Lauren Manaker

If you are #pregnant and you don’t have choline on your radar, read this post! Data shows kids of moms who took in high amounts of choline showed benefits at 7 years! Many prenatals don’t contain this important nutrient and experts recommend pregnant mamas take in 450 mg a DAY! So, eat your egg yolks, fish, cauliflower, and peanuts. And it won’t hurt to supplement too -esp since most Americans aren’t taking in enough of this key nutrient. #pregnancydiet #healthypregnancy

New data shows that there may be slight health benefits associated with eating produce with low pesticide residue. And from this data, some media outlets are recommending that people eat organic produce to reduce pesticide residue exposure. ⁣ ⁣ Organic produce does not mean pesticide-free produce. It means that the organic farmers may use organic pesticides. And organic pesticides don't necessarily mean "healthier".⁣ ⁣ If you are choosing organic with the goal of going pesticide-free, know that you may be misinterpreting. Also keep in mind that 90% of Americans are missing the mark when it comes to eating the recommended amount of fruits and veggies. And data shows a link between eating less produce and an increased risk of a slew of health risks like developing certain cancers and even early death (no thank you). ⁣ ⁣ Bottom line? Eat your fruits and veggies. And if you have any concerns about pesticide residue, wash your produce (well) before you eat it. But eat your produce, please! #dietitiantips #womenshealth #healthypregnancy #ttcdiet #fertilitydiet

Dates are a pregnant person’s best friend. And although more data is needed to know for sure, small studies suggest that eating dates during the last few weeks of 🤰 may help support cervical ripening (and in turn help get baby OUT!). I created this smoothie recipe for my friends over at @jooliesdates (yummies organic Medjool dates out there) and @desertvalleydate . 📸cred to the amazing @jstofphotography . Cheers!

If you are #pregnant and you take a prenatal vitamin, you don't have to worry about what you eat too, right? Wrong!!! Prenatal vitamins are meant to SUPPLEMENT your diet, not meet all of your needs. And according to recent data, pregnant people missed the mark when it came to adequate intake of certain nutrients (including magnesium and vitamin D) even when they took a prenatal vitamin. Moral of this study? Don’t assume that your prenatal is meeting ALL of your needs. Taking a prenatal vitamin should be done in conjunction with a balanced and healthy diet during pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins won't meet all of your nutritional needs. Your best bet is to take a prenatal vitamin that doesn't go overboard with certain nutrients and eat a balanced diet loaded with a variety of good-for-you foods. Don’t assume you don’t have to eat your fruits and veggies bc you are popping a pill. You need to do both! I know...how boring....but it is what it is! #prenatal #pregnancydiet #healthypregnancy

Pasta and pregnancy are a match made in heaven. #ad Along with it being a carb choice that many of my clients find easy to tolerate (hello, morning sickness!), it also contains key nutrients that support a healthy pregnancy. Pasta is a unique refined grain because its protein structure is digested more slowly than other refined grains, providing steady energy to the body. So, if pasta is your pregnancy craving, know that you are actually doing your body some good by enjoying a serving of that goodness. @barillaus

a hydrating mocktail that’s super satisfying? sign me up. this is one of my fav mocktails for people who are later in their #pregnancy (#thirdtrimester ) and need a fun drink to get them through the holidays or a tropical 🏝 vacation (I wish!). ⁣ ⁣ for this recipe and many more, check out my newest cookbook The 7 Ingredient Healthy Pregnancy Cookbook (link in bio to purchase). #healthypregnancy #pregnancydiet

There is still a lot to learn when it comes to caffeine, #pregnancy , and #fertility .⁣ ⁣ yes- some people down gallon-sized cups of coffee and they have healthy pregnancies. some people also have a certain genetic polymorphism that affects the way they metabolize caffeine. And data suggests that those with a certain polymorphism have a higher risk of experiencing pregnancy loss when they down large amounts of caffeine. Again- there is still a lot to learn.⁣ ⁣ I personally drank a half caffeine coffee every day when I was ttc and pregnant. now I’m caffeine free and honestly I love @mcdonalds decaf. who knew?! #pregnancydiet #fertilitydiet #ttcdiet #ttc

