Pregnancy is the best part of a woman’s life. Giving birth to a whole new life itself raises excitement. You are going through mixed emotions of excitement, worry, anxiety, etc. Eating right is the key to a healthy pregnancy as that would ensure a healthy you and the baby growing inside you. But the biggest reason for worry is what to eat and what not to eat during pregnancy. So, bury your worry as we are here with some very simple yet healthy recipes for pregnant women that will make your pregnancy life much more straightforward.
Table Of Content:
- Breakfast Recipes for Pregnant women
- Lunch Recipes for Pregnant women
- Dinner Recipes for Pregnant Women
- Healthy Snacks Recipes for Pregnant women
- Healthy Salads Recipes for Pregnant women
- Indian Meal Recipes during pregnancy
Breakfast Recipes for Pregnant Women:
The morning time is very traumatic during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Trying to deal with nausea and morning sickness, there is neither much energy left to cook, nor do you feel like eating anything heavy. So here are 3 best breakfast recipes which are easy to make and light to the tummy – apt for the pregnancy mornings.
1. Double chocolate banana almond bread:
The double chocolate banana almond bread is power-packed nutrition with absolute deliciousness. The crunchy almonds, the sweetness of bananas and the fudge-y chocolate texture will make you fall in love with this recipe.
Cooking time – 45 minutes
Servings – 8
Ingredients:
- 2 cup blanched almond flour
- A ½ cup of cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 whisked eggs
- ½ cup almond butter
- 2tbsp real maple syrup
- 1tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 ripe mashed bananas
- ½ cup chopped almond
Method:
- Preheat the oven on 350 degrees. Cover a loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, i.e. almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt.
- In another bowl mix all the wet ingredients like whisked eggs, almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, bananas, and milk.
- Now mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and whisk it with a blender.
- Now fold in the chocolate chips and chopped almonds.
- The batter should have a flowing consistency. Else add some milk.
- Add this batter in the loaf pan and garnish with banana pieces and chocolate chips.
- Put this loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake it for 35-40 minutes.
- Let it cool for 10 minutes before removing the parchment paper.
- Delicious and nutritious double chocolate banana almond bread are waiting for you to relish.
2. Berries smoothie:
Berries are rich in various nutrition required during pregnancy and are healthy for consumption. Mixing them with yoghurt makes it a healthy pregnancy drink.
Preparation time – 5 minutes
Servings – 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 1 cup frozen or fresh mixed berries
- One ripe banana
- ½ cup vanilla yoghurt
- A ¼ cup of orange juice
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
Method:
Mix all the ingredients in a blender and mix it till a smooth paste. Remove it in a glass and relish.
3. Banana-Spinach smoothie:
This recipe is a pleasant and easy way to make your mornings healthy.
Preparation time – 5 minutes
Makes – 2 glass
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- One glass milk
- 1 bowl of fresh spinach
Method:
Toss all the ingredients in a blender and pop in a few ice cubes to make a smoothie. Empty in a glass and enjoy.
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Lunch Recipes for Pregnant Women:
No more excuses to skip lunch, especially during pregnancy, even if you are at work. We have some easy to make and carry along recipes for pregnant women, that can fulfil the daily nutrition requirement, even at work.
1. Tuna – Chickpea Pita sandwich:
Tuna is a low-mercury and highly nutritious fish which can be safely consumed during pregnancy while chickpea from the pulses family is rich in protein and a must-have during the pregnancy. A combination of the two in pita bread is an excellent option for a healthy lunch.
Preparation time – 15 minutes
Serves – 4
Ingredients:
For Dressing
- 1/3 cup Greek Yoghurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 ½tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tsp fresh rosemary chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves chopped
For Tuna Salad
- 2 can white albacore Tuna drained well
- 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup chopped celery
- 1/3 cup finely chopped onions
- 2 tomatoes sliced
- 2 cup fresh spinach chopped
- Salt and black pepper as per taste
- Whole wheat pita pocket bread
Method:
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients.
- In another bowl mix tuna, chickpeas, celery, and onions and add the dressing on the top
- Add salt and black pepper as per taste
- Cut the Pita bread into two halves and layer it with spinach, tomatoes and Tuna Salad.
- Healthy Tuna-Chick Peas Pita Sandwich is ready to savour.
2. Vegetable Pizza:
Just because you should avoid outside food doesn’t mean you cannot have pizza for another nine months. We have a healthier and tastier version of it for you to bake at home
Preparation time – 1 hour
Cooking time – 20 minutes
Serves – 4
Ingredients:
- For Pizza base
- 2 ¼ tsp dry yeast
- ½ tsp brown sugar
- 1 ½ cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- 2tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
- are ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- For topping
- Mozzarella cheese
- 2 cup pizza sauce
- All 3 coloured bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
Method:
- Dissolve yeast in brown sugar and let it activate for 10 minutes
- Add oil, flour, and salt and knead on the floured surface until not sticky
- Let it rest for 1 hour
- Punch the dough and let it sit for another 10 minutes
- Roll it on a pizza pan and cook it at 425 degrees for 10 minutes
- After the crust is cooked layer it with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, veggies and bakes it for another 10 minutes
- Yummy and healthy pizza is ready to relish
3. Chicken-Feta pasta:
This yummy pasta needs only moulds ingredients and can mould in a single pan. Let’s see how you can do it:
Preparation time – 5 minutes
Cooking time – 30 minutes
Serves – 4
Ingredients:
- 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ pound of boneless and skinless chicken breast
- 1tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- moulds can diced tomato with basil, oregano, and garlic
- 2 cup of water
- 1 pound whole-wheat pasta
- 4-ounce feta cheese
Method:
- In a large pan with lid heat olive oil and add chicken breast and ½ of salt and black pepper and cook the chicken on one side for 8 minutes.
- Flip over and repeat the procedure.
- Add pasta, tomatoes, and water and cook without lid for 5 minutes and with lid for 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid, stir and add feta cheese. Cook for an additional 5 minutes
Serve hot by garnishing with feta cheese and freshly chopped basil leaves.
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Dinner Recipes for Pregnant Women:
Let’s see how to make your dinner healthy and tasty.
1. Chicken – Broccoli soup:
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- 2 cup salt-reduced chicken stock
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- One cup chopped broccoli
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- ½ cup finely chopped mint
- Half cup finely chopped coriander
- ½ thinly sliced chicken breast – skinless and boneless
- 1 lime
Method:
- Take a pan to add 1 tsp olive oil and add chicken stock and coconut milk to come to a gentle simmer.
- Add sliced chicken and chopped broccoli and cook for another 8 minutes.
- Divide the bean soup into 2 serving bowls
- Cover the bean sprouts with the soup and top it with mint and coriander.
- Serve hot with lime wedges
2. Cottage cheese pancakes:
Ingredients:
- 1 free-range egg
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 1 tsp canola oil
- 3tbsp whole wheat flour
Method:
- In a bowl whisk the egg until creamy.
- Add the mashed cottage cheese and mix well gradually adding the wheat flour.
- In a skillet spread the batter to make four small pancakes. Add oil to the sides
- Cook for 2-3 minutes each side until golden brown
3. Beef Pilaf:
Ingredients:
- 250g cherry tomatoes
- 2 1/2tbsp olive oil
- 1tbsp curry powder
- 1tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 400g diced beef
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 700 ml of reduced chicken stock
- ¼ cup currants
- 3 onions sliced
- ½ cup parsley leaves
Method:
- Add 1 ½tbsp of olive oil and roast cherry tomatoes for about 25 minutes
- In another hot pan heat, the remaining oil add curry powder, cinnamon powder, cumin powder, and diced beef and cook for 4-5 minutes until the meat turns golden brown.
- In a preheated oven at 180 degrees add the rice, stir the stock and bring it to a boil.
- When the mixture is bubbling empty the ingredients in a casserole dish, add beef, and cook for 20-25 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
- Add the onions, currants, and parsley leaves just 5 minutes before serving
The beef pilaf is an extremely healthy and tasty dish to relish during pregnancy.
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Healthy Snacks Recipes for Pregnant Women:
The snacks recipes for pregnant women mentioned here meets the essential pregnancy nutrition requirements, are easy to assemble and clock in just 200-300 calories a day. And the best of all they are tasty too. Let’s have a look at the same:
1. Apple and cheese:
Apple is rich in, while cheese is rich in calcium. A combination of the two will help deal with the morning sickness and will also keep you hydrated.
You need a medium-sized apple and 1 ounce of sliced cheddar cheese. Have it on the go as a healthy snack.
2. Homemade trail mix:
You can store this trail mix in the fridge to keep it fresh and have it on the go.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup dried cherries
- A ½ cup of raw almonds
- ½ cup dark chocolate chunks
Mix all the ingredients well and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge.
Alternatively, you can also mix
- ½ cup walnuts
- Half cup unsweetened coconut
- ½ cup dried and diced mango
- Half cup cashews
Mix all the ingredients well and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge.
3. Greek Yoghurt parfait:
Greek yoghurt is loaded with proteins and mixing it with fresh fruits, and dried fruits make it a very healthy snack.
Ingredients:
- 1 small container of Greek yoghurt
- 1 cup blueberries
- 2tbsp chopped walnuts
Mix all the ingredients and relish.
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Healthy Salads Recipes for Pregnant Women:
Adding fresh fruits and vegetables to the daily pregnancy diet is vital. Here are some easy salad recipes for the pregnancy.
1. Chicken and Arugula Salad:
We all love eating chicken but instead of having spicy chicken tikka trying having chicken and arugula salad, which is very healthy and tasty also.
Ingredients:
- Rinsed and dried Arugula leaves – 12 cups
- 1-pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 4tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves and garlic chopped
- 1 pound diced chicken tenders
- Salt and pepper
- 3tbsp vinegar
- 2 ½ tbsp. mustard
Method:
- Mix Arugula and cherry tomatoes in a bowl
- Take a walk and heat olive oil on a low flame and cook the garlic till golden brown. Add chicken to it and prepare well.
- Add chicken to the salad
- Pour a few drops of olive oil, mustard paste, and vinegar.
- Drizzle salt and pepper as per taste
- Chicken and Arugula Salad is ready to savour
2. Green Salad:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups spinach
- 4tbsp chopped celery
- 4 cup chopped kale
- ¼ cup curd
- Lemon zest
- Finely chopped basil
- Salt and pepper
Method:
- Mix spinach, kale, and celery in a bowl.
- Add curd and mix well
- Add salt, lemon zest, and drizzle pepper and mix well.
- Garnish with chopped basil and eat fresh
3. Paneer-chana salad:
This low-calorie salad is full of Vitamin A and fibres
Ingredients:
- ½ cup paneer
- ¾ cup boiled chana
- ¼ cup finely chopped tomatoes
- 2tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- Cumin powder
- Finely chopped coriander
Method:
- Take paneer cubes, boiled chana, and tomatoes in a bowl and mix well
- Add lemon juice, salt, pepper, cumin powder and toss well.
- Garnish with chopped coriander.
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5 Indian Meal Recipes during pregnancy:
Here are some of the healthy Vegetarian Indian meal recipes that will make a perfect meal for you during your pregnancy.
1. Drumstick Soup:
Drumstick soup is very healthy for pregnancy.
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- Drumsticks chopped – 2 cups
- Tomato – 1
- Bottle Gourd – 1 inch round
- Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
- Water – 4 cups
- Regular Indian Seasonings
Method :
- Heat a pan and add 1tsp of oil and crackle the cumin seeds
- Once the cumin seeds start to crackle add the ginger garlic paste and saute it till it turns golden brown
- Now add drumsticks, tomato and bottle gourd along with water and bring it to a boil.
- Once it starts boiling pasta, add the seasonings such as salt, black pepper powder, and turmeric powder and put on the lid and let it simmer for another 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the flame and sieve to get a clear soup which can be served hot with bun, roll, toast or appam.
2. Adai Dosa:
South Indian recipes is an excellent choice for pregnant women as it is very filling as well as very easy to digest.
Servings – 10-12Dosas
Ingredients:
- 3 Cup Dosa Rice
- 1 cup Udad dal
- ½ cup tur dal
- ¼ cup Bhagar
- 1/4th cup hard moong
- 3tbsp chole
- 3tbsp Rajma
- 1tsp fenugreek seeds
- 3 Red Chillies
- Pinch of Hing
- Salt to Taste
- 1tsp oil
Method:
- Wash and soak all the ingredients overnight (except the last 4)
- Once dipped drain all the water and finely ground all the ingredients will minimal water to make a fine paste. Include the remaining ingredients here while grinding.
- The batter should have a falling consistency. Make sure it is not too runny
- Leave this batter aside for 8-10 hours for fermentation.
- Once the batter is ready to heat a pan, pour a serving spoon of mixture and move in the circular motion to make a dosa.
- Put a few drops of oil for roasting.
- Remove the dosa from the pan when the top side also starts turning a little brown.
- Serve hot with sambhar and chutney.
3. Ragi Idli:
The south Indian cuisine is one of the most healthy cuisines of the Indian recipes that are filling too. Ragi is very healthy for pregnancy, and its idli is one of the tastiest forms for consumption.
Makes – 10-12 Idlis
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Ragi
- A 1 Cup Suji
- 1 cup sour curd
- 1 cup water (add as much required to get the right consistency)
- A pinch of baking soda
- Salt as per taste
- 1tsp oil
Method:
- In a large bowl mix ragi, suji, curd, and salt
- Add water as required and cover for an hour
- After an hour, the batter must have thickened a little bit. Add water to get the right consistency
- Grease the Idli moulds and add water to the idli cooker and let it come to a boil
- Add salt, baking soda and oil to the idli batter and give a nice mix to see froth coming on the idli batter
- Fill the idli batter in the idli moulds and put it in the idli cooker and cover the lid. Cook it for 10-12 minutes
- Remove from flame and allow to cool for 10 minutes
- Remove the idlis carefully from the moulds and serve hot with chutney or sambhar
4. Sprouts Uttapam:
Sprouts are very healthy, but while consuming it during pregnancy, one must be very careful and not consume it raw. Here is an interesting and a healthy and tasty way of consuming sprouts during pregnancy – The sprouts Uttapam
Serves – 2
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mixed sprouts
- 2 cup suji
- 1 cup sour curd
- 1/2 cup grated carrot
- ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 1 tsp finely chopped green chillies
- Salt to taste
- Oil for cooking
Method:
- In a cooker, add all the mixed sprouts and cook till tender. Drain all the water and keep it aside.
- In another bowl mix suji, curd, salt and water and make dosa like a batter. Give it a 15 minutes rest
- Take a non-stick Tawa and pour one large spoon of the mixture and spread in circular motions to make an uttapam
- Spread one spoon of mixed sprouts, onion, and carrot and sprinkle some oil to cook.
- Turn when the bottom side gets golden brown
- Cook the other hand also
- Remove from flame when cooked and serve with chutney or ketchup.
5. Fresh vegetable salad with peanuts:
Serves – 2
Ingredients:
- 2 cup raw peanuts pressure cooked
- 1/4th cup chopped carrot
- A 1/4th cup chopped broccoli
- 1/4th cup French beans
- 1 green chilli finely chopped
- 2tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
- Seasoning like jeera powder, chaat masala, salt, lemon juice, black pepper powder
Method:
- Slightly steam the chopped vegetables
- Mix all the ingredients and garnish with fresh coriander
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Eating healthy and eating right, both are necessary during pregnancy; and we help you do just that! Our pregnancy recipes are very healthy and take care of the daily nutrition requirement during pregnancy. Relish the food even during pregnancy and help your baby grow healthy.
Happy pregnancy!
See More: pate during pregnancy
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
Q1. Is it safe to bend over during pregnancy?
Ans: Surprisingly, it’s safe to bend over during pregnancy. God has provided an incredible cushioning to the baby in the womb. The amniotic fluid in the womb keeps the baby safe in the womb, and any movement by you outside the uterus will not affect the baby.
Q2. What should a pregnant Indian vegetarian eat?
Ans: During pregnancy, a pregnant Indian vegetarian should eat the following foods:
- Foods such as lentils, milk, cheese, beans, tofu, fish, nuts, fresh fruits, and vegetables
- Switch to multigrain chapatti, oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta, wheat bread, and brown rice. Avoid Maida as much as possible
- Avoid junk and fast food as much as possible. This will aid in keeping the weight in control and also make sure that the body receives all the necessary nutrients.
