Power Protein Foods

Little Miss Protein – meatballs are her #1

I’m gonna go out on a limb and tell all you pregnant mamas that it’s time to eat for two.

Of course, eating for two needs to be a strategic activity. I’m not talking about bags of Cheetos (although, that does sound yummy). I’m talking about protein and lots of it … 80-100 grams each day! It’s hard to hit a goal like that, especially in the early weeks when smells can turn your tummy at a moment’s notice. But, hopefully some of these ideas will strike your fancy.

Here’s a handful of my protein favorites …

• Nut butters – peanut, almond, and cashew
• Add to toast in the morning
• Sandwiches with homemade preserves
• On celery or with an apple
• Greek yogurt
• Hummus
• Blend 1 can chickpeas + 2 T tahini + 2 T lemon juice + 1 T garlic + 1/2 C olive oil + 1/2 t cumin + 1/2 t paprika
• Make it extra special by adding in pesto or jarred red peppers
•  Smoothies
• Protein Berry from Fit Foodies. Happy Life.
• Jamba Juice’s Protein Berry Workout is one of my favorites! You can even ask for extra soy or whey protein.
• Choco-Nana-Berry Power Protein Shake from He & She Eat Clean
• Cottage cheese
• Free-range, organic meats
• Kalbi steak is one of my favorites
• Buffalo is one of the highest iron/protein options 
• My mama made an almond-breaded chicken recently, hoping she will share here soon :)
• Trail mix
• Dutch Baby Pancakes
• Tacos, burritos or quesadillas
• Add lots of beans, meat, and cheese
• Homemade crockpot refried beans 
• Salads
• Cobb – chicken, bacon, ham, cheese, and hard-boiled egg
• Avocado Egg Salad from Skinny Taste
• Protein Power Salad from Oh She Glows
• Quinoa
• Quinoa Chili from Code Name: Mama
• Tossed with chicken, parsley, pinenuts, and veggies
• Little quinoa patties from Whole Living
• Quinoa Protein Bars from Skinny Ms.
• Eggs
• Hard-boiled, deviled, egg salad, scrambled, quiche, frittata or omelets
• DESSERT from Loving Our Gut