This week’s blog post comes from Emerald Doula, and resident foodie, Vanessa. Vanessa is, in addition to being an incredible doula, an amazing home chef. She can make nearly any meal Instagram ready (and her InstaStories back up that claim!). Today, she’s sharing some of her favorite recipe links to help pregnant people consume the fabled “6 Dates A Day” for a possibly easier birth …

It’s true!

Studies show that eating 6 dates a day from week 36 until birth, potentially could help shorten the duration of labor. However, eating 6 dates each. and. every. day. can sometimes feel more like a chore than a chance to flex your best Top Chef skills.

Whether you wrap them in bacon, eat them warm, or just place them on a cheese plate we are here to help you stop dreading the dates!

Dates are a great and easy way to add texture and sweetness your favorite morning meals!

• Date Nut Overnight Oats: This recipe gives you options for the different kinds of oats you may have on hand or want to grab at the store.

• Date Smoothies: If you like a smoothie in the morning try this recipe for a coffee date smoothie or this one sans caffeine.

No sad desk lunches will be eaten when you can add dates to your favorite salad greens, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and top with nuts for some added crunch!

• Kale Salad with Dates, Parmesean, & Almonds: This Kale salad with dates parmesan and almonds from Epicurious looks divine!

• More than salad? We’ve got you covered: For something a bit heartier try this cauliflower, date, red onion, and parsley salad. Add your grain of choice (rice, barley, quinoa) for some extra energy from good carbs and don’t be shy to top with your favorite lunch time protein.

When snack time rolls around we have two words for you: Boursin Cheese! Just spoon it into some split dates for a yummy before dinner ,or late light snack!

Not feeling up to cooking?

• Quick Bite, Two Dates: If you are just not in the mood to make anything, RxBars  boasts two dates per bar and you can grab them in any number of flavor varieties.

However you choose to eat your dates, we hope you can look back on your last days of pregnancy as ones filled with lots of love, delicious foods, and, okay, maybe even a shorter labor.

Want more info about the impact of eating six dates a day in late pregnancy could have in your birth experience? Head over to Evidence Based Birth for Dr. Rebecca Dekker’s take on the available research.