potential benefit of maca root during pregnancy is that it may be able to give your bones a boost of nutrients during a time that your body is working on overtime to create that beautiful little baby in your tummy. 

It is vitally important to take care of your bones and get adequate nutrients for them throughout your pregnancy. If your body doesn’t have enough bone building nutrients throughout your gestation, it will be sure to divert them all to your baby. Even if your body has to pull from it’s own bones to do so.

Are There Any Risks with Using Maca During Pregnancy?

As with anything new and unproven, there are always risks.

One of the biggest risk factors of taking maca during pregnancy is that there aren’t any real studies out there that prove the effectiveness or safety of using it while pregnant. 

This means that there can also be potential side effects that happen as well and even more potential serious consequences since it’s a relatively untested herb for the pregnant population. 

RELATED: The Pros and Cons of Drinking Shakeology During Pregnancy (it even contains maca!)

The Importance of Pregnancy Nutrition

Pregnancy nutrition is something that unfortunately, women are not very educated about by their providers. But it’s no ones fault, pregnancy nutrition is not even an OBGYN’s specialty! In fact, you have to take special pregnancy nutrition programs and classes to become educated in the most up to date findings (and there are a ton of them in recent years) of prenatal nutritional requirements.

I am Certified in Lifestyle and Nutrition During Pregnancy and have helped to educate thousands of new mothers of the most up-to-date and revolutionary prenatal advice!

After discovering how many mamas wanted to know how to best benefit their baby’s health and genetic makeup with their prenatal diet, I created a revolutionary easy to understand prenatal nutrition program that is available now!

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan is made up of two parts to help you have an amazing pregnancy experience and keep your body strong and healthy during pregnancy and after as well.

One part of the plan focuses on fitness while the other part focuses on nutrition. And the entire plan is geared towards helping pregnant women live their best pregnancy life every single day while helping to grow the healthiest baby possible.

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan Nutrition Program takes all the guesswork out of what you need to know about prenatal nutrition. It is based on dozens and dozens of studies of epigenetics during pregnancy. But instead of boring you with a bunch of scientific mumbo jumbo, I break it all down into an informative but easy to understand and even better, easy to implement format. 

Taking control of your body during your pregnancy is one of the best things that you can do to help with your child’s genetic makeup and development.

It also gives you great health knowledge, good nutrition choices, and a calming sense that you’re doing everything in your power to have a healthy and optimal pregnancy experience. 

Wrapping Up Maca During Pregnancy

If you’re serious about wanting to introduce the use of maca during your pregnancy, make certain to talk to your doctor or trusted healthcare provider and together make a plan on how to use it, when to use it, and take the time to educate yourself on the potential positives and negatives as well. 

As long as you ask the questions and formulate a plan with your health care provider, you can then feel better knowing that you’re educated on all the choices and options that are available. 

If maca root is something you would like to try using during pregnancy after chatting with your trusted healthcare provider, you can pick up some great varieties that are rightly rated on Amazon.

Other Pregnancy Nutrition Articles You’ll Love 

• The Benefits of Exercising During Pregnancy and How To Do It 
• How to Have A Non Toxic Pregnancy 
• 8 Healthy Foods For Your Pregnancy That Are Absolutely Delicious 

Maca Root While Pregnant

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Have you ever asked yourself “Can I drink celery juice while pregnant?” If so, you’re not alone. Being pregnant means that there are certain foods that you need to be aware of that you can and can’t eat and drink. If you’re looking for answers on whether or not you can drink celery juice during pregnancy, this post will answer those questions and give you the tips and advice you need. 

**This post may contain affiliate links to items that I own and love and am confident will benefit you immensely. Please read the full disclosure here.**

What is Celery Juice and Why Do You Drink it?

Drinking celery juice is actually a popular beverage of choice for many lately. It is so in vogue to drink celery juice first thing in the morning, that recently stores were completely sold out of celery! It’s been said to be a great addition to improve the health of your digestive tract as well as a natural laxative to help with other types of digestive issues. 

