When pregnant, nausea is one of the many symptoms you may experience, and it does not only happen in the morning – some women may experience it all throughout the day. Feeling queasy can impact your ability to take in the nutrients needed for both you and your baby, so doing what you can to help mitigate nausea is important. Fortunately, both how and what you eat may help relieve this symptom.
The below meal, snack, and recipe ideas may help alleviate nausea, including Vitamin B6, ginger, and citrus. Other ways to help manage this symptom include eating frequent, small portions as well as choosing low fat foods. As always, be sure to meet your fluid needs, which for pregnancy is ten 8 ounce cups per day.
Vitamin B6 is found in both animal proteins such as tuna*, turkey, beef, chicken, and salmon; as well as in plants such as sweet potato, cabbage, winter squash, pinto beans, avocado, lentils, sunflower seeds, spinach, and bananas.
Pro tip:
- Try nibbling on a mild yet nutritious food like citrus fruits or whole grain crackers throughout the day.
- Choosing meals and snacks from the below might help manage your morning sickness while still including healthy food choices!
Breakfast
- Option 1: Strawberry Banana Smoothie made with low fat yogurt, milk or milk alternative
- Option 2: Whole grain toast with sunflower seed butter and a sliced grapefruit
- Option 3: Oatmeal, sliced peaches and walnuts
- Option 4: High fiber cereal, low fat milk or milk alternative, berries
- Option 5: Whole grain toast topped with mashed avocado and a squeeze of lemon
Lunch
- Option 1: Baby spinach salad with canned salmon, dried cranberries, walnuts, and ginger dressing
- Option 2: Whole grain bread, canned chunk-light tuna* made with chopped veggies, seasoning, and light mayo or olive oil; apple
- Option 3: Whole grain wrap with turkey**, avocado, hummus, and spinach
- Option 4: Low-fat plain yogurt with sliced almonds, and blueberries
- Option 5: Whole grain pasta mixed with your favorite veggies like peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms tossed with olive oil and vinegar
Dinner
- Option 1: Oven roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans
- Option 2: Grilled or baked salmon, spinach salad with sunflower seeds, brown rice
- Option 3: Roast turkey, roasted winter squash, quinoa
- Option 4: Spaghetti sauce with ground beef or turkey, whole grain pasta and sautéed spinach
- Option 5: Bean tacos with corn tortillas, black beans, chopped tomatoes, sliced peppers, salsa
Snacks
- Option 1: Fresh steeped ginger tea: peel and cut up a 1-inch cube of fresh ginger. Steep in hot water for about 5-10 minutes. Drink with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (drink throughout day as desired with snacks/meals or between)
- Option 2: Avocado-Bean salad: chopped avocado, pinto beans, chopped bell pepper, chopped carrots, sunflower seeds, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Option 3: Cottage cheese with diced pineapple
- Option 4: Banana and nut butter
- Option 5: Whole grain crackers
*Pregnant women should eat no more than 6 ounces of high mercury fish per week
**If using deli turkey, be sure to heat in pan or microwave until steaming
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