Healthy Recipes for Pregnant Women

There are no special diets for pregnant women, but following a well-balanced, healthy diet is always recommended. Take a look at some healthy recipes for pregnant women that are beneficial for the growing baby, as well as the mother.

Every expecting mother searches for healthy and nutritional recipes that is favorable for her baby and herself. And we all know that at times they get irresistible and strange cravings for certain kinds of food. When you're pregnant, it is possible that you might start liking the foods you once used to hate. The healthy recipes for pregnant women mentioned below have staying power, as they are adaptable to all types of foods you may want to consume, at any given time of the day. These recipes will aid you in staying on track to eat wholesome foods that are nourishing for you and your baby.

Because you will be eating for two, all the nutrients from the food you consume will go straight to the baby first. So if your balanced diet is lacking essential sustenances, you may be left depleted.

Easy Healthy Recipes for Pregnancy

The below mentioned easy healthy recipes for pregnancy is categorized into an entire day: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and dessert. There are times when the entire table will be filled with delicious treats and you must be having a hard time deciding if you should or shouldn't eat them. No matter what your dilemma is, these healthy recipes for pregnant women can be balanced in all the stages.

Breakfast

Start your day with hearty and valuable breakfast or brunch. With these healthy recipes for pregnant women, you will satisfy yourself and the little one inside you. Read more on high protein breakfast ideas.

Bulgur Breakfast Bowl Recipe

cup coarse bulgur cereal

20 dried figs, coarsely chopped

cup toasted walnuts, chopped

1 cup 2% milk

3 tablespoons brown sugar

Take a pan and fill it with water. Boil it over high heat. Add the bulgur and cook it till it turns tender. This will take about 15 - 20 minutes. Take another small bowl of hot water and soak the figs so that it gets soft. Drain the bulgur and keep the pan back on the stove. Take the figs, squeeze the water out, and whisk it into the cereal. Pour the milk and sugar in it, and keep stirring. Cook it till the sugar melts and pour the hot cereal out in a bowl. Add walnuts on top and serve hot.

Strawberry French Toast Recipe

2 tablespoons strawberry jam

cup milk

3 eggs, lightly beaten

Salt for taste

2 tablespoons butter

6 slices whole wheat bread

Sliced strawberries and confectioner’s sugar, for serving

Warm the jam and mix it till it gets loose. Add the milk, eggs, and salt in it as you keep stirring everything in. Take a deep, large pan and place 2 - 3 slices of bread dipped in the egg mixture. Make each sides moist and place them in the pan. Cook both the sides of the french toast till it turns golden brown. Finish making all the french toast and cut them into triangles. Serve with sliced strawberries on top and sprinkle confectioner's sugar.

For additional information about healthy recipes for pregnant women, go to:

Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Healthy Breakfast Recipes with Nutritional Facts

Lunch

Help yourself with nice crunchy salads, sandwiches, and burgers for lunch.

Crunchy Pear Salad Recipe

1 ripe pear, peeled and thinly sliced

4 cups baby spinach

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 shallot, minced

Ѕ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

cup walnut, chopped

Take a salad bowl and mix the spinach and slices of pear together. Take another small bowl and whisk in vinegar, mustard, olive oil, shallot, salt, and pepper. Add the dressing in the spinach-pear mixture and coat evenly. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese and walnuts on top. Serve immediately.

Lemon-Basil Turkey Burger Recipe

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 bunch fresh basil, chopped

1 cup whole-wheat bread crumbs

3 scallions, chopped

Lemon zest

Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients together. Mix it properly and divide into 4 even parts. Make thick patties according to your liking. Take a nonstick pan and cook the patties over medium heat for about 10 - 15 minutes. Cook all the sides completely and season with salt and pepper. Add ј cup of water in the pan, cover it, and let the patties cook for another 2 - 3 minutes. Place them between the hamburger buns and serve it with mustard and ketchup.