According to Healthline (as well as other reputable sources) that drinking celery juice daily has many impressive health benefits which include:

1. That celery is nutritionally dense. Low in calories and sugars and high in nutrients.
2. Celery juice is proven to have anti-inflammatory properties.
3. It contains many antioxidants which are known to be beneficial to the skin.
4. Celery juice is linked to diets shown to lower rates of chronic ailments such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
5. It is known to be especially good for the digestive tract.
6. Eating celery regularly is known to lower blood pressure.

In addition to the many health benefits, those who are trying to cut calories while still drinking a delicious and healthy beverage often find that celery juice is refreshing and hits the spot. The added nutrients and health benefits tend to be just an additional perk. 

Is Celery Juice Safe While Pregnant?

There does seem to be mixed opinions on this. Many pregnant women have stated that they drank celery juice throughout their pregnancy and had no issues at all. However, if you’re asking if you can drink celery juice while pregnant, I would definitely read through this entire article as I divulge all the pros and potential cons of drinking celery juice during your gestation. Then you can truly decide whether or not drinking celery juice during pregnancy is right for you.

As with any type of cold-pressed juice, it’s not going through any type of filtration or pasteurization process to remove anything potentially harmful. This doesn’t mean celery juice should be a deal-breaker, but it is something to be aware of. 

Though not often talked about, you are much more likely to contract e. coli or salmonella from fresh fruits and vegetables than even eggs. Which is what we are all conditioned to think of when such diseases come to mind.

Unfortunately in a contaminated substance, E. coli and salmonella can only partially be washed off from produce. E. coli can cross the placenta and cause a lot of damage and salmonella may do some as well. That is not said to deter you from making fresh fruits and veggies a huge part of your prenatal diet plan (because you need to!) instead be sure you trust the source and always wash them thoroughly with a fruit and vegetable cleaner while pregnant.

RELATED: How to Best Avoid Common Toxins While Pregnant

Celery is usually super high on the “dirty dozen.” The list of the 12 fruits and vegetables highest in pesticides. When you juice it those pesticides are all going right into your juice! Some can be washed off, but because of the nature of celery and how much water it sucks up inside it, there is probably a lot inside your typical store-bough celery as well.

That being said: in order for your celery juice to be safe for consumption during pregnancy it needs to be organic celery juice or juiced at home using organic celery. 

What are the Benefits of Celery Juice vs Celery

Adding celery juice to your daily routine can actually add a ton of health benefits! There’s a reason that this veggie is constantly used to eat raw and cooked up in other recipes, too!

In addition to being packed full of nutrients, celery juice can help to give digestive relief and has the potential to aid in numerous facets such as lowering cholesterol and improving heart health.

What Nutrients Are in Celery that are Beneficial During Pregnancy

Celery juice contains a lot of great nutrients and vitamins vital to growing a healthy baby. These include:

• vitamin A
• vitamin K
• folate
• potassium
• vitamin C.

Your growing baby needs a good deal of naturally sourced vitamin A to support brain, heart, respiratory, and eye development.

Vitamin C is great for helping to keep the immune system strong (which is naturally weakened by pregnancy) and fighting off those seasonal viruses and colds. But for your baby, vitamin C helps to protect your it’s tissues from damage, helps build collagen, and helps create your baby’s neurotransmitters.

Folate is well-known for preventing neural tube defects. You may have heard it referred to as “folic acid.” Learn the difference between folate and folic acid and why it’s imperative you know the difference for your baby’s proper growth.

How Can Celery Juice Benefit me While Pregnant?

Adding celery juice to your healthy routine can actually benefit you in a few different ways.

First and foremost, you’re doing what you can to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients and health benefits that you might need an extra boost in. Anything you can do to increase the nutritional density of your diet while pregnant you should consider adding in!

Secondly, it’s no secret that women deal with constipation issues quite frequently throughout their pregnancy. Being able to use celery juice as a natural laxative option when you’re limited on taking other pills during pregnancy is a great way to find relief using a healthy method. 

