Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Recipes for a Healthy Pregnancy

When pregnant, getting the right nutrients and vitamins is of extreme importance for both the health of your baby and yourself. What you put in your tummy will eventually end up in your baby’s too, and certain vitamins and minerals can make a big difference in terms of growth and development.

One of the easiest ways to ensure your baby is getting the right vitamins and minerals is to ensure you consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. If you want to delve a little deeper, look specifically for produce that contains good levels of:

• Vitamins A,B,C,D and E
• Folic Acid, Omega 3
• Calcium
• Protein
• Iron, Iodine
• Zinc.

When possible, try to eat organic and aim for 5-6 small meals each day. It has been suggested that the more foods and flavours you expose your baby to in the womb, the more receptive your baby may be to these items when first trying solid food.

Foods to avoid include:

• Foods at risk of the bacteria Listeria, such as soft cheese, deli meats, sushi, and unpasteurised milk.
• Foods high in mercury, such as swordfish and flake
• Alcohol
• Caffeine

Here are some recipes ideas you could try during your pregnancy:

Breakfast

Breakfast is of the utmost importance, as a good hearty breakfast will help restore your body’s blood sugar levels following a good night’s sleep. It will also give you the energy you need to get through the day.

Recipes to try include:

Spinach, Cheese and Tomato Omelette

Ingredients

• 2 free range eggs
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 small chopped tomato
• 2 slices Swiss cheese
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

• In a bowl, beat eggs with milk then add spinach and tomatoes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Pour slowly into a preheated skillet, and swirl to cover the base.
• Once egg has set (approximately 2 minutes), place cheese on one side and gently fold in half.
• Cook for 1 minute, turn and cook for 30 seconds.

Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 ripe frozen banana
• ½ cup low fat yoghurt
• 1 cup mixed berries
• 2 tbsp honey

Method

• Blend all ingredients in a blender over high speed.

Lunch

For many pregnant women, lunch is the time when morning sickness is at its worse, despite the term “morning” sickness. If this is the case, look for meals that contain citrus and ginger, which are renowned for helping to relieve nausea and vomiting.

Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 350g diced chicken breast
• 1 finely chopped garlic clove
• 1 cm grated ginger
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 cups reduced-salt chicken stock
• 125g tin sweetcorn kernels
• 1 free range egg, whisked
• 1 squeeze of lemon juice
• Parsley to garnish

Method

• In a deep frying pan or a saucepan, cook chicken, ginger, and garlic in the oil for 4-5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix cornflour and soy sauce before adding to the cooked chicken mix.
• Add chicken stock, and bring mixture to the boil.
• Reduce heat, then simmer for 6-8 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• Slowly pour in the whisked egg and lemon juice, and stir to create thin egg strands.
• Serve in two deep bowls with parsley for garnish.

Lentil soup

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tin tomatoes
• 1 tin cooked, drained lentils
• chopped rosemary, thyme and parsley
• 4 cups reduced-salt chicken stock

Croutons

• 1 small baguette, sliced
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
• 4 tbsp olive oil

Method

• Heat oil in a large saucepan.
• Once oil is hot, add onion, carrot, celery and ginger, and cook over a low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add all remaining ingredients, season with salt and pepper, and bring stock to the boil.
• Once the soup has reached boiling point, reduce to a low heat and allow to simmer for 40 minutes or until lentils are soft.
• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Brush baguette slices with olive oil and sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake for 10 minutes.
• Serve with soup.

Dinner

Seafood and leafy green vegetables offer good amounts of iodised salt and folic acid, which is required for your baby’s developing brain.

Chicken and Broccoli Laksa

Ingredients

• Olive oil spray
• 2 cups salt-reduced chicken stock
• 1 cup light coconut milk
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup finely chopped mint
• 1/2 cup finely chopped coriander
• 1/2 thinly sliced large chicken breast
• 1 tbsp laksa paste
• 1 lime

Method

• Using a medium heat, spray a saucepan with olive oil and cook the laksa paste for 1-2 minutes.
• Add chicken stock and coconut milk to the saucepan, and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Add sliced chicken and chopped broccoli, and cook for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked and broccoli is soft.
• Divide the bean sprouts between two serving bowls.
• Cover the bean sprouts with the laksa, and top with mint and coriander.
• Serve with lime wedges.

Beef Pilaf

Ingredients

• 250g cherry tomatoes
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tspn ground cumin
• 1 tspn ground cinnamon
• 400g diced tender beef
• 1 cup Basmati rice
• 700ml reduced-salt chicken stock
• 1/4 cup currants
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1/2 cup parsley leaves

Method

• In a frying pan, roast cherry tomatoes in 1 1/2 tbsp of oil for 25 minutes.
• In a heavy-based saucepan, heat remaining oil.
• Add curry powder, cumin, cinnamon and beef pieces to saucepan, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until beef has browned.
• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Add the rice, then stir in the stock and bring to the boil.
• Once the mix is bubbling, pour it into a casserole dish. Cover the dish, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
• Stir in tomatoes, currants, and green onions 5 minutes before serving.

Mushroom and Quinoa Risotto

Ingredients

• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 1 tspn minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cup white quinoa, rinsed
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, diced
• 1 cup trumpet mushrooms, diced
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese

Method

• Heat stock in a saucepan over a low heat and let simmer.
• In a separate pot, heat green onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
• Add quinoa to the green onion pot, and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add the white wine and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally until evaporated.
• Gradually add stock to the quinoa mix over 25 minutes so it is absorbed.
• Meanwhile, brown off mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in mushrooms and Parmesan cheese with quinoa mix. Serve immediately.

About the author

Marisa Nastasi is an Accredited Practising Dietitian for Bellamy’s Organic. She specialises in children's nutrition and has recently completed further studies in paediatric dietetics. She has worked in the industry for 8 years and has developed a strong working knowledge on how good quality diets can benefit the health of children so that they can develop to their full potential.