Read more on:

How to Make Chicken Salad

A Whole Lot of Sandwich

Snack

Take a look at these two delectable and irresistible smoothies that will make your mouth water. Both the recipes have good amounts of proteins, fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin C, carbohydrate, and around 320 and 346 calories respectively.

Ginger Peach Passion Recipe

Ѕ cup peaches, peeled

1 cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt

cup mango juice

Ѕ teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Cut the peaches into small slices. Add all the ingredients into a blender and mix it until it turns smooth. Have the smoothie while it's fresh. You can also opt to refrigerate the leftover and have it later in the day.

Banana Berry Delight Recipe

1 small banana, peeled

1 cup frozen mixed berries

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Ѕ cup vanilla soy milk

Ѕ cup low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt

Cut the bananas into small slices. Add all the ingredients into a blender and mix it until it turns smooth. Have the smoothie while it's fresh. You can also opt to refrigerate the leftover and have it later in the day.

Get additional healthy recipes for pregnant women:

Yogurt Smoothie Recipe

Healthy Fruit Smoothie Recipes

Dinner

Who says you can't have pasta when you're pregnant? You sure can and a delicious recipe awaits you. Here's a quick way to enjoy some fettuccine with Parmesan cheese.

Fettuccine with Turkey & Wild Mushrooms Recipe

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

3 tablespoons fresh dill, minced

3 cups shiitake or portobello mushrooms, sliced

2 shallots, minced

1 teaspoon thyme leaves

lb whole-wheat fettuccine

Ѕ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Ѕ lb boneless, skinless turkey breast, thinly sliced

Ѕ cup plain yogurt

Salt and pepper for taste

Cook the fettuccine as per the directions on the box. In a large pan, heat olive oil, add turkey to it and cook for about 3 - 5 minutes. Incorporate the mushrooms, shallots, and thyme and cool for another 5 minutes. Add the yogurt and dill in it. Once the fettuccine is ready, drain it and toss it with the turkey-mushroom mix. Add the Parmesan cheese to it and mix properly. Season the fettuccine with salt and pepper, and sprinkle some pine nuts on top.

Get more healthy recipes for pregnant women:

Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Capellini Pasta Recipes

Dessert

My favorite time in the day, as I get to eat yummy treats to satisfy my sweet tooth. You can do so as well with these simple and healthy recipes for pregnant women.

Fruit Salad Recipe

1 ripe pineapple, cored and peeled

1 ripe pear, cored

1 banana, peeled

1 pink grapefruit, skin and pit removed

1 cup fresh raspberries

2 tablespoons strawberry jam

Cut the pineapple, pear, banana, and grapefruit into small bite-size pieces. Take a bowl and add all the ingredients in it. Mix the jam properly and refrigerate it for an hour or so before having it. The fruit salad can be refrigerated up to 3 days.

Rice Pudding Recipe

1 quart whole or reduced fat milk

cup white rice, steamed

Ѕ teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup sugar plus additional to taste

1 cinnamon stick

1 egg, lightly beaten

Ground cinnamon

Your choice of chopped fresh fruit

Take a heavy pan and warm the milk, steamed rice, cinnamon stick, and sugar. Keep the heat at medium and when the mixture starts to boil, reduce it to low, and keep stirring from time to time. Do this for half an hour and then take the cinnamon stick out. Whisk the beaten egg in and stir for another 5 minutes over low heat. Add the vanilla, salt, and sugar if needed. Let the mixture cool down and then refrigerate it. Serve the rice pudding chilled with dusted ground cinnamon on it and your choice of fresh fruits.

For additional desserts, go to:

Mexican Dessert Recipes

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Here is a detailed chart of an entire day on what can be some healthy recipes for pregnant women. Apart from that, you should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid eating junk food and fast food as they don't provide any proteins, vitamins, and other important nutrients for your baby. Engage in non-impact exercises daily to help keep the muscles strong during the birthing stage. May you have a hassle-free pregnancy and birth time.