Optimum health depends on a healthy, balanced diet but some foods offer a little more nutritional “oomph” than others. Our nutritional needs stay about the same throughout adulthood except during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when a mom’s diet can set the stage for a lifetime of good health for her child. A recent story from ABC News identifies these five foods as holistic ways to enjoy daily before and during pregnancy but they’re so delicious and nutritious you’ll want to enjoy them long after the breastfeeding has ended.
Avocado
- The monounsaturated fats like those in avocados have been shown to increase IVF success by three times. Enjoy this baby-happy food sliced in sandwiches and chopped or diced in omelettes or tossed in salads.
- Mash it up and use it as a mayo substitute on sandwiches or spice it up into guacamole.
- Serve guacamole with thinly sliced rounds of bread, cucumber, and carrot or celery sticks instead of greasy, salty chips.
- Drop avo chunks into chicken or veggie soups.
Buckwheat
- The rutin in buckwheat strengthens the circulatory system, the better to supply vital nutrients to a developing baby.
- Find Japanese soba noodles and other buckwheat-based noodles in Asian markets. Use it instead of traditional spaghetti noodles or break it into smaller pieces to replace macaroni, penne, and other wheat-based pastas.
- Buckwheat groats are great for breakfast, too.
- Buckwheat’s a grass, not a grain, so there’s no gluten to worry about.
Cinnamon
- Cinnamon is a mildly-spicy way to regulateblood sugar. Sprinkle it on breakfast cereals, in coffee or milk, and over yogurt and ice cream. It’s a common ingredient in savory foods from South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East so enjoy ethnic often.
Eggs
- Egg yolks supply progesterone and vitamins needed for strong bones and teeth. Enjoy eggs as usual for breakfast but include them in sandwiches and on burgers, too.
- Snack on deviled eggs or serve egg salad as a dip for fresh veggies and baked pita chips.
- Add boiled eggs, sliced or chopped, to salads and to garnish side dishes.
Sunflower Seeds
- Buy just the kernels for easy access to the many beneficial nutrients in sunflower seeds. Sprinkle them on salads, soups, baked potatoes, in sandwiches...just about anywhere a little healthy crunch is desired.
Mix It All Up / Buckwheat Noodle Soup
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Cook buckwheat noodles in a hearty soup stock that’s been seasoned with a pinch of ground cinnamon, black pepper, minced garlic, and a splash of worcestershire or soy sauce.
- Use a long-handled cooking spoon to stir the soup once the noodles are done. When the soup is swirling, slowly pour a raw egg or two into the pot like making egg drop soup.
- Enjoy your buckwheat noodle soup warm and garnished with avocado and sunflower seeds.