babyMaternity Magazine
Creative Child

Healthy Meal Ideas for Pregnancy

by Rebecca Eanes

Lunch

1. Pizza

Turn an old favorite into a healthy treat with whole-grain crust topped with tomato sauce and sliced veggies.

2. Vegetable soup

It's always good to have at least one soup option in your pregnancy meal plan. Make a large batch of vegetable soup and warm up a bowl for lunch. Add a grilled cheese on the side and start nibbling. Here’s a recipe for veggie soup.

3. Turkey Sandwich

Turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread with mustard, lettuce, and cheese. Add a side of celery with peanut butter to help fill you up.

4. Grilled chicken wrap

Make your partner and friends jealous of your pregnancy meal plan with this yummy chicken wrap. Pile it high with grilled or raw veggies on a whole-grain tortilla and it's filled with vitamins and protein!

5. Super salad

Begin with kale or spinach, add a variety of colorful chopped veggies, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds. Add grilled chicken and hard-boiled eggs if you like, and top with extra virgin olive oil and vinegar.

6. Quinoa salad

Rinse 1 ½ cups of quinoa thoroughly and put in 3 cups of boiling water. Reduce to simmer, cover, and cook until water is absorbed. Halve 1 ½ cups of grape tomatoes, and cut up 1 avocado. Once quinoa is cooked, drizzle with olive oil and agave or honey and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir in tomatoes and avocado. This recipe is a little more precise and structured but worth the wait with loaded flavor and savory spices. 

7. Black bean and cheese quesadilla

Use pre-cooked black beans and reduced fat Monterey Jack cheese as your base, then pile on your favorite veggies. This can be put in your pregnancy meal plan with tons of different options to satisfy any craving you're having at the moment. 

8. Strawberry spinach salad

This recipe is pretty straight forward. You can add a variety of fruits, sauces, and vegetables  to this salad. I usually go with walnuts, agave and a little seasoning to spice it up.  

Want to make your own dressing from scratch? Try this homemade poppy seed dressing from All Recipes.

9. Veggie macaroni and cheese

Use fiber-rich whole wheat pasta with low fat cheeses and add tomatoes and peas. This can be for lunch or a side dish to dinner, but in either situation it will be a delicious and healthy addition to your pregnancy meal plan.

10. Veggie and hummus plate

Any veggies and some hummus on the side can be a nice small lunch if you're not that hungry. It's also a nice afternoon snack if the hunger pangs hit before dinner time. 

Try a nice pregnancy Smoothie that includes peach, mango and ginger for an extra pick-me-up to go along with your healthy lunch. 

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