Pregnancy Diet Plan for Third Trimester

February 9, 2013April 24, 2014 dotcomwomen

The third trimester is the final stretch after which you get to hold your baby. The growing size of the baby makes it a little uncomfortable for the mother but by following the right diet plan, you will be able to keep your weight on track during your pregnancy. This diet plan has sample menus for an entire week for each month of the third trimester.

In this trimester you can expect to gain at least a pound every week. The baby will show some drastic growth in weight and size in this trimester. Near the end of the third trimester you can expect to weight 25 – 35 pounds more than you had before you were pregnant. Most of this weight is accounted for the baby, but other reasons are enlarged breasts, amniotic fluids and extra fat.

Eating During the Third Trimester

You may not be able to eat a full meal at a time because your stomach is being pressed by the enlarged uterus, so you can divide it into smaller meals. You need to eat food that will boost your energy and provide at least 1,000 mg of Calcium every day. Energy boosting food can be fruits, cheese, baked beans, peanut butter, etc.

Vitamin K is important for the birthing of your child and breastfeeding. It helps the blood to clot. Examples of Vitamin K rich foods are watercress, melon, wholemeal bread, green beans, wholegrain and broccoli.

Since, you will be able to move around less, you will be more prone to indigestion. Therefore, cut back on coffee and spicy food. Snacking can help as you will need an extra 200 calories every day during this trimester.

Sample Meal Plans for Each Month of the Third Trimester

You need more energy in the third trimester to keep up with your body. The baby growing inside of you needs plenty of nutrition as well. It may become difficult to digest three whole meals in a day, which is why healthy snacking in between meals is recommended. Here are meal plans to get you through the last trimester of your pregnancy:

Seventh Month

Days	Breakfast	Morning Snack	Lunch	Evening Snack	Dinner
Monday	1 glass Apple juice Porridge made in milk with 1 tbsp apple puree and a pinch of cinnamon.	1 small roll with peanut butter.	1 Satsuma Couscous and egg salad with currants and pine nuts.	Hummus with carrot sticks.	Smoked mackerel pasta with baby spinach.
Tuesday	A papaya smoothie Fromage frais mixed with fresh fruits and 1 tbsp flaked almonds.Serve it on scotch pancakes.	1 Muffin with 1 slice of edam cheese.	A Small bunch of grapes Roast beef in a baguette with rocket.	1 thick slice of banana bread.	Creamy curry of chickpeas.
Wednesday	1 glass Apple juice Wheat cereal,skimmed milk and sliced bananas.	Yogurt with blueberries and melon.	A Bowl of melon. Beetroot soup.	Rye crackers with sardine paste.	Chicken risotto.
Thursday	1 cup of herbal tea Porridge made in milk with 1 tbsp of tinned berries.	1 thick slice of a fruited malt loaf.	1 Sliced mango Pita with lamb’s lettuce, gruyere and grapes.	2 or 3 mini falafels.	Creamy fish pie of haddock and salmon with green beans.
Friday	A yogurt drink Wholegrain toast with smooth peanut butter.	2 handfuls of dried fruits, including walnuts.	1 Apple Salad of watercress and salmon.	Fruity flapjacks.	Lamb chops with mange tout and sweet potato wedges.
Saturday	1 glass Orange juice. Greek yoghurt with a tbsp of dried fruits and muesli.	A rice pot.	1 Pear Toasted ham and cheese sandwich.	Wholemeal toast topped with baked beans.	Beef lasagna made with sauce from Ragu and salad on the side.
Sunday	A yogurt drink Scrambled eggs on a toasted bagel.	1 glass of strawberry milkshake.	Roasted lamb,green beans and carrots with rice pudding.	Cheese on wholegrain toast.	A quiche of cheese and spinach.

