Cool Treats For Pregnant Women This Summer

It’s getting HOT HOT HOT. Don’t worry–we’ve all been there and we know the discomfort that comes with being pregnant in the summer time. Staying inside 24/7 is pretty much impossible, so what’s the next best option? Well, it is keeping yourself cool as much as possible and as often as possible. It’s important to stay hydrated, especially when you are acclimating to hotter temperatures and sweating more. With the season of ice cream and popsicles all around us, here are our *hand picked* suggestions for cool treats this summer.

1. Outshine Bars – Outshine has an array of refreshing treats. While only half their product line is non-GMO, they’re still better in terms of quality as compared to the tempting ice cream trucks. Their products include real fruits, real fruit juice and coconut water. Coconut water is not only hydrating but also contains electrolytes to help replete when feeling overheated or parched. Check out their coconut water bars for a tasty way to cool off!

2. Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars – Yasso offers ice cream sandwiches and bars made with gut-friendly (yay probiotics!) Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a healthy fat, offers a good source of protein and is hydrating. The bars are creamy but won’t make you feel heavy like ice cream. In fact, they contain 100 calories and approximately 5g of protein per bar so you’ll also feel satiated and hydrated. There are many flavors to choose from and are the ideal ice cream alternative.

3. Halo Top Ice Cream – Halo Top ice cream is certainly a popular name in the ice cream world. It contains stevia, but as studies have demonstrated, won’t contribute to a blood sugar spike as compared to simple sugars. Since it’s important to try not to actually “eat for two,” you’ll want to watch your sugar intake, especially if you’re at risk for gestational diabetes or have been diagnosed prior to pregnancy. You can consider this treat in moderation. The whole pint contains 20g of protein and falls under 350 calories, so at least we don’t have to feel guilty!

4 Enlightened – This brand of ice cream is sweetened with monk fruit. Compared to traditional ice-cream, they contain half the fat and sugar. A half-cup will range from 60-100 calories which is ideal for a healthy snack or dessert. If you’re craving cake or cookies, try their birthday cake or chocolate chip cookie dough flavors. Similar to Halo Top, Enlightened is also considered low GI (glycemic index) food, due to its low sugar content and higher protein content.

5. Chloe’s Pops – Tagged as “soft serve fruit on a stick” — you’ve got refreshing fruit flavors with a creamy texture. Chloe’s pops are made with real fruit, water and a touch of organic cane sugar. Most of the pops range in the 60+ calories and 14+g of sugar so you could definitely enjoy more than one on a hot summer day. They’re dairy free and are made with non-GMO ingredients.

6. DIY frozen yogurt or sorbet – If you’re a DIY kinda person, Tasty Buzzfeed has made some eye-catching recipe videos on making your own frozen yogurt or sorbet. The hard work is really just buying fruit and freezing it and between adding 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt or sweeteners such as honey, that’s pretty much all you need. You could snag some fresh and local summer fruit and satisfy those taste buds while feeling refreshed.

Remember – everything in moderation! Even if something isn’t as “caloric” as the original, it’s important to practice portion control with our sweet treats and cravings.

Photography by Nuts and Walnuts.