5 Fall-Inspired Recipes To Ease Pregnancy & Postpartum Symptoms
Whether you’re in your early days, final stages, or baby is here, chances are you’ve experienced a pesky pregnancy symptom or two (...or ten). But did you know that some of your favorite fall foods can alleviate everything from abdominal cramping to nagging sugar cravings? We have the info and recipes you need!
5 fall-inspired recipes to ease pregnancy and postpartum symptoms:
Feel your best and keep baby happy and healthy with these five fall-inspired recipes, easily thrown together in just a few minutes.
Seasonal fall ingredient #1: pumpkin
Not only is pumpkin a fan favorite with seemingly endless culinary uses, it’s also filled with essential nutrients to make your pregnancy journey more comfortable. From soothing abdominal cramps to reducing water retention and lowering cholesterol, pumpkin is the pregnancy superfood you’ll want in your kitchen this autumn.
Whether you use pumpkin flesh to bake a warming pie, toast pumpkin seeds to create a savory snack, or pop some puree in your coffee to make a homemade PSL, pumpkin has proven to be one versatile veggie. Add some powerful pumpkin to your diet with our simple pumpkin & kale linguine recipe…
Recommended fall recipe: pumpkin & kale linguine
Serves: 2
Ingredients
2 cups pumpkin, cubed
1 cup kale, chopped
½ cup parmesan, finely grated
7 oz linguine
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
How to make it:
Add linguine to a pot of salted boiling water. Follow package instructions and cook until al dente.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Add pumpkin cubes and sauté for a further 8-10 minutes, then add kale and sauté until wilted.
Combine sautéed vegetables and linguine. Add lemon juice, remaining olive oil, and half of the parmesan. Stir thoroughly.
Twirl linguine into bowls, top with remaining parmesan, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Seasonal fall ingredient #2: Cranberry
When it comes to urinary tract health, cranberry is every woman’s secret weapon. But did you know that between weeks 6 and 24 of pregnancy, women are at a higher risk of developing a UTI, making cranberry consumption especially beneficial? While research can’t yet confirm cranberry’s ability to treat a UTI, studies have shown that it may be helpful in preventing them. Look after your urinary tract health with this unique berry hailing from the North and South American wetlands, and try our cranberry-baked oatmeal recipe…
Recommended fall recipe: cranberry baked oatmeal
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 cups old-fashioned oats
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup honey
½ cup milk of choice
½ cup coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg, beaten
Pinch salt
How to make it:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F/175 degrees C. Grease a medium baking dish.
Meanwhile, combine all dry ingredients except the dried cranberries in a large bowl. Add wet ingredients one by one, taking care to mix thoroughly.
Tip the mixture into the baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
Allow to cool, cut into pieces and enjoy!
Seasonal fall ingredient #3: apple
It’s apple picking season! Apples are a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins year round, but they’re even tastier in autumn when varieties like Golden Delicious and Granny Smith are in season. Like all fruit, they’re rich in dietary fiber which is known to ease pesky pregnancy constipation, calm cramping, and remedy other gastrointestinal symptoms. We definitely recommend getting outside and going apple-picking yourself to get a healthy dose of Vitamin D while you're at it!
You can also treat your growing belly to something sweet with our baked cinnamon apple chips recipe…
Recommended fall recipe: baked cinnamon apple chips
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 Granny Smith apples
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
How to make it:
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F/110 degrees C. Line two baking sheets with waxed baking paper.
Meanwhile, slice apples into ⅛ inch rounds. Remove apple seeds and arrange slices onto baking sheets. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake for 1 hour or until crisp. Allow to cool on a wire rack and enjoy!
Seasonal fall ingredient #4: Maple
While craving sugar during pregnancy is a normal part of any mama’s journey, indulging too frequently can put your health at risk. Instead of reaching for refined sugar, try sweetening your snacks with natural alternatives like pure maple syrup.
Unlike common table sugar, this fall favorite is rich in flavor and nutrients like zinc, calcium, and manganese to kick your energy levels into high gear. (Of course, it’s important to remember that despite its health benefits, maple syrup is still sugar, so be sure to enjoy it in moderation!).
For a lunchtime pick-me-up, try our recipe for maple dijon vinaigrette drizzled over a seasonal salad…
Recommended fall recipe: maple dijon vinaigrette
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons EVOO
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
How to make it:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl using a whisk. Season with salt and black pepper, pour over your favorite salad and enjoy!
Seasonal fall ingredient #5: sweet potato
Autumn may bring falling leaves, apple pies, and knitted hats, but it can also come with the dreaded sick day. As we enter flu season, keep your immune system functioning at its best with sweet potatoes, a plentiful source of immune-boosting nutrients like iron, potassium, Vitamin A, and the always important Vitamin C. Plus, if you're someone who isn't on the pumpkin-spice bandwagon - this is a great orange veggie to reach for instead. Get into the spirit of the season with our parmesan & sage sweet potato mash recipe…
Recommended fall recipe: parmesan & sage sweet potato mash
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
6 medium sweet potatoes
¼ cup parmesan
2 tablespoons milk of choice
2 tablespoons butter, softened
½ teaspoon fresh sage, chopped
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
How to make it:
Peel sweet potatoes and chop into large chunks. Add to a pot of boiling water and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
Using a potato masher, mash sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add parmesan, milk of choice, butter, fresh sage, salt, and black pepper, mix thoroughly and enjoy!
If you make any of our autumn-inspired recipes - be sure to take a pic, post it to Instagram, and tag us @baby2bodyofficial!
What recipe do you want to see next on the blog? Let us know in the comments.
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