I think it’s so fascinating how much the experience of pregnancy varies from woman to woman, and even from pregnancy to pregnancy for the same woman. For me, my relationship with food was quite entertaining. I craved things I had never even liked before (sushi) and was SO repulsed by things that had previously made me happy (cereal).

But for the first trimester in both cases, I was doing good to keep my prenatal vitamin down and to sip on some ginger ale and crackers. If you are reading this and are expecting, I hope that you are one of the lucky ones who doesn’t experience morning (all day) sickness, and that if you did experience it, that you are past that point and can start thinking about (and even enjoying) food again.

And that’s what we are going to talk about today! I’ve got 5 snacks that you should have at the ready right now, but that you might actually not have thought to try. Here’s a breakdown of what they are and why they are the perfect choices for you while your body is growing a baby.

1. Pumpkin seeds

A little over a half a cup of pumpkin seeds will get you your daily needed intake of iron, a mineral your body needs more of during pregnancy. You may not want to eat quite that many pumpkin seeds every day of your life, but they are a powerhouse portable snack, so I highly recommend keeping a resealable bag in your purse to reach for any time you start to feel a little hungry.

2. Cheese

Cheese is such a great way to work in some of that Vitamin D your body needs right now (that and a few minutes of basking in the sun each day!). What I love about cheese is the sheer variety, which can accommodate so many different cravings you might be having. You can go sharp, mild or even pungent, just depending on what strikes your fancy. Take a stroll around the cheese case at your local market and pick out 1 or 2 cheeses to keep on hand for slicing up as a quick snack.

3. Seaweed

For many of you, this might be the weirdest recommendation on the list. Seaweed? Um, where do you even buy that, and why would you pay money for such a thing?

I understand the suspicion, but in certain parts of the world, dried seaweed has been a popular snack for a really long time. And guess what? It’s a CRAZY good source of iodine, which your body really needs right now because it promotes normal brain development of the baby. I found my dried seaweed online, and I personally pair it with something else because I gotta keep it real…it tastes like the ocean. But you will be hard-pressed to find a better source of iodine that can travel with you away from the house or be ready at a moment’s notice.

4. Spinach smoothies

Ladies, one cup of spinach is all it takes to get the folic acid you need each day (folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in utero). If you are like me, it’s a pipe dream to say you’ll eat a spinach salad every day. Girl, no you won’t! 😉 But I have had really REALLY good success making spinach-based smoothies. The basic recipe is to blend together 1 cup of spinach and 1 cup of water (or  you could do almond milk). After blending those two things together really well, then add any other fruits you like and blend again. I absolutely love my spinach smoothies! Worth a try, for sure.

5. Viactiv Calcium Chews

First, you need to know that Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews have a mild, yet utterly delicious flavor. Flavor matters when you are pregnant, as I vividly recall! These are super yum (caramel is my personal favorite, but I enjoy them both). Second, and more importantly, you should know that most prenatal vitamins only contain 20-30% of the calcium you need when pregnant. And your body is quite resourceful, you see. It will get the calcium it needs for the baby, even if it means pulling calcium out of your bones! And this is going to cause problems for you later, so it’s best to make sure you are loaded down with enough calcium. Just two Viactiv chews will provide you with 100% of your daily need, and it tastes so delicious, so everybody wins! This is a MUCH better option than those horse pills of calcium that I tried (and failed) to take while pregnant.

Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews are available in milk chocolate and caramel flavors at major retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart, as well as supermarkets nationwide. Print this coupon to save $2 on your next in-store purchase of Viactiv. And definitely check out the Viactiv Facebook page, as that’s a terrific way to keep up with promotions and to get helpful tips!

Learn more about Viactiv at www.Viactiv.com.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv (#BeActiv) that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv products for my own personal use. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please speak with your healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns.