10 Power Foods To Fuel Busy Moms

By: Lauren Hartmann, Disney Baby

Let’s face it, being a mom and being busy are synonymous with one another. There are babies to feed, diapers to change, laundry to fold … the list sometimes seems never ending. When this happens, it is likely that feeding yourself tends to fall by the wayside or at least that’s what happened to me.

For the first three months of Fern’s life I pretty much subsisted on string cheese and granola bars. I was a bit overwhelmed and feeding myself always seemed to fall to the end of my to-do list. There are many reasons why this was a problem: 1) Inadequate nutrition while nursing can decrease milk supply in addition to not providing babies with all the nutrients that their growing bodies need, 2) Inadequate nutrition leaves you tired, cranky and unable to take on the challenges that new parenthood (or really any stage of parenthood) requires, 3) Inadequate nutrition is not going to help you lose that baby weight. Our bodies need a balanced diet and if we’re not eating enough food they go into starvation mode and desperately cling to fat.

So what’s a busy mom to eat?

Trying to eat healthy foods as a mom bustling about taking care of a baby’s needs all day can be a challenge. Here are 10 foods that are easy for to prepare and eat quickly in between the plethora of tasks on that seemingly never-ending to-do list – foods that will keep you fueled for the day ahead!

Eggs are my absolute go-to food. It takes literally two minutes to scramble some up for breakfast and I can throw in some extras for flavor and fuel like spinach, ground flax, cheese, tomatoes, etc… I can also hard boil a bunch at the beginning of the week after my baby goes to bed and I’ve got instant grab-and-go snacks available for the week.

Fruit is not only delicious, but can also be very filling. I choose more dense fruits for when I’m hungry enough for a meal, but won’t be able to make a full meal happen any time soon (think: crying baby). Oranges and bananas are my good options for this scenario. Any fruit is a good option though and pre-slicing fruit earlier in the week is a good way to ensure that it actually gets eaten.

Pre-cut veggies are one "convenience food" that I don’t mind buying if I’m not buying a bunch of other pre-packaged, processed foods. Baby carrots, big bags of spinach and pre-cut broccoli are all great easy options. You’re much more likely to eat a salad when there isn’t any prep involved.

This is a great option to get a bit more protein in your day and makes eating your vegetables a bit more palatable if you’re not a fan of veggies like myself.

I am particularly fond of steel cut oats for their great texture and the nutritional punch that they pack and you can even find quick-cooking varieties that cook in 5-7 minutes. If you don’t think you can find 5-7 minutes to cook oatmeal in the morning you can always prepare a big pot of it ahead of time to portion out and heat up throughout the week.

I love all yogurt, but the Greek variety has the most protein as well as a nice creamy texture that leaves me feeling full and satisfied. I like to throw in some berries or banana and a bit of flaxseed meal as well.

A quick and easy way to sneak in some extra Omega-3s into your day. Just sprinkle it on some of the foods you’re already eating.

Nuts, particularly raw almonds, are a favorite snacking option for me. A small handful offers a dose of protein, good fatty acids and keeps me full for just a bit longer.

You can eat these from the can or make them yourself ahead of time and then add them to salads or wrap them up in a tortilla for a protein packed lunch when you want it.

All you have to do is dump your fruits, veggies and maybe a dash of flaxseed meal or protein powder into a blender with a bit of milk or ice and pulse to the desired consistency. It’s a great way to get in a bunch of fruit and veggie servings in one sitting.