The Importance of Pregnancy Nutrition

One of the biggest things that you can do during your pregnancy is to pay attention to your body and its needs. Believe it or not, your body will talk to you and let you in on clues on what it’s craving and needing if you take the time to slow down and listen. Crazy, right?

The more that you can fill your body with healthy nutrients during your pregnancy, the easier your pregnancy is going to go. I’m a firm believer of this because I’ve actually gone to school to become certified in prenatal nutrition in addition to reading well beyond those classes dozens of scientific studies related to prenatal health.

This is also why I’m super passionate about the Perfect Pregnancy Plan. The most revolutionary prenatal diet plan in 2021. This plan actually has two parts to it. One focuses on fitness, and one focuses on nutrition. Both are geared towards helping you have the best pregnancy experience and healthiest baby possible.

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan Nutrition Program is an absolute game-changer. EVERYTHING that you need to know about all the most up to date findings on prenatal nutrition, you’ll find here.

And if you’re wondering how this diet plan was put together, it is based around the most recent studies of epigenetics during pregnancy. The studies that reveal everything we know about how what you eat and when during your gestation will directly effect the genetic makeup of your child.

Powerful stuff!

Not only that, but this nutrition plan breaks it all down in a super to easy use format that actually helps ALL moms help with their child’s genetic makeup and development. 

Being able to take control of your body to give your baby the best health outcome is a liberating and amazing experience. This allows you to take charge of your body, your nutrition, and also your peace of mind. 

Wish you knew what real moms and a bunch of doctors have to say about this prenatal nutrition and fitness plan?? Read their reviews of the Perfect Pregnancy Plan now!

Wrapping Up If I Can Drink Celery Juice While Pregnant

Drinking celery juice during pregnancy is a good idea as long as you take the steps to make certain that you’re cleaning it and getting it prepped and ready properly to drink while pregnant. Remember that a small amount can go a long way and provide your body with simple daily nutrients that can help you have a better overall pregnancy and healthy outcome.

Celery juice can be a wonderful drink to add into your pregnancy nutrition plan. There are lots of other ideal drinks for pregnancy besides water as well.

Remember, having a solid grasp of prenatal nutrition by following a resource like The Perfect Pregnancy Plan can make having a healthy pregnancy and baby so much easier!

Other Pregnancy Nutrition Articles You’ll Love

• The Benefits of Exercising During Pregnancy and How To Do It 
• How to Have A Non Toxic Pregnancy 
• 8 Healthy Foods For Your Pregnancy That Are Absolutely Delicious 

Can I Drink Celery Juice During Pregnancy?

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In this article we are going to discuss the pros and cons of using Shakeology protein powder during your pregnancy. If you search the web or reach out to your trusted physician or nutritionist you might be surprised by what you hear about Shakeology during pregnancy. In fact there’s a lot of contradicting information out there. So what’s right?

Pretty sure by the end of this article all your questions will be answered and you’ll know exactly whether or not you are comfortable with drinking Shakeology throughout your gestation.

**This post may contain affiliate links to items that I own and am confident will benefit you immensely. Please read full disclosure here.**

Who am I and Why am I Talking About Shakeology During Pregnancy?

• around 70 superfoods
• adaptogens
• digestive enzymes
• prebiotics
• probiotics
• and has a crazy low glycemic index rating

• the macronutrients
• the micronutrients
• also how to source them

that you need during your gestation.

Did you even know that we now know that what you eat during pregnancy has a direct effect on the morbidity and mortality of your baby? That what you eat if you know how to properly nourish that little growing thing can turn on and off their genes? Predisposing them to disease or making them less apt to suffer from it?

Epigenetics during pregnancy information should be given to every pregnant woman because we now know so much in 2021! Get your hands on the Perfect Pregnancy Plan now so that you can give your baby the best ability for a long and healthy life.

So how does Shakeology tie into prenatal nutrition?

