The Best Foods to Eat While Pregnant

Eating right during pregnancy ensures your growing lil one gets all the good stuff she needs for healthy development. And if you're dealing with morning — or all-day — sickness, certain healthy eats can be hard to stomach. You might be surprised that some of the best foods to eat while you're expecting aren't what you expect and might already be some of your favorite things to nosh! Stay on track with your health and your growing baby's development by adding these healthy eats to your daily diet. Source: Flickr user cowb0y2000

Red Pepper
Flickr user calliope

Red Pepper

Snack on freshly sliced red pepper or add it to your favorite pasta or rice dish for a big boost of vitamins A, C, and B6. Or roast and then puree, creating a wonderful sauce for chicken or fish! Not a fan? Other choices high in vitamin C include kiwi and oranges.

Yogurt
Flickr user Veganbaking.net

Yogurt

A cup of plain yogurt has as much calcium as a cup of milk but is packed with healthy probiotics, which help keep your tummy happy. Yogurt is also packed with protein, making a big bowl of the creamy stuff even better for you and your growing lil one! It's suggested that pregnant mamas get 1,000 to 1,300 mg of calcium daily, so scoop up a bowl and top with fruit or honey for a sweet treat.

Hard-Boiled Eggs
POPSUGAR Photography

Hard-Boiled Eggs

A hard-boiled egg offers tons of protein for you as well as your growing babe. With a low-calorie count (only 90 calories per egg), eggs are also high in choline, which promotes your growing babe's overall growth and brain health. Slice hard-boiled eggs and layer with thinly cut cucumber on crisp whole-wheat crackers for a quick snack.

Salmon
Flickr user randychiu

Salmon

Fatty fish provide your growing tot with much needed omega-3 fats. Salmon is a healthy, low-mercury fish and safe for you and your baby, but stick to less than 12 ounces per week. Bake or steam salmon with fresh herbs for a healthy lunch or dinner that's easy on the tummy!

Popcorn
Flickr user mythoto

Popcorn

Pop a few kernels and enjoy a bowl drizzled with vegetable oil and dusted with salt. Popcorn is a grain and full of healthy fiber and vitamin E. Don't forget to include other good grains, such as oatmeal, quinoa, and barley, in your pregnancy diet. And when not drizzled with loads of butter, fresh popcorn is a great low-calorie snack!

Kale
Flickr user jules

Kale

All dark-colored vegetables are healthy options while pregnant, but kale is packed full of vitamins A, C, and K, which are beneficial in promoting eye health and your babe's growing bones. Simply wash then steam chopped kale and toss with a balsamic vinegar dressing for a tasty side dish.

Walnuts
Flickr user Pauline Mak

Walnuts

Crack a few nuts and enjoy the sweet flavor while your growing babe benefits from omega-3 fats as well as healthy protein. Not a fan of walnuts? Try almonds or cashews. Nuts are a great snack for pregnant ladies, perfect for taking on the go.

Sweet Potatoes
Flickr user elton_e_photography

Sweet Potatoes

Fried, mashed, or baked, sweet potatoes are all around great for baby! With a wonderfully sweet flavor and an easy-on-the-budget cost, adding sweet potatoes to your next meal provides your growing baby with tons of vitamin C, folate, and fiber. Scrub fresh sweet potatoes, prick with a fork, and simply bake until fork tender!