7 Healthy Pregnancy Recipes for Mums in the Second Trimester

You’re in the second trimester of your pregnancy, yay!

The days where you’re always feeling nauseous and nervous are probably a rare occasion now.

But that doesn’t mean that the second trimester is a walk in the park; in fact, you should be even more vigilant of your health at this point.

With your second trimester, the need to maintain a healthy diet is even more important.

So, that means you can’t just eat whatever you want as you please.

Sure, once in a while it’s fine to give in to the more harmless cravings you may have.

But, of course, this is often easier said than done.

Well, fret not, mummies!

In this article, we will share some delicious yet nutritious recipes for pregnancy second trimester.

These recipes are healthier alternatives to existing recipes that we may know and love.

So, even through your second trimester, you can still enjoy a wide range of gastronomic experience.

Without further ado, here are some recipes for you mums in your second trimester!

7 Healthy Pregnancy Recipes for Mums in the Second Trimester

Char Kway Teow (Fried Kway Teow)

This local specialty dish is not only dear to all of us, they're also delicious! Instead of the regular spicy kick we Malaysians are used to, however, this recipe tones down the spiciness level for you. So pregnant mums can eat this lovely local dish, too!

Course Mains

Cuisine Asian, Malay

Keyword Pregnant

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings people

Calories 257kcal

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
400 g flat noodles (kway teow) boiled
100 g cottage cheese (or paneer) cubed
½ cup cabbage chopped
½ cup carrot chopped
½ cup capsicum chopped
½ cup fresh green peas
1 onion finely chopped
2 green chillis finely chopped
1 tomato chopped
1 tbsp green onion finely chopped
1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp light soy sauce
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Start by heating some oil in a pan.
Add the onions and sauté until translucent.
Then, add ginger and garlic paste into the pan. Fry for 2 minutes or until fragrant.
Next, add the vegetables to the pan and continue to stir-fry.
Once the veggies become tender, add the cottage cheese (or paneer) cubes.
Add soy sauce and cumin powder, and salt to taste. Stir to incorporate.
Mix soy sauce into it with cumin powder and salt.
Once sauce has thickened, add in the boiled flat noodles (kway teow). Mix thoroughly to ensure noodles are coated with the sauce.
Add black pepper to taste, and garnish with green onions and coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Nutrition

Smoked Chicken and Avocado Salad

This simple salad may not look like much, but it is full of vitamins such as vitamin B6 and E, making it an ideal lunchtime meal for pregnant mums! The taste of smoked chicken also gives this dish a bit more variety of flavour, too.

Course Mains

Cuisine Asian, Western

Keyword Pregnant

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings people

Calories 143kcal

Ingredients

200 g smoked chicken sliced
100 g ripe avocado sliced thinly
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp black pepper powder
salt to taste
1 tsp thyme leaves
1 tbsp coriander leaves chopped
2-3 pieces fresh lettuce leaves boiled
1 cucumber sliced into rounds

Instructions

Start by placing boiled lettuce leaves on a plate, followed by the shredded smoked chicken.
Then, add the ripe sliced avocado pieces on top of it. Sprinkle some black pepper and pour a drizzle olive oil for dressing.
Mix thyme leaves and olive oil together. drizzle it over the dish.
Place the cucumber slices on the avocado and smoked chicken slices.
Sprinkle salt to taste, and garnish with coriander leaves, if prefered. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Cinnamon-flavoured Zucchini Carrot Muffins

Some days you can't help but want to bite into a sweet treat. And that's totally okay! But if you're worried about the cons that a regular sweet treat can do to you, then try out this healthy muffin alternative featuring carrots and zucchinis!

Course Dessert

Cuisine Western

Keyword Pregnant

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings pieces

Calories 252kcal

Ingredients

200 g zucchini grated
200 g carrot grated
50 g walnut and pistachio nuts grated
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oats gluten-free
½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon powder ground
kosher salt to taste
½ cup Greek yoghurt non-fat
2 eggs large
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp vanilla essence

Instructions

Start by mixing the oats, zucchini, carrots, and nuts together.
Then, add the whole wheat flour, and mix once more to combine.
In another bowl, whisk the egg and Greek yoghurt together.
Add the honey and olive oil, and mix well.
Combine the wet and dry mixed ingredients together, and blend well to make the muffin batter.
Add the cinnamon powder, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla essence into the batter.
Heat the oven at 180°C.
Pour the mixture into a tray lined with muffin cups.
Bake it for 18-20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean when poked.
Once done, ready to serve as is, or to be eaten with toppings of your choice.

Nutrition

Pumpkin, Pea, and Cashew Curry Pasta

Love pasta? Then, this is the dish for you! Most pastas can be more on the decadent side, making it hard for us pasta lovers during pregnancy. every once in a while, while is fine; but if you want a healthier alternative, try out this creamy pasta with a pumpkin, pea, and cashew curry as a base.

