Comfort Food

All your heartwarming favorites mac-and-cheese and fried chicken with a twist: They're low-fat and nutrient-rich for pregnancy.

Winter is almost here. Luckily, your baby is nestled snug in your womb, safe from the season’s chill. But what about you? You, too, need the same kind of cozy comfort. The answer? A batch of healthy, body-warming meals: elbow noodles smothered with cheese, spinachy beef stroganoff covered with sour cream, turkey soup with fluffy dumplings, sweet and spicy raisin cinnamon swirl bread pudding and creamy maple apple porridge.
    There is more to these recipes than meets the eye. “These recipes contain a wide array of nutrients,” says Elizabeth Ward, R.D., a Boston-based nutritionist specializing in pregnancy and author of Pregnancy Nutrition: Good Health for You and Your Baby (Chronimed, 1998). “They’re packed with protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and folic acid, that are important for pregnancy. For example, the spinachy beef stroganoff has iron, protein, folate and fiber, and the elbow noodles and cheese is high in calcium, protein, carbohydrates and folate.”
    Not only do these meals provide you and baby with key nutrients, but they’re also tasty. “I’m not into denial during pregnancy,” says Ward, who is expecting her third child in October. “It’s OK to search out foods that really stick to your ribs, just as long as they’re healthy.” These recipes are that — and more. They’re low-fat, and they’ll nurture — and satisfy — you and your baby through the frosty months ahead.

Recipes

Creamy Elbows With Cheese
Quick Turkey Soup With Corn Dumplings
Easy Beef Stroganoff
Crispy Southern Baked Chicken with Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Swirl Bread Pudding
Three Little Bears Maple Apple Porridge