Dr. Manny Recommends: Healthy Eating During Pregnancy

As an OBGYN, I get this question in my practice a lot: Dr. Manny, what should I eat during my pregnancy? Well, I’m happy to say I’ve finally found a book I can solidly recommend to guide you through these next nine months.

The book is titled Healthy Eating During Pregnancy by Erika Lenkert. Lenkert’s pregnancy cookbook includes 100 delicious recipes that are packed with the nutrients pregnant women and their babies need.Yes, ladies, this includes desserts – like ice cream!I wholeheartedly recommend this book to pregnant families that want to stay healthy without falling into a meal rut.With recipes like a Pasta Bolognese like this you will maintain all the taste and flavor that you love while maintaining a healthy diet during your pregnancy.

Pasta Bolognese

A shortcut to the satisfying Bolognese-style meat sauce in Marcella Hazan’s The Classic Italian Cookbook, this recipe is a great midweek meal–especially since kids love it, too. You can dive into a big bowl with reassurance that it’s providing necessary protein. Use whole-wheat pasta and you’ve added fiber to the mix.

Serves 4
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ pound extra-lean ground beef (less than 9% fat)
½ cup dry white wine
¼ cup milk
1 cup marinara sauce
½ teaspoon kosher salt
pinch nutmeg
8 ounces spaghetti
freshly grated Parmesan, for serving (optional)

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the beef and stir frequently to break it up, until it’s no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the wine, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook until the wine has evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add the milk and again simmer until evaporated, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add the marinara sauce, salt, and nutmeg, simmer for 5 minutes, and keep warm.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti, following the directions on the package, until barely al dente. Drain and transfer to four serving bowls.

Top each with a quarter of the sauce and serve with grated Parmesan, if desired.
Per serving: 428 Calories, 10.87g Fat , 52.66g Carbs, 20.39g Protein, 3.50g Fiber, 52mg Calcium, 3.71mg Iron, 146μg Folate