Pregnancy

Article

Your pregnancy snack selector

Moms-to-be in their second and third trimesters need to think about adding a few more calories to their diets — make them healthy ones with these nutritious snack ideas.

3 mins to read Dec 31, 2021

Hungry? While you don’t need more calories than normal (around 2000 for moderately active women aged between 18 and 50) during your first trimester you’ll need around 340 extra calories during your second trimester, and 450 extra calories during your third trimester. Getting these extra calories by eating nutritious meals and snacks from a variety of healthy foods (like fruit & vegetables, whole grains, and meat/fish/protein foods) will help support your baby’s healthy growth and development – both in your womb and in later life. But what does that number of extra calories look like in healthy food? Select your pregnancy stage then click on one of the six calorie-counted snacks for a quick, easy-to-make recipe that’s both nutritious and delicious!

Your pregnancy stage

Click on your trimester below for calorie-counted snack ideas:

First trimester

Second trimester

Third trimester

First trimester: 0 extra calories

It may surprise you to know that, if you are at a healthy weight starting pregnancy, you don’t need any extra calories in your first trimester —but you can make every calorie count by choosing nutrient-rich foods. Eating a variety of healthy foods will have a positive impact on your baby today and in the future. Find out more by reading Food choices for a healthy pregnancy.

Second trimester: 340 extra calories per day

Check what’s in your fridge or pantry then click on the snack you’d like to eat today…

Flatbread and hummus selection

Any-time-of-day breakfast

Cheese and cracker platter

Very berry yogurt

Second helpings

Not tempted by any of these five mini-meal ideas? Create your own mix-and-match snacks from The 100 List and make sure you're getting the extra calories you need the healthy way!

Flatbread and hummus selection

Any-time-of-day breakfast

Cheese and cracker platter

Very berry yogurt

Second helpings

Diet during pregnancy_06_LEARN_snack selector_08_100List_900px ENG

Third trimester: 450 extra calories per day

Check what’s in your fridge or pantry then click on the snack you’d like to eat today…

Flatbread and hummus selection

Any-time-of-day breakfast

Cheese and cracker platter

Very berry yogurt

Second helpings

Not tempted by any of these five mini-meal ideas? Create your own mix-and-match snacks from The 100 List and make sure you're getting the extra calories you need the healthy way!

Flatbread and hummus selection

Any-time-of-day breakfast

Cheese and cracker platter

Very berry yogurt

Second helpings

Sources

Institute of Medicine Food & Nutrition Board 2006. Dietary Reference Intake: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. In: Otten, J.J., Hellwig, J.P. & Meyers, L.D. (Eds.). Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences.

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