Pregnancy food plan: safe and delicious meals for a healthy pregnancy

Not sure what food is okay to eat now that you’re pregnant? We’re here to help. Let’s go through the facts so you can come up with a pregnancy meal plan with the best foods and nutrients for you (and the precious little bundle you’re growing!).

Foods to eat while pregnant

Here are some key nutrients (and food sources) that you’ll need to increase during your pregnancy:

Sources: Pregnancy Birth & Baby, Healthline, American Pregnancy

Please check with your doctor – nutrient amounts required and appropriate food sources will depend on your family history and circumstances.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

Some foods (and drinks) are not recommended when you’re expecting, because they come with higher risks for you and baby. It’s best if you avoid:

• Alcohol – risks include miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, fetal alcohol syndrome, and other issues
• Caffeine – limit your intake to 2-3 cups of coffee per day
• Raw egg – presents a higher risk of salmonella
• Raw sprouts and unwashed fruits and vegetables – presents a higher risk of listeria
• Soft cheeses like brie, feta, and ricotta – presents a higher risk of listeria
• Unpasteurised dairy – although dairy products in Australia must be pasteurised before they’re sold, it’s best to check
• Large fish – shark, swordfish, and tuna are high in mercury and best avoided
• Raw fish – risks salmonella, listeria, and other bacteria
• Undercooked or processed meat – rare meat is best avoided when you’re pregnant, as is processed deli meat unless you reheat it until steaming hot

Pregnancy food plan: 7 days of bump-friendly dinners

The following meals are excellent sources of essential nutrients for pregnancy, including protein, fibre, iron, calcium, vitamin c, folate, iodine, and zinc.

Day 1: Healthy Mexican Lasagne
Day 2: Healthy Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice
Day 3: Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Day 4: Chunky beef and vegetable pie
Day 5: Protein-packed chicken burrito bowl
Day 6: 4 ingredient spinach and ricotta baked chicken
Day 7: Pesto, spinach and ricotta rolls

Get the knowledge, get help, and get healthy!

The best way to choose healthy pregnancy food is to empower yourself with knowledge and get the support you need. So join the biggest mums-only healthy eating challenge in the world, our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge. And yes, it’s pregnancy-friendly! You’ll get the recipes, information, and support to plan healthy, nutritious, and delicious food for your pregnancy (and beyond – for when you’re ready to start losing weight after pregnancy).