Suzzie Vehrs is a Birth Arts International Certified Birth Doula passionate about helping moms create healthy, happy birth experiences + have a full recovery afterwards.

Why These Decadent Chocolate Zucchini Muffins Are A Perfect Pregnancy Snack

A basket of chocolate zucchini muffins with a muffin on the table in front of the basket

Finding out what to eat during pregnancy can be a challenge. And after finding out what to eat in an ideal world, you have to put together foods that don’t make you sick, get you the nutrients you need and that satisfy all your cravings. Suddenly, eating might not seem so simple. And that’s exactly why I love these chocolate zucchini muffins. They are both nutrient dense and craving satisfiers.

I made a few changes from tradition muffins to make them extra delicious.

Trading white flour for spelt flour. If you’ve never used spelt flour before your will be amazed at the rich nutty flavor. Plus, as an ancient grain, it is much higher in protein and fiber than white flour. In the second half of pregnancy, you should aim to gt 80-100 g of protein a day. Finding small ways to increase this can make a big difference in your health.
Butter instead of oil. Did you know that butter can be a great food (in moderation) during your pregnancy? It contains quite a bit of folic acid. And, your baby’s brain is made up of 60% fat. You actually need some whole food fat in your diet when you are pregnant.
Zucchini muffins obviously should always have zucchini. But, I just want to remind you you are doing a good thing by sneaking in veggies, even in your treats.

Not to mention, most baked goods have eggs, which are one of the best foods to eat during pregnancy! Eating your way through a healthy pregnancy should be fun. Food nourishes both our bodies and souls. I hope you enjoy these muffins as much as I do!

Turning These Decadent Chocolate Zucchini Muffins Into A Well Rounded Snack

If you’re like me, you like to eat a full well rounded snack. These muffins are good to go on their own, but if you’re looking to build up a 400 calorie snack you’re not quite halfway there with a muffin. Each muffin has about 157 calories. So for a well rounded snack consider this combo:

2 muffins (314 calories, 7 g protein)
1/2 cup blueberries (42 calories 1 g protein)
1/2 cup whole fat greek yogurt (70 calories 12 g protein)
Cup of pregnancy tea (2 calories)

If you’re counting your protein and veggies, this gets you 20 g of protein, nearly a quarter of what some mothers need in the second half of pregnancy. For more on how to eat through a healthy pregnancy, check out our article on what an ideal pregnancy diet is.

How To Make Chocolate Zucchini Muffins Perfect For A Healthy Pregnancy Snack