Diet is a major concern in pregnancy days. Whether it is breakfast or lunch, these vulnerable days ask for extra nutrition and safety measures.
After all, you are carrying a new life within you. You cannot be careless. The days of random munching on snacks are gone!
You may have to put a full stop on the frequent visit to the street food corners and having extra spicy foods. Having said that, a common concern often arises: what to eat for dinner.
Deciding pregnancy dinner menu or lunch menu is not easy. It is best if you consult a notable nutritionist for your pregnancy diet chart when you get pregnant.
What to Eat for Dinner: Ingredients to Add to Your Pregnancy Dinner Recipes
However, we are here to ease your task. The ingredients that are ideal for pregnancy dinner recipes are:
Lentils
It is one of the most essential ingredients to add to your dinner menu. Enriched with B Vitamin folate, it is essential for developing a baby’s brain and complete nervous system. Lentils in soup or salad! The best treat for these days! However, many ways of cooking lentils are there. But make sure that the recipes are not too spicy. It may cause heartburn.
Soybeans
Another protein-packed food is soybeans. You can add it to your pregnancy menu in a moderate amount. Also, you can try the add-ons prepared with soybeans. For example, you have soy sauce, soy milk, etc. Well, eat only natural soybeans. Genetically modified soybeans may harm you and your baby. Beware of it!
Chickpeas
A bowl of chickpeas soaked in thick soup! Isn’t it a heavenly pleasure? Surely, chickpeas lovers will be there to cheer up on this thought! Nonetheless, regardless of your love or hate for it, you cannot ignore its nutritional benefits. Protein, folic acid, minerals, and what’s not! If you think about what to eat for dinner, try it in your recipes.
Sweet Potatoes
It is a rich source of beta-carotene. Beta carotene is important for the healthy cell growth of your baby. Well, if you are pregnant, refrain from having raw sweet potato salads. Instead, cook them properly and enjoy your dinners.
Salmon
Are you a fish lover? Or the pregnancy craving wants you to have it? Very well. Nutritionists say that you can eat fish these days. But, the fish must be low-mercury ones. And salmon is one of the best options for it. Also, salmon is a source of Vitamin D. Grill it or bake it! The lip-smacking taste gives you immense pleasure.
Except these, there are many other items like lean meat, eggs, broccoli, etc. are there to be added to dinner. When you think of what to eat for dinner, make sure you eat a balanced diet. Here, we share some recipes to help you.
Savoury Salmon Recipe
Equipment
- Slow cooker (if not available, regular cooking pot)
Ingredients
- 500 salmon fillet washed, skin-on
- kosher salt as per requirement
- 2 pinches black pepper freshly ground
- 1 and 1/2 lemon cut into round shapes
- 1 cup mixed vegetable carrot, beans, green peas; chopped
Instructions
- Boil the vegetables on a medium flame. Add some black pepper and salt to it.
- Once they are cooked properly, keep the vegetable broth aside.
- Now, place a large parchment paper on the slow cooker. Add a layer of lemon pieces to it and place the salmon fillet on it.
- Season the fish with adequate salt and black pepper. Next, lay some more lemon pieces on it.
- Add the vegetable broth and lemon juice to the dish. Cook it for 2 hours in a slow cooker.
- Once the salmon is tender enough in the broth, serve hot.
Nutrition
Healthy and Tasty Chicken Lentil Soup
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 400 gms lentils dried
- 400 gms chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 tomato diced
- 2 onions chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp oregano dried
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder ground
- salt as required
- 6 cups chicken broth
- plain Greek Yogurt for topping
- green onion for topping
Instructions
- Grease the cooker with oil. Put tomato, onion, and garlic into the pot.
- Then, add the chicken and lentils to it with oregano, cumin powder, chilli powder on them.
- Finally, pour the chicken broth slowly. Cook it for 3 hours.
- Open the lid and check if the chicken breasts are tender or not.
- If they are tender, remove them and shred them into pieces.
- Stir well. Add greek yogurt and diced green onions.
Notes
Nutrition
Walnut Chicken with Mustard Sauce and Honey
Equipment
- oven for baking
Ingredients
- 500 gms chicken breasts
- 100 gms walnuts chopped
- 1 tbsp mustard sauce fresh
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp thyme fresh
- salt and black pepper for taste
- chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
Instructions
- Add garlic, mustard sauce, and thyme to the pan. Mix them together.
