What foods to eat during your first trimester of pregnancy?

It is during the first few weeks that the fetus begins to form organs and the heartbeat can be detected by the second month. Along with  protein, calcium and iron, with more focus on folic acid which is essential for the brain and spine development of the fetus. Healthy Tomato Soup (26% of folic acid RDA) and Palak Toovar Dal  (21% of folic acid RDA)  are a few well researched recipes just for you to make up for your folic acid requirement..

Healthy Indian Tomato Soup

Your priority during pregnancy should be to choose a variety of nutritious foods from the following food groups:

1) Cereals and whole grains : It is recommended to consume about 6-7 servings of cereals per day. Cereals provide you the necessary energy which is required in increased amounts during pregnancy. They also provide fibre which will keep constipation at bay. Include a variety of whole grains like wheat, barley, buckwheat, jowar, oats, bajra, ragi in your diet and avoid refined products like maida.

Try Buckwheat Dhoklas for breakfast and Jowar Bajra Spring Onion Roti for Main Course. The list doesn’t end here. There is a lot more to explore… Oats Methi Muthia, Bajra Carrot and Onion Uttapa and Vegetable Barley Soup are a few more examples you can venture in your own kitchen to fulfil your nutritional needs.

Bajra, Carrot and Onion Uttapa

2) Pulses and legumes : : It is recommended to consume about 1-2 servings of pulses per day. They are vegetarian source of protein and hence should be used in combination with cereals to enhance the protein quality. Dals like mung, masoor, toovar, pulses in the form of sprouts or as whole are good to go in salads, pulao’s and sabzi’s.

Chawli, Rajma and Chick Pea Healthy Salad

Interesting fare like Stuffed Moong Dal Chila and Masoor Dal and Vegetable Khichdi are some unique creations you can rely on to make up your protein intake during first trimester of pregnancy.

Stuffed Moong Dal Chilas

3) Milk and Milk products : It is recommended to consume about 2-3 servings of dairy products per day. They provide high quality proteins and calcium. Calcium and protein requirements also increase during pregnancy to support the growth and development of the foetus. So it is suggested that you eat dairy products like milk, yoghurt, paneer etc.

Sip on healthy shakes and smoothies like Strawberry Chickoo Shake and Oats Apple Almond Milk Healthy Smoothie. Curd, a probiotic, is surely a wholesome option for moms-to-be. Have plain curd or flavour them with other ingredients and consume it by way of Spinach Raita or Cucumber Pachadi.

Strawberry Chickoo Shake

4) Vegetables : It is recommended to consume about 4-5 servings of vegetables per day. Include a variety of colourful vegetables to get a wide range of nutrients. Choose all types of vegetables like leafy ones such as spinach, methi, cabbage, lettuce etc. greens such as capsicum, broccoli, peas etc, orange ones like carrots and pumpkin, reds like tomatoes and red capsicum, yellow such as corn and yellow capsicum, purple like brinjal and purple cabbage etc.

Mushroom, Broccoli, Baby Corn and Zucchini Salad with Honey Orange Dressing

Explore this whole variety of veggies available in Nature to nurture the baby within you. Of course, make sabzis like Gavarfali ki Subzi and Cauliflower Greens Methi and Palak Healthy Subzi. 

Cauliflower Greens, Methi and Palak Healthy Subzi

However go beyond this and experiment with some nourishing and unique ideas too. Pregnancy is a time when the woman wants to venture new textures and flavours. So try including veggies in the form of Sprouts Spring Onion and Tomato Salad and Lehsuni Matki Palak Tikki.

Lehsuni Matki Palak Tikki

5) Fruits : It is recommended to consume about 3-4 servings of fruits per day. Fruits provide a variety of nutrients and antioxidants too. Just like vegetables, one should consume a variety of colorful fruits too to make your diet colorful like a rainbow. Fruits like apple, pineapple, pear, oranges, guava, watermelon, grapes etc.

Gain your dose of antioxidants for yourself and the growing fetus by including recipes like Mixed Fruit Chaat and Lettuce and Apple Salad.

Lettuce and Apple Salad

Foods to eat to avoid Nausea

During these early months you may feel nauseated and want to throw up frequently. If you are one amongst those women, trying chewing on cardamom or opt for dry snacks like Whole Wheat and Methi Khakhra, Bajra Khakhra, Golpapdi etc. 

Whole Wheat and Methi Khakhra

Sipping water, Juices or shakes from time to time will also help to keep nausea at bay. Turn to healthy options like Strawberry Chickoo Milkshake, Fig and Apricot Shake or try your hands on any combination of fruits available in your refrigerator. These don’t have strong flavor and lack strong smells which avoids aggravating nausea.

Foods for healthy weight gain

Beetroot Tikkis in Spinach Gravy

It is likely that you lose weight in the beginning months, but remember to continue with fluid intake along with small and frequent meals. Recipes like Beetroot Tikkis in Spinach Gravy, Broccoli and Baby Corn Stir-fry, Cucumber Curd Rice, Jowar Bajre ki Roti and many more will help you gain those necessary nutrients for you and our baby both.

You can try meditation or yoga under expert supervision along with a healthy diet – it will help keep you relaxed and reduce stress.

Enjoy our range of recipes foods to eat during your first trimester and check out our other pregnancy recipe categories.

Pregnancy Second Trimester Recipes

Pregnancy Third Trimester Recipes

Weight Loss after Pregnancy Recipes

Preconception Recipes