Prenatal Nutrition: Cottage Cheese, V-8 Fusion and 8 Other Healthy Treats

Standing in front of my fridge, taking inventory of my family's diet, I feel a sharp twinge of disgust. I need to make some real changes to our diet, particularly to mine. On the bottom shelf sits a case of cola. The next shelf up contains milk and juice. Unused produce that needs to be thrown out stuffs the bottom drawers, and the rest is filled with condiments. In the freezer, I find several cheap, frozen meals. The kitchen cupboards are overflowing with top ramen and junk food. The food I buy for my 18-month-old stands alone as the only healthy, edible food in the house, other than the milk and juice. But then, they count more as beverages than as food, right? This is no way for a pregnant woman to eat.

Oddly enough, I know what it means to eat healthfully, I just don't do it unless my body happens to provide nourishment to another. Why? Eating healthy takes more time, effort, and thought than shoving a frozen meal in the microwave. Also, frozen meals can be nutritious.... that is if you're not deliberately choosing the cheapest one on the shelf. I'm afraid I have mom syndrome. That is the condition of spending much more time and money on one's children than on one's self. Thankfully for nine plus months every couple of years or so until I am done having children I will be forced to take much better care of myself. Heaven help me once I'm through having kids.

For a lot of expectant moms time stands the key issue when it comes to proper prenatal nutrition. Many have jobs and other children and don't have time to prepare elaborate meals for breakfast lunch and dinner. Here I've provided a top ten list of my favorite things for making pregnancy eating healthful and easy.

1. Ensure Healthy Mom Drinks: My number one favorite pregnancy food. These drinks are packed with the nutrients that expectant moms need. They make a great compliment to an easy breakfast like a bagel and banana or just a quick snack to help keep your blood sugar stable.

2. Hillshire Farms Entree Salads: I love a good salad for lunch, but preparing all of the ingredients for a chef salad can be time consuming so I often turn to a frozen meal that I can throw in my purse. These salad kits come in a Gladware container filled with all of the ingredients for a tasty salad minus the lettuce and make it super easy to get some veges in for lunch. All you need is a bag of greens. Be sure to steer clear of Ice Burg varieties because they contain very few nutrients. The darker the greens the better for your baby.

3. Sams Choice Clear American Sparkling Water: If you're a Soda drinker, there has never been a better time to cut back, particularly if you drink a caffeinated variety. But if you're like me and mainly crave the sweetness and the bubbles, these sparkling waters are low in sugar and contain no caffeine or sodium. They also count toward your water consumption unlike sodas which is great for pregnant women who need to be consuming at least sixty four ounces of water daily. Find them at Wal-Mart.

4. Barilla Plus Pastas: Pasta dishes are a staple in our household because they require little time or effort, but rather than pick up the low quality/ low nutrition varieties I opt for a better choice. This pasta is fortified with protein and Omega 3 essential fatty acids which makes it a superior alternative to other brands.

5. Dannon La' Creme and Activia Yogurts: Pregnant women need to increase their dairy consumption and yogurt is my favorite way to do this. La' Creme's thick and creamy texture make it a real treat. Activia may help relieve constipation which is common in pregnant women because their digestive tract slows down in order to allow maximum nutrient absorption.

6. Danactive Immunity Drinks: Another great way to increase your dairy, these little yogurt drinks contain probiotics that strengthen the immune system which is naturally weakened during pregnancy in order to prevent the immune system from attacking the baby. Another plus is that consumption of yogurt cultures in pregnant women has been shown to reduce the occurrence of eczema in infants.

7. Cottage Cheese: Any brand will do. This is a great snack, side dish, or breakfast. Most people are lacking protein in their diets and cottage cheese is a great way to boost protein without cooking up a slab of meat. A light snack consisting of protein and carbohydrates at bedtime can help alleviate morning sickness so try eating it with some fruit or carrot sticks before bed.

8. Fruit and Cheese Slices: A quick and easy snack to throw in a baggy and take to work or in the car while you run errands. Eat it when your feeling sluggish instead of chips, candy, or cookies because natural sugars from fruits can boost your energy.

9. V-8 Fusion: If you're like me and you have a hard time getting your vegetables in, but aren't particularly fond of the original V-8 this juice will save you. It packs one full serving of fruit and one full serving of vegetables into each eight ounce glass and tastes great.

10. Lunchables: Another great option option for that bedtime snack or any time of the day. These quick and easy mini meals are not just for kids.

Okay, so that's my pregnancy nutrition top ten list. It's not as entertaining as a Letterman Show list, but it will certainly make eating healthfully as an expectant mom a lot easier.