The meals that make up your pregnancy diet have to be nutritious and healthy, and this is where the best cereals for pregnancy come in. Cereals are an important part of our diet and you should be consuming the best available. Research has shown that the quality of the kind of meals pregnant women eat has an effect on their baby.
If you want a positive effect with a healthy baby, you should eat the best when eating cereals during pregnancy. But, how can you know the best without first understanding what it’s made of? This article will put you through the 15 best cereals for pregnancy based on the advice of Moms as well as what they are made of and what they can be eaten with.
What Are Best Cereals for Pregnancy?
Before we go over to the best cereal foods you can go for while pregnant, it is important to have a brief proper knowledge of what cereal food is, while understanding their benefits and how they are beneficial to pregnancy and the pregnant women as well as the new baby.
What Is Cereal Food?
Cereal foods are grain based foods with proven health and nutritional benefits. They are of four types: wheat, oats, rye and barley.
This carbohydrate rich food source gives the body a lot more energy than any other food crop. The whole grain forms are rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, oils and fats. However, due to its low protein, calcium and Vitamin A properties, it should be consumed along with foods and fruits that complement this deficiency.
Certain forms of cereals are more readily available in certain regions around the world and during certain seasons. While planning a pregnancy, you can buy and store the best forms available so you’ll have access to a variety during your pregnancy.
It’s no news that a lot of women experience food aversion in pregnancy. Having a large and varied amount in stock will enable you to pick your favorite from the range cereals available during pregnancy.
The most common sources of cereals that you can get include: whole grain, sorghum, barley, corn, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, triticale and wheat. Get the various types and try out new recipes that your taste buds will be grateful for.
Even though they contain fibre and vitamins like zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine, they are notorious for causing nutritional deficiency related diseases. So the recipes you try should create room to complement these deficiencies with other classes of food.
Benefits Of Cereals
Cereals are important food subclass that are needed by the body. It performs a variety of functions that are beneficial in pregnancy.
Research has attributed the consumption of cereals to decreased risk of getting diseases like cancer, constipation, colon disorders and high blood sugar levels. The health of the mother affects the health of her child. Cereals can be an important part of the diet as the right quantity must be eaten daily to provide the body with the nutrients it contains.
Cereals also enrich the body with fats, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals that contribute to the body’s immunity and its ability to fight diseases. The immune levels during pregnancy must be kept high as any disease developed can put both the mother and child at risk.
They have also been found to be good for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. High blood cholesterol leads to coronary heart diseases and even heart attacks. Consuming cereals can help check this.
Fatigue is a common problem in pregnancy. Cereals have the capacity to replenish your energy levels to enable you complete your day-to-day activities. A high energy level would be helpful in managing the uncontrollable fatigue that you may experience in pregnancy.
A daily consumption will also help in providing your body’s fibre needs. This will ensure the optimal functioning of your body.
Cereals also aid digestion. A lot of women suffer from constipation in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Eating whole cereals and other forms could ease bowel movements.
They also strengthen the formation of your baby’s bones and prevent the depletion of your own bone strength as your body tries to make room for your baby. The additional protein that cereals provides the body with, build up the muscles and tissues.
The mineral composition of cereals provide nutrients that helps to maintain a steady heartbeat and optimal functioning of the muscles and nerves.
The fat component is also a factor. Shying away from fat filled diets to prevent obesity can leave your body lacking the nutritional fat components it needs. And cereals can fill this nutritional need.
Is Eating Cereal Good For Pregnancy?
Most moms had the fear of eating cereal in pregnancy as they wondered if it would be healthy for their baby. So, if you have been bothered by this, I’m happy to inform you that cereals are a necessary part of your diet in pregnancy.
No wonder a lot of pregnant women crave cereals. It nourishes the body with the necessary elements needed to grow and thrive.
Maternal cereal consumption leads to successful placental development, fetal growth and fetal development. The nutrients from cereals meet the needs of the mother and baby while reducing the risk of birth defects.
It also reduces the chances of complications arising from high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels.
Additionally, it checks weight related issues by providing the body with the needed fat in the right amount.
Is Cereal And Milk Good For Pregnancy?
Cereals without supplementary foods cannot meet the protein requirements of the body. Milk is a rich source of protein. When cereals are consumed along with milk or other protein sources, the milk will make up for the protein deficiency in the cereal.
The 15 Best Cereals For Pregnancy
The following are the 15 best cereals for pregnancy, curated based on amazon best seller ratings and reviews from other pregnant women.
