The joy of bringing a new life into the world cannot be overstated, and we are sure you only want the best for your baby. Fortunately, medical science has come a long way, and there is more information than ever about what steps expecting mothers can take to ensure a happy and healthy child. Of course, one big component is committing to a diet conducive to a healthy pregnancy. And seeing as breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it stands to reason that starting with a healthy one will only help.
Given that you are eating for two, using recipes that promote nutrition is essential. It also helps to find recipes that offer easy preparation, seeing as you will likely not have quite as much energy as you had before the pregnancy. Here are a few ideas on making your breakfast healthy for you and your baby.
Recipe #1: Apple Pancakes
We defy you to find a person on Earth who does not enjoy a warm pancake. When you are pregnant, pancakes might become even more enticing to you. Add in the nutritional benefits afforded by apples, and you have yourself a breakfast option that is healthy and tasty. While we do credit The Worktop for this recipe, it has the potential to be something spectacularly good for your early morning meal.
To start, you will need to gather the following ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup quick-cooking oats
- 2 tablespoons quinoa flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 medium apple
- ½ cup raisins
Once you have your ingredients, you are ready to get cooking! The first step is to take your dry ingredients and mix them all in a large bowl. Then, take a medium bowl and use it to beat your eggs while mixing them with the milk and maple syrup with a hand beater. Once you have completed these steps, mix the contents of both bowls and beat them together until you have a nice batter. Then use a fork to mix the apples and raisins into the batter.
Once you have your batter, heat a non-stick pan on a medium or medium-high flame and add in some oil. After that, add ¼ cup of the batter for each pancake you intend to make and use a spoon or similar implement to form a circle. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the pancake begins to bubble and look a little dry or until the bottom is golden brown. Then, flip the pancake over and repeat.
Et voila, a pancake breakfast that can be served with syrup.
Recipe #2: Kale Egg Scramble
Protein is incredibly important when you are pregnant. In fact, protein should be your main focus for your breakfasts, with things like the previous pancake recipe serving as occasional treats. And, as you might expect, one of the best protein sources lies in eggs. Besides, who doesn't love a good egg breakfast in the morning? Well, thanks to Pregnancy Eats, we have a recipe for a kale egg scramble that will be an excellent source of protein, nutrients, and flavor.
The ingredients you will need for this particular recipe are simple enough:
- 2 large leaves of kale
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
See? Simple. Once you have gathered your eggs and kale, it is time to get to work. The first step is to thoroughly wash your kale before chopping it into bite-size pieces and setting them aside. Then you need to crack your eggs open and put them into a medium-sized bowl to whisk until they are thoroughly beaten. Then it is time to break out the trusty non-stick pan alongside a silicone spatula.
Put the pan over medium heat and pour the olive oil in and allow it to simmer for 1 minute before pouring in the egg. Once bubbles start forming, use the spatula to stir the eggs. As you stir, add the kale into the mix as well and cook to completion. So there you have it—one kale egg scramble. Serve and enjoy with a side of toast or fresh fruit.
Recipe #3: Savory Oatmeal with Bone Broth
You are undoubtedly aware that one of the most trying details of pregnancy is the morning sickness that often plagues you first thing in the morning. When this happens, the idea of eating anything might not excite you. However, it is still important to have a nutritious breakfast for you and your child. Fortunately, The Worktop has provided a recipe for a meal that will be easy on your stomach when the morning sickness is particularly bad.
This savory oatmeal is filling and easy to keep down, and you will need the following ingredients to make it:
- 2 cups high-quality bone broth
- ¾ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 to 2 eggs
- 1 handful of spinach
- 1 handful of shiitake mushrooms
- 2 scallions
- Japanese mixed chili pepper powder
The first step is to pour the broth into a small saucepan and put it over high heat, bringing it to a boil. Then add the oats in and lower the heat so it can simmer for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally. While the broth and oats simmer, add a teaspoon of the oil to a small frying pan and cook the shiitake mushrooms until they have softened before setting them aside.
Going back to the oatmeal, add the spinach to the mix, stir until the leaves have wilted, and then make a small well in the center of the mix. Crack the egg(s) and deposit them into the well before covering the saucepan and letting the mix simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes. After that, serve the oatmeal and top it with mushrooms, scallions, and chili powder.