The Pros of Drinking Shakeology During Pregnancy

Probiotics in Shakeology During Pregnancy

Digestive Enzymes in Shakeology for Pregnancy

Shakeology Can Help Ease Nausea During Pregnancy

Folate in Shakeology

Superfoods in Shakeology

Greens and Shakeology for Pregnancy

The Cons of Drinking Shakeology During Pregnancy

Adaptogens During Pregnancy

Sugar in Shakeology

Shakeology for Weight Loss

Wrapping up Is Shakeology Safe During Pregnancy? The pros and cons.

Other Pregnancy Nutrition Resources You’ll Love

• 5 Foods You Want to Eat Daily to Grow a Healthier Baby
• Pumpkin Spice Pregnancy Smoothie
• The Top Protein Powders for Pregnant Women

The Pros and Cons of Drinking Shakeology While Pregnant

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When you are pregnant what you eat is vitally important to proper fetal growth and development. These delicious lunch ideas for pregnant women are all loaded with the nutrients you need to grow a more healthy baby.

**This post may contain affiliate links to items that I own and adore and am confident will benefit you immensely. See full disclosure here.**

The Best Lunch Ideas for Pregnant Women

Congratulations on your pregnancy! This is such an exciting and important time for yourself and your growing baby!

Now I’m guessing that by landing here, you already know that there are some dietary restrictions as well as certain foods that you should eat more of during pregnancy to best benefit your baby. Feel free to check out:

• 5 Foods You Should Eat Every Day During Pregnancy
• 5 Surprising Foods You Should Avoid at All Costs While Pregnant

Taking a high quality prenatal vitamin with real folate is super important from the time you discover that you are pregnant. Actually from a month before conception is even better! But where the bulk of your nutrients need to come from is your diet!

RELATED: What is folate vs. folic acid and how to pick a prenatal whose nutrients your body can absorb.

That is much easier said than done when you’re dealing with morning sickness, feel like vomiting whenever you smell meat, and want nothing but ice cream for lunch most days. Maybe with a side of pickles? (What is with that anyways? I’ve never craved ice cream and pickles together and I’ve made it through three pregnancies! Have you?)

You are your baby’s sole provider of the nutrients it needs to grow every cell in it’s body. Every meal is an opportunity to nourish your growing baby.

Though your caloric needs only increase slightly during pregnancy, your nutritional needs often triple! 

So it is super important to eat delicious, satisfying, and nutrient dense foods throughout your pregnancy. These lunch ideas for pregnant women are built around exactly that:

the nutrients that your growing baby requires for optimal fetal growth.

The Importance of Healthy Lunch Ideas for Pregnant Women

The most revolutionary and up to date prenatal nutrition program for women is called The Perfect Pregnancy Plan. It is the only prenatal nutrition program designed specifically with your baby’s exact nutritional needs in mind.

We now know through the study of epigenetics during pregnancy that what you eat while pregnant has the power to change the way your growing baby’s genes are expressed.

Basically meaning you have the power to “turn on” good genes and “turn off” bad genes based upon your prenatal diet. 

Pretty amazing huh?

So if you are interested in knowing absolutely everything you could possibly want to know about optimal prenatal nutrition, check out the Perfect Pregnancy Plan now!

All of these absolutely mouthwatering lunches for pregnant women would align perfectly with the Perfect Pregnancy Plan diet and will help to meet your baby’s high nutritional needs.

The Best Healthy Lunch Ideas for Pregnant Women

1. Fritata

Quick and Easy Fritata from Carlsbad Cravings

Some people think of eggs as only being for breakfast but they are a far cry from it when you make this delicious fritata for your lunch or even dinner while pregnant!

Making a large fritata is a great way to have leftovers absolutely loaded with the best source of choline for your growing baby… eggs!

2. Grilled Salmon Salad

Grilled Salmon Salad from Delightful E Made Simple

This salad is absolutely loaded with the nutrients that are ideal for optimal prenatal nutrition for your growing baby! This salad is filled with tons of the top foods that you should be earing regularly during your pregnancy: spinach, avocado, salmon, eggs, and more!

