High-Protein Recipes for Your Third Trimester

You’re in the final countdown of your pregnancy. Feelings of joy and excitement overcome you as you anticipate meeting the new love of your life. 

As you approach the day, you keep busy with final preparations. But while you’re at it, don’t forget that you and your little one still need proper nutrition to stay healthy.

At this point in your pregnancy, it’s very important that you slightly increase your intake of lean proteins. These will assist cell formation and renewal. 

4 spectacular high-protein recipes for your third trimester of pregnancy

While you’re pregnant, your diet should be varied to obtain the nutrients that you and your baby need. When it comes to proteins, you should consume at least 2.5 ounces per day during your third trimester, meaning from the 6th month onward.

Proteins from animal sources can be found in foods such as fish, chicken, beef and eggs. You can also get protein from plant sources such as soy, lentils, barley, and white beans, among others.

Jot down the high-protein recipes below and don’t forget to include them in your third trimester diet:

Baked salmon

Salmon is an excellent source of animal protein with a high content of omega 3. It’s one of the safest fish to eat during pregnancy, thanks to its almost non-existent mercury content.

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to prepare this recipe:

• Mix a generous amount of garlic, parsley, fresh thyme, lemon juice and a bit of olive oil and finely chopped fresh basil.
• Marinate 3 or 4 clean salmon filets in the above mixture for one hour in the refrigerator.
• Just before taking the filets out of the fridge, preheat the oven.
• Place the marinated strips on an oven pan and cover with aluminium foil. Allow to cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until they reach the desired texture.

To complete this meal, accompany your baked salmon with a fresh salad or mashed potatoes. You can enjoy this for lunch or dinner.

Eggs with vegetables

Eggs are an important source of protein and vitamins that are essential during pregnancy. There are endless ways to prepare eggs, but today we want to suggest the following recipe. Take note:

• Sauté chopped tomato, ham, green peas, carrots and potatoes in olive oil.
• Once cooked, remove from the stove and drain, saving the leftover oil. Place the oil back in the frying pan and cook three eggs over low eat.
• Serve the eggs and the vegetables side-by-side and accompany with a tomato-based sauce.

Bean salad

There are all types of beans that you can combine together to make a variety of dishes, including soups, stews and salads. Follow the steps below to create a delicious high-protein bean salad:

• Cook beans of your choice in a pressure cooker with salt and bay leaf until soft. Drain well and set aside.
• In a bowl, add cubed tomato, chopped red onion, parsley, thyme and low-sodium cheese cut into cubes.
• Mix all of the above ingredients.
• Add dressing made of lemon, thyme, bay leaf, garlic, cilantro and salt.
• Mix well and refrigerate before serving.

Baked chicken

Chicken is another animal source that is rich in protein. Its delicious flavor will really give you something to enjoy during your final months of pregnancy. To prepare this baked chicken recipe, follow the instructions below:

• Prepare a marinade sauce using olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, lemon zest. Mix the ingredients well.
• Place chicken pieces in a plastic resealable bag along with the above mixture. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Before taking the chicken out of the fridge, reheat the oven.
• Place chicken pieces in a baking pan and cook for 45 minutes. Remember to turn the pieces over in order to brown both sides.
• Serve alongside a fresh salad.

Remember to choose the leanest pieces of chicken to best take advantage of the protein this poultry offers.

The importance of consuming protein during pregnancy

An adequate intake of protein during pregnancy not only helps guarantee healthy fetal growth, but also helps keep you strong and well-nourished . Consuming quality protein impedes bone malformation and brain damage of the fetus.

In conclusion, these high-protein recipes for your third trimester of pregnancy will help provide the necessary nourishment you need right now. Feel free to get creative and adapt them to your own personal tastes and preferences. Enjoy!