A rather unpleasant symptom of pregnancy is morning sickness, which roughly half to two-thirds of women face during their pregnancy. The symptoms of morning sickness may vary from person to person. For some women, it is nausea and occasional throwing up with mild to strong food aversions. For others (around 1 in every 1,000), the symptoms are much worse and may lead to hospitalization. Such a condition is known as hyperemesis gravidarum.
Good food for morning sickness
There are certain points to consider when deciding on your pregnancy diet and the best meals for morning sickness.
- First, know the foods to avoid during pregnancy. Check if your doctor has advised against any particular food items.
- Try to include all food groups (dairy, protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, and fruit).
- Consider food preferences and aversions.
- Some of the recommended foods to help with morning sickness are:
- Ginger
- Lemon
- Carbohydrate-rich foods, for example, oats, toast, noodles, and rice
- Lean protein, such as chicken
- Cold and bland fare, for example, cold sandwiches or wraps
- Soup or broth
Best recipes for morning sickness
During pregnancy, a lot of factors determine food choices. Since all the senses are heightened, food should be healthy and nutritious, but it should also look, smell, and taste good.
In creating these recipes, the following points were kept in mind:
- The flavors are bland, yet they create tasteful and nutritious meals.
- We have avoided overwhelmingly strong smells (garlic and onion, for example) in most of the recipes.
- They are simple and easy to make, plus some can be prepared beforehand to avoid cooking when you’re feeling nauseous.
- Ingredients such as ginger, lemon, mint, and watermelon are included to help relieve morning sickness.
Oatmeal muffins with blueberries and walnuts
Refreshing ABC juice for pregnancy
Watermelon and feta salad with mint and lemon dressing
Energy bites for morning sickness
Creamy chicken pasta soup
Red lentils with rice
Chickpea, cucumber, and tomato wrap
What weird food aversions have you experienced during your pregnancy? Which foods help relieve your morning sickness? Share with us in the comments below.