Top tips for meal planning during pregnancy

Top tips for meal planning during pregnancy


Start the day with an egg; Eggs are an important source of nutrients, and having an egg for breakfast several mornings each week will contribute to intakes of vitamin A, vitamin D, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B₁₂, iron, calcium, zinc, and choline, many of which are particularly important in pregnancy.

Eggs are cheap, very easy to cook, and very versatile. Examples, breakfasts, snacks, and meals that include eggs. We use free-range eggs in our meal and snack ideas. You can eat well and ethically on a budget.

There is a lot of advice available for pregnant women to support them to eat well in pregnancy, and other useful and expert resources are extensively outlined in this blog. Below are some specific practical tips that may be useful when supporting women during their pregnancy. 

Tips for meal planning in pregnancy


Make time for breakfast

A small snack in the morning may help with nausea in early pregnancy. If breakfast is missed, it is more likely that people will snack mid-morning on high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods and miss out on some important nutrients like B vitamins, fiber, iron, and zinc that are found in cereals and breads. Most breakfast cereals are a good source of energy, fiber and other nutrients, and low-sugar, low-salt cereals like weet bisks, puffed wheat, crisped rice, cornflakes, and malted wheat are good breakfast choices and can also be snacks at other times of the day.

It is a good idea to have a glass of 100% fruit juice with breakfast, as fruit juice is a good source of vitamin C, and vitamin C may help the body to absorb iron from cereal foods.

Breakfast does not have to include traditional breakfast foods, however. Practical examples of nutritious breakfasts or other meals and snacks that could be eaten in the morning can be found on HEALTHY MEALS.

Eat more vegetables 


Almost everyone would benefit from eating more vegetables every day. There is excellent evidence that eating more vegetables is associated with better health throughout people’s lives. And vegetables taste good and are cheap, versatile, and colorful, so it’s very unlikely someone won’t find a vegetable they like. 
Almost everyone would benefit from eating more vegetables every day.


Everyone should aim to have at least three different types of vegetables or salads every day at portions of 80 gm or more. A wide variety of fresh, dried, canned, and frozen vegetables can be included in the diet. It is fine to eat more, and in lots of countries, they now say that half of all your main meals should be vegetables.
People who say they don’t like vegetables may be more willing to try:
  • Sweetcorn or baby corncobs
  • Raw carrot sticks, slices of red and yellow peppers, or cherry tomatoes
  • Tomato sauce on pasta
  • ‘bubble and squeak’ (green cabbage and mashed potato mixed together)
  • stir-fry vegetables
  • Vegetable soup
  • Vegetable curry
  • grated carrot as a salad.

Eat more fruit

Everyone should have at least two different types of fruit a day. One of these can be a glass of 100% fruit juice and the other can be a piece of fresh fruit or a small portion of dried fruit or some canned or frozen fruit.

People who say they don’t like fruit may be more willing to try:
  • Canned or fresh pineapple, peaches or fruit salad in fruit juice
  • Fruit smoothies (fresh or canned fruit in juice liquidized together with other fruit, natural low-fat yogurt or fruit juice), or fresh fruit milkshakes made with skimmed milk and fruit
  • Raisins, or other dried fruit such as dates, apricots, pear or mango
  • Banana with ice cream or custard
  • Fresh fruit jellies or home-made lollies
  • Fruit kebabs
  • Frozen bananas.

Eating more locally and organically grown fruits and vegetables

We are able to grow a wide range of fruits and vegetables in most parts of the world and it is better for the environment and the economy, if we all try and eat foods that do not have to travel long distances. Also, it is better for the environment if fruits and vegetables are grown without the need for artificial heat, or for lots of added chemicals.

Organic fruits and vegetables do not contain more nutrients than conventionally grown ones, but farmers who grow food organically make an important contribution to protecting wildlife and keeping the land and soil healthy.

Eat more potatoes

Potatoes are an excellent source of nutrients and fiber, as well as being a starchy, ‘energy-giving’ food. Potatoes grow well in most parts of the world and can often be sourced locally. Potatoes are really versatile, are very good value for money, and are easy to cook. Jacket potatoes with fillings such as mashed tuna fish or baked beans or low-fat soft cheese, and served with a salad or hot vegetable, can be a very quick, easy, and nutritious meal.

Ideas for fillings for the baked potato

  • Baked beans
  • Baked beans with a few drops of chili sauce
  • Cheddar cheese and chopped cherry tomatoes
  • Chicken and broccoli
  • Chili con carne
  • Cottage cheese with chopped pineapple
  • Cottage cheese with onion and chives
  • Grated cheese and tomato Ham and chopped pineapple Houmous  
  • Low-fat soft cheese
  • Mashed tuna
  • Mashed tuna, grated carrot, and chopped cherry tomatoes
  • Mozzarella, chopped tomato, and basil
  • Plain yogurt mixed with coriander, chopped cucumber and spring onion
  • Roasted peppers
  • Scrambled egg with chopped tomatoes and red pepper
  • Tomato salsa
  • Tuna and sweetcorn mayonnaise

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