Five Best Iron-Rich Snacks For Pregnant Moms To Avoid An Iron Deficiency

You know you need to get enough iron in your diet to stay healthy in your pregnancy, but it turns out, getting enough is harder than you thought. 27 mg per day is a lot! But you know and iron rich diet will help you stay healthy, have energy and even sleep better. But, how do you actually get there?

I recently published an article on the best five meals to eat on repeat to fix an iron deficiency. But, the number one thing I was told, when you’re already tired, it’s extra difficult to prep food and get enough iron through your diet. Preparing these meals daily was not realistic. That is why we wanted to supplement that article with the five best iron-rich snacks for pregnant moms. Here is the promise for this article: these snacks can be purchased via amazon or instacart, and though they are in packages, they will be healthy and nourishing foods: Snacks that deliver a significant amount of iron.

So, if you’re just trying to get enough iron in your diet, or if you are trying to fix an iron deficiency in your pregnancy, these five iron-rich snacks will help you out!

Five Best Iron-Rich Snacks For Pregnant Moms

When you are trying to get enough iron in your pregnancy diet, you are trying to get 27 milligrams (mg) of iron a day. Keep in mind, a person who is not pregnant needs significantly less iron, so the percentages on the package will not reflect the percentages that you need as a pregnant person. The Nutrition Label percentages are based on a total daily value of 18 mg. You can see you need almost double! I’ll break down the percentages for you based off the recommended daily iron intake in pregnancy. If you think you might need to supplement in addition to taking a food based approach, learn about iron supplementation here.

#1 Best Iron Rich Snack For Pregnant Moms: Beef Jerky

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. I participate in the Amazon associates program among others.

#2 Best Iron Rich Snack For Pregnant Moms: Chia Seed Snack Pouches

#3 Best Iron Rich Snack For Pregnant Moms: Herbal Tea Infusion

#4 Best Iron Rich Snack For Pregnant Moms: Tinned Oysters And Saltines

#5 Best Iron Rich Snack For Pregnant Moms: 1/2 Dark Chocolate Bar

How To Double Check Your Iron Needs

I wrote this article specifically for a mom I am working with who knows her iron levels are low and whom was looking for the best snacks to help her approach the problem in a real food way along side the supplements and infusions her doctor provided.

If you are looking to address anemia or think you may have an iron deficiency and are looking for the right provider who can request blood tests and help you investigate your picture in more detail I highly recommend working with a dietician through a company like Nourish. They can also order blood work and help you get to the bottom of underlying causes of fatigue. If you have a preference for food first solutions, or are having troubles getting the proper blood work done through your provider, this is often a perfect complimentary resource!

That said, you should always consult your medical provider if you feel something is off in your pregnancy. Especially if you see symptoms of iron deficiency like fatigue, shortness or breath, restless legs, weird cravings or depression piling up. Iron deficiency can continue into postpartum if not addressed in pregnancy. The sooner it’s discovered and treated, the better.

Real Food Prepped Quicker

If you value real food but don’t have time (or more likely energy) to cook, it may be time to try out a meal delivery service like Cook Unity. Cook Unity provides Chef Crafted, ready to eat meals. I order these for my family when I have periods of time when I know I simply cannot be in the kitchen. Lately, I’ve been ordering more regularly so I can eat healthy and food prep less.

As a member, Cook Unity has allowed me to share a custom link with you that will give you 50% off your first week, and an additional 20% off the next three weeks of meals. Simply shop through my link here, and the discount will automatically be applied. My favorite meal so far has been the seared salmon with the berry glaze!

Five Best Iron-Rich Snacks For Pregnant Moms To Avoid An Iron Deficiency Summary

When you realize how much iron you need in pregnancy, you also realize every bite counts. While this list is not a comprehensive list of all the foods that are great for iron in pregnancy, I hope it does help you pick somewhere to start. Remember, one small action will have a ripple effect. If you are reading this because you are already noticing you might be low iron, I hope you will reach out to the appropriate professional and get tailored help along the way! Thank you for the work you are doing creating a new human. It really is amazing and important!