Enjoy this perfect lunch for pregnant women as often as you’d like and feel confident you are helping your baby’s genetics the best you can!

3. White Bean and Kale Soup

White Bean and Kale Soup with Parmesan from Picky Eater Blog

This soup is a perfect lunch for your pregnancy because it is loaded with calcium. Did you know parmesan has more calcium than any other cheese?

White beans are one type of bean loaded with nutrition and has very high levels of folate, magnesium, and vitamin B6. And we all know kale is a great source of tons of micronutrients these days!

4. Slow Cooker Gluten Free Eggplant Parmesan

Gluten Free Slow Cooker Eggplant Parmesan from Wendy Polisi

This list of perfect lunches for your pregnancy is not only based on their nutritional value. I also selected these because of their ease in preparation and that most of them make multiple meals!

During your pregnancy you are going to be tired. So these nutritious meals are simple to make and you will have leftovers!

This gluten free eggplant parmesan is loaded with calcium (remember, parmesan has more than any other cheese.) It is a good idea to eat lower carbs during your pregnancy as a high carbohydrate diet has been known to be detrimental to the fetus.

5. Anti Nausea Pregnancy Smoothie

No More Nausea Pregnancy Smoothie from Swaddles n. Bottles

Pregnancy smoothies are a great idea to include in your prenatal diet. In fact in the most revolutionary prenatal nutrition program as of 2020 (and the most straightforward and easy to understand) The Perfect Pregnancy Plan, pregnancy smoothies are encouraged!

This recipe is great for breakfast or lunch, especially during the first trimester when morning sickness tends to be the most prevalent.

6. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork from Kim’s Cravings

You will see a lot of slow cooker recipes in this list of the best lunches for pregnant women. This is because slow cooking meat increases the glycine in it, which is vital to DNA synthesis of your baby! Pretty cool huh?

So this slow cooker pork is perfect to enjoy during your pergnancy! You can get creative with the bread too. Try gluten free breads, a corn tortilla, or cabbage leaves.

7. Classic Split Pea Soup

Classic Split Pea Soup from My Gourmet Connections

Once again this recipe is amazing for your pregnancy for so many reasons! 

First slow cooked meat, second it’s fast and easy, and tons of other nutrients! If you have any doubts about eating ham while pregnant, know that risks of Listeria are removed if the meat is heated to steaming. And while slow cooking the meat will be steaming for hours! But if you are still leery, you can always leave the ham out.

8. Lamb Flatbreads

Leftover Lamb Flatbread from the Hungry Bluebird

Meat is an irreplaceable source of many of the nutrients that your growing baby requires in high amounts.

So why not switch it up with something more creative than normal like these delicious lamb flatbreads! Once again, you can replace up the wraps themselves with other alternatives if you like.

9. Pumpkin Spice Pregnancy Smoothie

Pumpkin Spiced Pregnancy Smoothie from The Perfect Pregnancy Plan

Pregnancy smoothies like this should be included in your prenatal diet up to every day!

This post is awesome because it teaches you exactly what you want to add to every pregnancy smoothie to make it a full meal (I would still add a snack with it like an apple, handful of nuts, or slice of cheese) that is loaded with the nutrients your baby needs all in one glass!

Wrapping Up Healthy Lunch Ideas for Pregnant Women

These lunch ideas are perfect for your pregnancy because they are more than just delicious and satisfying; each of these lunch meals also contains key nutrients that your baby needs in super high amounts to grow optimally.

Foods like salmon, eggs, oysters, and steak are some of the highest sources for vital nutrients that your baby needs exorbitant amounts of for proper development.

If you want over 80 more recipes that are delicious and loaded with the nutrients you should be eating throughout your pregnancy, pick up The Perfect Pregnancy Plan now so you know exactly how to eat for optimal fetal growth and development.

Related Healthy Pregnancy Resources from The Perfect Pregnancy Plan

• Prenatal Pilates for any Trimester
• How to Exercise Safely and Effectively During Pregnancy
• What Moms are Saying About The Perfect Pregnancy Nutrition Plan

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