Depending on how severe your morning sickness is, you might want to skip over the mushrooms and chili powder and substitute the bone broth for chicken broth. You can add ginger to the mix if you like since it is known to settle stomachs.
Recipe #4: Tuna Omelet
Yet another offering from The Worktop, this recipe is all about keeping you full until lunch. When you are carrying a baby, it is not shocking that your appetite sees a serious increase. That said, finding a breakfast option that is filling, healthy, and suitable for pregnant women can be difficult. However, this tuna omelet could be just the treat you want. Especially since it takes advantage of the protein we cited before with the eggs and tuna. More than that, however, it also serves as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamin C, and calcium. All of which are important to the development of a healthy fetus and the health of your body.
For this recipe, you will need:
- ½ medium red bell pepper
- ½ medium green bell pepper
- Oil
- ½ 5 oz. can of tuna
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 6 large eggs
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Chives
First, add some oil to a small frying pan and use it to sauté the bell peppers over medium heat. Continue for approximately 3 minutes or until they have softened before removing them from the heat. Then, take a medium bowl and mix the peppers with the tuna and cream cheese (make sure the cream cheese is pasteurized). Next, take a second medium-sized bowl and use it to beat the eggs.
Take a non-stick pan and heat some of the oil over medium-high heat until it is hot. Swirl the oil around in the pan gently to coat the entire pan before pouring the eggs into the pan. After about 30 seconds, the eggs in the bottom should be set. Once this happens, use a spatula to disturb the egg, so small gaps form, and you can see bits of the pan beneath. Repeat this process four times across multiple areas of the omelet before letting the omelet cook until there is a thin liquid layer on the top.
Use a spoon to transfer half the mixture of the tuna, cream cheese, and peppers and cover half of the egg with it. Then, use the spatula to gently fold the egg over until you have a half-circle, and use the spatula to hold the omelet closed without applying too much pressure. The omelet should seal shut soon. Then cook the omelet for another minute before flipping it and cooking for yet another minute. Then transfer it to a plate and top it off with the chives, sea salt, and black pepper.
The remaining ingredients can be used to make another omelet if you like.
Recipe #5: Carrot Muffins
Muffins are a well-known staple of breakfasts across the country. While most people tend to enjoy blueberry or banana nut muffins, there is a healthier option for expecting mothers. Cookie and Kate has provided a wonderful recipe for carrot muffins that are sure to give you a sweet and nutritious morning.
You will need:
- 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups peeled and grated carrots
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup raisins
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit and grease the cups of your muffin tin with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Take a large mixing bowl and combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, and nutmeg using a whisk to blend them together. Take another bowl and mix the raisins with a teaspoon of flour.
Then mix all of the above together in a single bowl and stir. In another medium bowl, mix the oil and maple syrup, using a whisk to beat them. Then add the eggs and repeat, then again with the yogurt and vanilla, and mix them. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry and stir them together until they are combined with minimal lumps before divvying the batter into the cups of your muffin tray. Then sprinkle the sugar on each one.
Bake for 13 to 16 minutes and place them on a cooling rack once complete. After they have cooled, serve, and enjoy.
Keep it Natural!
Pregnancy is extremely complicated, and making sure that what you put in your body is healthy is important to both you your unborn child. With the right breakfast options, you will find that keeping yourself fed in a healthy manner is easier than ever. Obviously, you should account for any allergies you might have and consult with your physician if you have any dietary concerns, but these recipes should offer you a nutritious and safe way to feed yourself.
We at Bella All Natural are dedicated to the pursuit of health advice for any and all who need it. Pregnant women included. We offer supplements and advice on how to keep your body happy and healthy throughout any challenges in life. If you ever need advice on certain nutritional or beauty topics, we are here to help. So, why not take a look at our webpage and see what we can offer you for your needs so you can keep it all natural!
Now let's turn to you, our readers who are potentially expecting mothers! Have you given any of these recipes a try? If so, which one did you go with? Was it absolutely delicious? If you haven't tried any, would you be interested in trying one now? Which one sticks out to you the most? Is there maybe a recipe that you think should be added to this list? If so, be sure to share it with us! We'd be more than happy to add it on! Please leave all your thoughts and stories in the comments section down below! We'd love to hear what all of you think!