1. Quaker Instant Oatmeal
This is a cereal alternative that contains a very small amount of low saturated fat and cholesterol. It could aid the prevention and reduce the risk of a heart disease. It is made from whole grain rolled oats along with sugar, salt, nonfat dry milk, dried peeches, dried cream, tocopherols, natural flavor and plant foods.
2. Honey Nut Cheerios
A gluten free cereal for pregnant women looking to watch their weight. It could aid the lowering of blood cholesterol levels and could lower the risk of a heart disease. Made with real honey, little saturated fat, sugar, corn starch, oat bran, natural almond, flavor, brown syrup, tocopherols, zinc, vitamins and minerals.
3. Magic Spoon
Keto friendly cereal diet. Gluten free. Comes in a variety of flavor: cocoa, frosted, fruity, peanut butter. Low in carb and high in protein. Made without grain, artificial flavor, corn syrup, sugar or alcohol. For each serving, there would be around 3 – 4g of protein and 4 – 5g of carbohydrates.
4. Quaker Instant Oatmeal
The perfect breakfast cereal for pregnant women. Comes in variety with different flavors like the maple and brown sugar flavor, apple and cinnamon flavor, honey and almond flavor, apples and cranberries flavor as well as other natural flavors. Rich in whole grain and other plant foods. Easy to prepare. Preparation would take a maximum of three minutes.
5. Catalina Crunch Cinnamon
Crunchy healthy cereal to satisfy your pregnancy cravings. Keto friendly. Made with Catalina flour, potato fiber, chicory, corn fiber, guar gum, tapioca flour, cinnamon, sea salt, calcium carbonate, and natural flowers. It is non GMO. It has a total carbohydrate content of 14g, protein of 11g, and fat; both saturated and trans fat of 5g.
6. Quaker Quick
Nice cereal for pregnant women that love fruits, nuts and toppings. Quaker Quick is made with zero sugar and rolled whole grain oats. Easy to prepare with preparation time of less than one minute. It could lower cholesterol and it’s a quick nutritious meal for breakfast. It can be used in making cookies, apple crisp and smoothies. Best part is, it has low calories.
7. Honey Bunches Of Oats
Tasty, crunchy cereal alternative during pregnancy. Made with almond, whole grain cereal, whole grain wheat, brown sugar and high oleic vegetable. It has varieties like Honey Bunches with strawberry or almond. Also, Frosted Honey Bunches and Roasted Honey Bunches. It contains vital vitamins and minerals.
8. Bob’s Red Mill Organic Extra Thick Rolled Oats
Organic cereals to add to your pregnancy diet. Each pack comes as four in one. It is made from whole grain of the oat plant. The texture of the cereal is dependent on the time spent in its cooking. It contains a good amount of fiber, sesame seed, milk, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. It is verified as a non GMO product.
9. Nature Valley Soft-Baked Oatmeal Squarries
Made from fully natural sources. Nice cereal diet for pregnant women. It has no trans fat. Made with whole grain oats, whole grain wheat flour, brown sugar, canola oil, tapioca syrup, vegetable glycerin, wheat, egg, milk and soy. The texture is soft and no artificial flavor, color, sweetener or corn syrup was used in its production.
10. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Contains vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc. It’s texture is crispy and can be used as a wonderful snack. Made from whole grain wheat, sunflower oil, soy lecithin and caramel color.
11. Reese’s Puffs
Great snack that can be eaten between meals as well as for breakfast. Made with Reese’s peanut butter, dextrose, corn meal, corn syrup and natural flavor.
12. Life Breakfast Cereal
Low cholesterol cereal, great for pregnancy when you’re looking to avoid weight gain. Contains 4g of protein and 33g of total carbohydrates.
13. Lucky Charms
Ready to eat cereal. Can come handy on lazy days. Nice to add to your pregnancy diet. Gluten free. Made with whole grain oats, sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, zinc, iron, other minerals, and flavors: artificial and natural.
14. Fruity Pebbles
Gluten free cereal breakfast meal for pregnant women. Low in fat and cholesterol. Contains important vitamins and minerals including vitamin D.
15. Kellogg’s Cold Breakfast Cereal
A healthy breakfast alternative to add to your pregnancy meal plan. Crispy and crunchy. Great as a snack too. Comes in different varieties: apple jacks, frosted flask, fruit loops, and more. Rich in grains fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Conclusion
There are old wives’ tales that claim pregnant women must avoid cereals. There are also claims that cereals must be a part of your daily diet. You have to believe neither. If you love cereals, there are great brands to pick from but consider adding milk and protein products to supplement. If you dislike cereals, you may want to consider adding it to your diet.