Cereal that's high in fiber, folic acid, vitamins and minerals that your body needs (and low in sugar) is actually a really great food to eat during pregnancy. Whole grains like whole wheat, oats, barley and rice are packed with iron, magnesium and B vitamins, which are terrific for your growing baby.
It is important to eat a balanced diet that includes nutrient-rich foods during pregnancy. Cereal consumption is recommended for expectant mothers as it can provide essential nutrients and satisfy hunger.
According to some research, the most common pregnancy craving is for sweets like chocolate and candy.
A craving for cereal may be an indication of chronic stress. Chronic stress creates an ongoing metabolic response that can lead to weight gain, depression and an elevated risk of diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Most packaged breakfast cereals are ultra-processed. EWG recommends limiting consumption of these foods, whether organic or conventional. A diet high in ultra-processed food is linked to an increased risk of depression, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
It Can Destabilize Your Blood Sugar Levels
"Eating a sugary cereal with minimal nutritional value is not a great daily option. A breakfast high in sugar leaves less room for more nutritional options," she says.
Some women report experiencing cravings as early as five weeks into pregnancy. Cravings tend to get stronger during your second trimester (months 3-6) and usually disappear by the beginning of your third trimester (six months onwards)2.
It may seem unusual but it's common for pregnant women to crave lemons. Some women satisfy this craving by adding lemon to their water, which is a great way to stay hydrated. Some also crave eating the fruit itself.
For instance, the most common cravings women experience during pregnancy are for fruit, milk, chocolate or other sweets. Craving fruit may indicate body levels low in vitamin C, or craving dairy may mean a deficiency in calcium.
Pregnancy cravings for carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, and crackers are also common. If you find yourself craving these, Fiuza recommends opting for healthier, whole grain varieties that contain more nutrients, like fiber and vitamins, instead of processed varieties that may have added sugar, fats, and salt.
Try high fibre varieties - wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta and high fibre breakfast cereals such as Weetabix, All Bran, Bran Flakes, Shredded Wheat. Choosing these foods, as well as fruit and vegetables and plenty of fluids (8 - 10 cups per day) will help to prevent constipation.
Serving your kids folate-fortified foods is a good way to make sure they are getting enough folate in their diet: Malt-o-Meal cereal. Fortified Breakfast Cereal (Total, Product 19, Special K, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, Wheaties, Honey Nut Cheerios, etc.)
Eat iron-rich foods such as meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dried beans and fortified grains. The form of iron in meat products, called heme, is more easily absorbed than the iron in vegetables.
Eating small amounts every two hours as an empty stomach can cause nausea. Avoiding smells and foods that make you feel worse. Eating healthier carbohydrate foods such as dry toast, crackers, breakfast cereals or fruit. Eating fewer fatty and sugary foods.
Triggered by hormonal changes, pregnancy cravings are an intense compulsion to eat certain foods. Pregnancy cravings create what feels like a nearly irresistible urge to eat particular foods. The cravings themselves can range from fruit and vegetables to seemingly bizarre junk food combinations.
According to some studies, the testosterone released by the fetal testicles triggers extra food cravings in women who are expecting a boy. Therefore, it's more likely that you are having a baby girl if you are having less appetite.
Pregnant women carrying boys eat about 10% more than those carrying girls, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2003. For their study, the researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health surveyed 244 pregnant women at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
An increased appetite during pregnancy is common, especially in the second trimester when morning sickness fades, cravings pick up and you need more calories to feed your ever-growing baby. Here's what's behind your appetite and how you can ensure you're getting all the nutrients you and baby need.
Cereal can be a good breakfast, but it is not necessarily the healthiest breakfast choice. For example, some studies suggest that replacing high-carbohydrate breakfasts, such as cereals, with eggs can provide greater feelings of lasting fullness and can possibly contribute to up to 65% more weight loss.
But, adding a protein heavy cereal to your every day diet, will positively contribute to your muscles as well as your skin, cartilages, bones & blood. When you eat cereal in the morning, you're less likely to experience those sugary/fatty cravings later in the day.
Staying Power. The peanut butter toast breakfast has more fat—about 16.5 grams of mostly heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, per the USDA. By contrast, the cereal breakfast has just 4 g of fat (with the cereal and milk combined, per the USDA). It's the fat that helps give the breakfast staying power.
It's not always clear what is processed and what is not. Weetabix, for example, contains malted barley extract, which is often used as a way of adding sugar by stealth, but it is considered processed rather than unprocessed.