- Season the chicken breast with salt and black pepper.
- Spread the mustard sauced mix on the chicken breast. Keep it in freeze for 15 minutes.
- Now, coat it with chopped walnuts from both sides. Refrigerate for 1 or 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to a temperature of 375 ° F. Take a skillet and grease it with oil.
- Place the chicken breast with salt and olive oil on it. Bake it until the walnuts are toasted.
- Drizzle some mustard sauce. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.
Nutrition
Healthy Soto Ayam Recipe
Ingredients
- 400 gms chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cut into cubes
- 400 gms rice noodles
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 200 ml light coconut milk
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- salt and black pepper to taste
for spices
- 1 tsp coriander seeds ground
- 1 tsp cumin seeds ground
- 4 shallots chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp turmeric powder freshly ground
- 1 piece galangal diced
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 1 tbsp lime juice fresh
For toppings
- 1 cup cabbages sliced, boiled
- 2 cups bean sprouts boiled
- 2 hard-boiled eggs cut into rounds
- 1 stalk spring onion chopped
- 1 lime cut into wedges
Instructions
- Soak noodles in warm water. Sprinkle a few drops of olive oil into it to avoid stickiness.
- Blend the spices in a food processor. Add a little water if necessary.
- Pour oil in a pot at medium heat. Add the spice paste when the oil is heated up.
- When fragrance starts coming out, add the chicken broth, coconut milk, lemongrass, and water. Bring them to a boil.
- Add the chicken breasts and salt. Cover the pot and cook on low heat for around 30 minutes.
- Top rice noodles with cabbages, bean sprouts, and hard-boiled eggs.
- Pour hot chicken broth mixture into it. Sprinkle chopped spring onions on it and add lime wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Egg Roll Stuffed with Avocado
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 avocado chopped and smashed
- 1 tomato chopped
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- kosher salt as per taste
- black pepper freshly ground, as per taste
- 4 egg roll wrappers
for sauce
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 2 green chillis chopped
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- salt and black pepper as per taste
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce by mixing all of the ingredients. Add lemon juice, black pepper and salt to it.
- Now, heat oil on a flat pan on a medium flame.
- Add smashed avocados, tomatoes, onion, lime juice, salt, and black pepper to it.
- Now, take each wrapper and place the avocado mixture on it.
- Fold the wrapper and seal the edges pressing them with water.
- Fry the avocado-filled egg roll wrappers until both sides turn golden brown.
Notes
Nutrition
Mixed Fried Rice with Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 inches ginger grated
- 2 tsp white pepper ground
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 250 gms shrimp medium-sized, peeled, and washed
- kosher salt as per taste
- black pepper as per taste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 onion diced
- 2 carrots peeled, grated
- 1/2 cup corns boiled
- 1/2 cup green peas boiled
- 2 cups rice cooked
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1 carrot grated, medium-sized
Instructions
- Mix soy sauce and sesame oil, grated ginger, and white pepper. Set it aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Add shrimps to it and fry for two minutes.
- Add garlic and onion to the pan. Sauté them until they become translucent.
- Add carrots, peas, and corns and stir. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
- Now, add rice to it. Pour the soy sauce mixture. Add shrimps and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Sprinkle the green onions.
Notes
Nutrition
Spinach and Red Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 400 gms red lentils soaked in water for 10-15 minutes.
- 5 cups vegetable stock you can add water if not available
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion small, chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tomato large, chopped
- 1 carrot chopped
- 1 tsp turmeric powder freshly ground
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 200 gms spinach boiled
- lemon juice as per taste
- salt and black pepper as per taste
- chopped coriander leaves for garnishing
Instructions
- Take a heavy bottom pot and heat oil in it. Sauté onion, garlic, tomatoes, and carrots to it.
- Add cumin powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder, salt to it.
- When a gentle fragrance of curry will come out, add vegetable broth or water to it. Bring it to boil.
- Add red lentils, boiled spinach to it and stir. Close the lid and cook for around 20 minutes.
- Mix lemon juice to it. Season with salt (if required) and black pepper, chopped coriander leaves and serve.
The Bottom Line
So, how did you like the recipes? All of them are super healthy and delicious to enjoy. Definitely, your unborn toddler will feel a sense of blissful happiness when you prepare these delicacies for your dinner.
Hopefully, you do not have to think about what to eat for dinner. Enjoy your pregnancy days gracefully!
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!