Course Mains

Cuisine Asian, Italian, Western

Keyword Family, Pregnant

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings people

Calories 534kcal

Ingredients

400 g elbow pasta boiled per package instructions
1 onion chopped
1 tomato chopped
100 g peas
50 g cashews
50 g almonds chopped
60 g baby spinach chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat some oil in a pan on a medium flame.
Next, add the onions and tomato into it and sauté until fragrant.
Add the chopped spinach into the pan, and cook for 10-15 minutes.
When spinach is cooked well, add the cashews and peas. Stir fry together.
Next, add the pre-boiled pasta to it.
Mix all the ingredients together, and add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot, with tomato or tamarind sauce.

Nutrition

Hearty Olive and Basil Pizza

When we talk about pizza, what comes to mind is the decadent, cheesy, and absolutely heavenly toppings you can add on it. But as delicious as it is, it can be a pretty unhealthy option to eat often. So, here is an alternative that is much healthier, while still giving you the pleasure and satisfaction of eating a regular pizza.

Course Mains

Cuisine Asian, Italian

Keyword Family, Kids, Pregnant

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings people

Calories 290kcal

Ingredients

1 thin-crust pizza base
3 tbsp basil leaves
1 tomato chopped
1 onion chopped
½ cup broccoli chopped
½ cup capsicum diced
1 tbsp black olives halved
1 cup cheese shredded
2 tbsp pizza sauce
1 tbsp oregano herbs

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven at 200°C.
In a pan, heat some oil and stir fry all of the veggies.
Spread the pizza sauce on the crust. Add the black olives, basil leaves, and other vegetables.
Add the shredded cheese on the pizza base.
Next, put the pizza into oven, and cook it for 15-20 minutes.
Sprinkle some additional oregano and serve hot.

Nutrition

Red Lentil and Cauliflower Korma

The korma, or kurma, as we Malaysians would know it, is a dish we are very familiar with. Served as a lunch or dinner staple, and even for events like weddings, this dish is well-liked thanks to its sweet sauce and versatility. If you feel the urge to eat some of this delicacy, then try out this healthy and pregnancy-friendly alternative.

Course Mains

Cuisine Asian

Keyword Pregnant

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings people

Calories 438kcal

Ingredients

1 tbsp oil
1 onion chopped
2 cups vegetable stock
200 g tomatoes chopped
½ cup red lentils washed and boiled
3 tbsp Greek yoghurt
½ cup mint leaves chopped
200 g green peas fresh
350 g cauliflower cut into florets
100 g green beans chopped into long medium pieces
1 tsp cumin powder
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Start by heating the oil in a pan, and adding the onion in. Stir-fry until onions turn translucent.
Then, cook the peas, beans and cauliflower florets with the onions.
Add salt to taste, and pour the vegetable stock into the pan.
Boil red lentils in a pressure cooker, and mix it with the vegetables once done.
Add cumin powder, salt, and black pepper to the pan. Cook for 15 minutes.
Add some Greek yoghurt and mint leaves. Mix well to combine.
Simmer for 1-2 minutes, and serve hot.

Nutrition

Spinach Quinoa Fritters with Yoghurt Sauce

Pregnancy cravings may make you feel in the mood to munch on something all the time. So, try out this recipe! Bite-sized spinach quinoa fritters that aren't deep-fried make great alternatives to a fried snack.

Course Appetiser

Cuisine Asian

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings people

Calories 365kcal

Ingredients

1 cup spinach chopped
2 eggs
1 cup cooked quinoa
½ cup breadcrumbs
oil
2 tbsp chives minced
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

For Yogurt sauce

1 cup yoghurt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp black pepper powder
1 clove garlic grated
salt to taste

Instructions

Mix the eggs, spinach, quinoa, chives, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl.
Add the bread crumbs and mix well to combine.
Heat oil in a pan, then place the mixture into little patties.
Fry the fritters on one side until it turns brown, and then flip to the other side. Repeat process for all patties.
Prepare the yoghurt sauce by blending the yoghurt and garlic first.
Add lemon juice, salt, and black pepper as per your taste.
Serve fritters with the sauce as is.

Nutrition

Caring for Your Health in Your Second Trimester

This second stage of your pregnancy is a milestone, and you will definitely experience relief from thing like morning sickness, vertigo, and nausea.

But, you still have to watch out for you and your little one’s health.

Remember that while it’s okay to indulge in food you like every once in a while (as long as they are relatively harmless), balance is needed.

Always talk to your doctor and nutritionist regarding your food intake and nutrition.

You should always prioritise your medical practitioner’s advice, and follow these steps as well:

Hydrate yourself—drink enough liquid
Add protein to your pregnancy second trimester diet
Exercise regularly
Limit your caffeine intake
Avoid alcohol for these days
Do not skip meals
Pay attention to your sleep cycle

So, with this out of the way, we hope that these recipes can give you some inspiration to continue enjoying both your pregnancy and your love for food.

If you want more pregnancy-oriented recipes, try checking out our lunch recipes for pregnancy over here!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.

For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!