One of my top tips for ppl #ttc and #pregnant is to eat more low mercury seafood! And this easy breezy recipe fits the bill. This is a sampling of the many recipes you will find in my new cookbook The 7 Ingredient Healthy Pregnancy Cookbook (link in bio to snag a copy yourself). And if you are wondering if you have healthy omega 3 levels 🤔 , enter my giveaway from yesterday… I’m giving away five at home test kits plus gift cards 💳 so you can buy yourself some fish oil supplements if needed (or chocolate…I don’t judge). #pregnancy #dietitian #healthypregnancy #eatingfortwo

⭐️ GIVEAWAY ALERT - closed! If you are pregnant, you are hopefully already on the DHA and EPA omega-3 train. Omega-3s, especially DHA, play an important role in brain and eye development for a growing baby, both during pregnancy and in the first months of life. You can get DHA and EPA omega-3s by eating fatty/oily fish or supplements.⁣ ⁣ Want to make sure your DHA levels are on-par with what the experts recommend? I partnered up with @alwaysomega3s and I have FIVE OmegaQuant Prenatal DHA tests up for grabs so you know how you are doing with your own intake. ⁣ ⁣ You will also get a $10 Target 🎯 gift card so you can snag yourself a bottle of fish, krill or algae oil if your levels end up not being ideal after testing.⁣ ⁣ To enter:⁣ - Follow @alwaysomega3s and @laurenlovesnutrition ⁣ - Like this post⁣ - Comment with a fish 🐟 emoji⁣ - ⁣ Contest open to residents of the United States over the age of 18. This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by Instagram. Winners will be announced on Friday, December 10 at noon EST in my stories.⁣ ⁣ Good luck!

Yesterday I shared that following the Mediterranean diet is one of the best ways to support your fertility and I think I threw some people into a tizzy figuring out where to start. I highly suggest not going from 0 to 60 and starting small when incorporating this lifestyle. Although I swore off reels about a month ago because I hate them, I decided to do a quick one bc I don’t want ppl to feel stress when managing what they should eat. These are five tips for you to explore if you want to start following the Mediterranean lifestyle to support your fertility. Hope this helps! #ttcdiet #fertilitydiet #ttc

Kids as young as 6 months can start eating seafood 🐠 as long as they are developmentally ready. Unfortunately, kids in the US aren't coming close to the recommended amount of seafood they should be taking in. ⁣ ⁣ Fish and shellfish are rich sources of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Yes, you can get omega-3 fatty acids from other foods (like walnuts and flax seeds). But the omegas they contain are not DHA and EPA. And kiddos benefit from the specific DHA and EPA omegas. ⁣ ⁣ Sure, some of the data suggesting these amazing outcomes can be stronger - these studies are far from perfect. But I personally don't see the downside of including fish in your child's diet along with an overall healthy diet, so I stand by the recommendation.⁣ ⁣ Kiddo won't touch seafood? Kiddo follows a vegan lifestyle? Consider a supplement to fill potential nutrition gaps - just get the green light from your kid's doc before you go pill crazy! ⁣ ⁣ How do you get your little to get in their omegas? ⁣ #dietitiansofinstagram #startingsolids #pediatricnutrition #firstfoods #dietitiantips

Sharing a recipe from my cookbook The 7 Ingredient Healthy Pregnancy Cookbook. Link in my bio to check it out. Paperback available for preorder! #eatingfortwo #healthypregnancy #prenataldietitian #healthypregnancy #firsttrimester #1sttrimester #haveaplant

Keep in mind this stat is based on one study and looked at only one specific population. But it does highlight how prevalent iron deficiency anemia can be during pregnancy! Make sure you are getting in your iron, y’all! #eatingfortwo #pregnancydiet #pregnant #healthypregnancy

Snack lovers, this one is for you. If you are looking for snacks that are less likely to spike your blood sugar (and in turn be a bit more satiating), tap on the link in my bio to check out my round up I wrote for @popsugarfitness . Many of these are great options for managing #gestationaldiabetes or keeping up with #postpartumnutrition demands too! Hope this helps! #dietitiantips #eatingfortwo

I totally get being desperate for sleep 😴. And while there are some tried and true ways to get baby to 💤, giving them food too early or right before bed doesn’t appear to make a lick of a difference. I was told to load my baby up with oatmeal before bed…tried it…didn’t work. Sooo what DOES work? Blackout shades, routine, not letting baby get overtired. But unfortunately, feeding won’t do it. What is your secret for getting babies to sleep? #infantnutrition #breastfeedingdiet #registereddietitian #eatingfortwo