Gluten Free Recipes for the First Trimester of Pregnancy
In this article, we’ll explain how and why you should eat healthy during this special stage. Pay attention to the following gluten free recipes for the first trimester of pregnancy, and let yourself enjoy great taste without guilt.
Pregnancy is a stage that requires special care from mothers regarding food, harmful habits and rest, among many other aspects.
For women with celiac disease, the challenge is even greater. That’s why these gluten free recipes for the first trimester of pregnancy can be very useful.
Why is gluten bad during pregnancy?
Gluten is a substance that changes the way the body functions. It creates inflammation in the gut and causes disorders.
In other words, gluten causes the intestines to swell and opens the permeable walls. The filter is open and lets everything pass through, including unwanted substances.
It used to be thought that the placenta was impermeable and that the baby was protected from toxic substances. However, this isn’t the case. There are bacteria and microorganisms that can pass through this filter. Therefore, your own health and the health of your baby is impaired.
But it’s also important for all women to consider adapting to a gluten free diet before pregnancy. The purpose is to avoid too many abrupt changes during a short period of time.
What are gluten free foods?
Gluten free foods don’t contain wheat, barley, rye or oats. It’s important to clarify, however, that these substances are found in many foods. You must be careful to avoid them.
Care should be taken with foods that may not contain gluten themselves, but may have been exposed to it during the manufacturing process. Here are some examples:
- Patés
- Tea and coffee
- Preserves
- Sweets and candies
- Certain sausages
- Condiments and food coloring
- Some types of ice cream
- Numerous sauces
3 gluten free recipes for the first trimester of pregnancy
Although these gluten free recipes for the first trimester of pregnancy can be a useful guide for knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid, it’s best to consult a professional.
Nutritionists who specialize in pregnancy or celiac disease can prepare meal plans that care for both the baby’s and the mother’s health.
1. Quinoa with peas
Ingredients (2 servings)
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 onion
- Salt (to taste)
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup quinoa
- Peas
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Preparation
- Rinse the quinoa and place 2 tbsp of water for each 1 tbsp of quinoa in a pot. When the water boils, pour in the quinoa and let it cook for 20 minutes or until the seed opens. Then, drain the quinoa.
- Peel and cut the carrot and onion.
- Place the oil in a pan and add the onion until golden brown. Then, add the carrots, the drained and washed peas, and a little salt.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes over medium heat.
- Add the quinoa to the mixture and cook for 2 more minutes.
Gluten free foods are those that don’t contain wheat, barley, rye or oats. That’s why they aren’t included in these gluten free recipes for the first trimester of pregnancy.
2. Gluten free pizza
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 tbsp yeast
- 3 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 1/4 cup warm milk
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 lb gluten free flour mix
Preparation
- Mix the yeast with warm milk and sugar, and leave to rise.
- Melt the butter and add the yeast
- Add the gluten free flour mix and salt.
- Mix the ingredients and let it rise again.
- Place the dough in a pizza pan and bake.
For the sauce, use the usual procedure. Avoid the use of preservatives and artificial sauces. There are no problems with cheese consumption in a gluten free diet, unless gluten appears on the label.
3. Spinach salad with roasted sweet potato
Ingredients (2 servings)
- 1/2 sweet potato
- 1 pinch of salt
- 4 cherry tomatoes
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Peel, wash and cut the sweet potato into slices of medium thickness.
- Place the slices in a baking dish and season with olive oil, salt, pepper and spices.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Wash the spinach and tomatoes and place them in a bowl.
- Add the cooked sweet potato and marinate it a little more.
- For this meal to contain more protein, you can add chickpeas or lentils.
It’s important for a professional to help you organize your diet. With his or her authorization regarding these ingredients, these gluten free recipes for the first trimester of pregnancy will make your life easier when it comes to planning your meals.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Martone AM., Marzetti E., Calvani R., Picca A., et al., Exercise and protein intake: a synergistic approach against sarcopenia. Biomed Res Int, 2017.
- Aune D., Giovannuci E., Boffetta P., Fadness LT., et al., Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all cause mortality- a systematic review and dose response meta analysis of prospective studies. Int J Epidemiol, 2017. 46 (3): 1029-1056.