Eighth Month

MealsDays	Breakfast	Morning Snack	Lunch	Evening Snack	Dinner
Monday	Apple juice. Porridge made in milk with 1 tbsp of sultanas. 1 wholemeal toast with peanut butter.	Melon and blueberries with yogurt.	1 Kiwi. Beetroot soup, a crusty wholegrain roll on the side.	1 Cheese scone.	Creamy curry of chickpeas with rice.
Tuesday	1 Strawberry milkshake. Wholemeal toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas.	Hummus with pita bread.	1 Orange. Couscous and egg salad, with currants and pine nuts.	Rye crackers spread with low fat cheese.	Creamy fish pie of salmon, haddock, sweetcorn and peas.
Wednesday	Orange juice Wheat cereal, mixed berry compote and Greek yogurt with 2 scotch pancakes.	Oat,orange and cranberry cookie.	1 bowl of chopped Melon. Tuna salad wrap.	Fruity flapjacks.	Pasta tubes with spinach, ricotta and Ragu sauce.
Thursday	1 cup Herbal tea. Fromage frais, 1 tbsp of tinned Berries. Toasted teacake.	Wholemeal bread with peanut butter.	1 Apple. Soft cheese and smoked salmon bagel.	Hummus with pita bread.	Chicken stir fry noodles.
Friday	1 Yogurt drink. Porridge in milk with sliced bananas.	Rice pot	1 Pear. Baked potatoes with chili.	1 slice of gingerbread.	Sweet apple lamb, mashed potatoes,carrots and green beans.
Saturday	Orange juice. Scrambled eggs and a wholemeal toast.	Fruity flapjacks.	Cheese and cauliflower pasta with fruit salad.	2 Wholemeal toasts with baked beans.	Grilled beef steak and broccoli with butternut squash and sweet potato mash.
Sunday	1 Yogurt drink. Scotch pancakes with blueberries.	1 Papaya smoothie with an apple and bran muffin.	Roasted gammon, potatoes, mange tout and baby sweetcorn. Poached pear.	Cheese on wholegrain toast.	A quiche of cheese and spinach with salad.

Ninth Month

MealsDays	Breakfast	Morning Snack	Lunch	Evening Snack	Dinner
Monday	Apple juice. Porridge made in milk with 1 tbsp of sultanas. 1 wholemeal toast with peanut butter.	Melon and blueberries with yoghurt.	Beetroot soup with a crusty wholegrain roll with spread Kiwi fruit	1 Fruit scone.	Creamy curry of chickpeas with rice.
Tuesday	1 Strawberry milkshake. Wholemeal toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas.	Hummus with pita bread.	1 Orange. Couscous and egg salad, with currants and pine nuts.	Rye crackers spread with low fat cheese.	Creamy fish pie of salmon, haddock, sweetcorn and peas.
Wednesday	Orange juice. Wheat cereal, mixed berry compote and Greek yoghurt with 2 scotch pancakes.	Oat, orange and cranberry cookie.	1 bowl of chopped Melon. Tuna salad wrap.	Fruity flapjacks.	Pasta tubes with spinach, ricotta and Ragu sauce.
Thursday	1 cup Herbal tea. Fromage frais, 1 tbsp of tinned Berries. Toasted teacake.	Wholemeal bread with peanut butter and a rice pot.	1 Apple. Sardines on toast.	Hummus with pita bread.	Lamb and mushroom casserole.
Friday	1 Yoghurt drink. Porridge in milk with sliced bananas.	Fruity flapjacks	1 Pear. Baked potatoes with chili.	1 slice of gingerbread.	Grilled pork chops with mashed potatoes, carrots and green beans.
Saturday	Orange juice. Scrambled eggs and a wholemeal toast.	1 Papaya smoothie. Apple and bran muffin.	Cheese and cauliflower pasta with fruit salad.	Wholemeal toast with baked beans.	Grilled beef steak and broccoli with butternut squash and sweet potato mash.
Sunday	1 Yoghurt drink. Scotch pancakes with blueberries.	2 handfuls of dried fruits.	Roasted chicken, potatoes, mange tout and baby sweetcorn. Poached pear crunch.	Cheese on wholegrain toast.	A quiche of cheese and spinach with salad.