Pregnancy lunch & dinner ideas

During your pregnancy, the guidelines for what constitutes a healthy diet are pretty much the same as they always were, although, of course, there are certain foods you’ll need to avoid whilst you're pregnant.

Here we’ll be exploring some healthy pregnancy lunch ideas, tasty pregnancy dinner ideas and some healthy vegetarian dinner recipes for pregnancy. We’ll also look at what to eat if you’re experiencing nausea and morning sickness.

If you’re stuck for ideas when it comes to pregnancy lunch and dinner recipes, you’ll find all the inspiration you need here. You can also download our free pregnancy meal planner to help you maintain a healthy and delicious diet as your pregnancy progresses.

Morning sickness can be difficult to deal with, particularly if you’re struggling to eat because of a lack of appetite. It can leave you feeling drained and lacking in energy.

When it comes to bland dinner ideas for pregnancy, it’s best to eat little and often, avoiding bigger meals and instead going for smaller portions. You might also find that cold rather than hot meals are easier on your stomach⁴.

Whilst bland dinner ideas for pregnancy may not fill you with excitement, foods that are big in flavour, spicy or heavy probably won’t help with nausea. Stick to small meals and snacks such as dry toast, simple soups and crackers and bananas until your appetite gradually comes back.

If you’re working during your pregnancy, it’s good to have some handy recipes you can whip up quickly and easily to ensure that you’re eating well whilst you’re away from home.

In addition to the pasta, potato salads and sandwiches we’ve suggested above, there are plenty of other pregnancy lunch ideas for work for you to choose from.

If you’ve got access to a microwave, why not make beans on wholemeal toast or a jacket potato? You could also bulk make your soup of choice so  you can simply defrost a portion the night before, leaving you with no preparation to do at all before you head to work. And for something super simple, chop up some raw veggies such as carrots and cucumber and enjoy with hummus and wholemeal bread.

Our handy pregnancy meal planner is the perfect way to plan your meals week by week, ensuring that you’ll have the inspiration you need whether you’re at home or on the go.

If you follow a vegetarian diet, there are so many different recipe ideas to keep you both healthy and satisfied during your pregnancy. Vegetables are incredibly versatile, and whether you’re looking for a light lunch or a more hearty dinner, the options are endless.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

• Vegetarian lasagne - perfect for cooking and freezing in bulk.
• Hearty vegetable stew - use courgettes and peppers for a Mediterranean feel or a mix of root vegetables for a more hearty flavour.
• Naan bread pizza - simple to prepare and the perfect opportunity to top with a mix of nutritious vegetables.