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Third Trimester Nutrition Recipes

The third trimester (29-40 weeks) is a critical period for rapid fetal weight gain and an important stage for reserving nutrition for delivery. Diet needs to control weight gain while ensuring sufficient nutrition.

Third Trimester Diet Points

Nutritional Focus

  • Calorie Control: Increase by 150-200 calories/day compared to the second trimester
  • Quality Protein: 85g daily, supports fetal tissue growth
  • Iron Fortification: 27 mg daily, prevents anemia during delivery
  • Calcium Needs: 1200 mg daily, supports fetal skeletal development
  • Vitamin C: Promotes iron absorption, enhances immunity

Dietary Principles

  • Control total calorie intake to avoid excessive weight gain
  • Small frequent meals to reduce stomach discomfort
  • Choose high-protein, high-nutrient-density foods
  • Limit simple sugars and refined carbohydrates

Key Precautions

  • Avoid overeating, which affects sleep and breathing
  • Control salt intake to prevent edema
  • Increase dietary fiber to prevent constipation
  • Moderate water intake, but avoid drinking large amounts before bed

Weekly Nutrition Recipe Recommendations

Monday

Breakfast (7:30)

Millet Red Date Porridge with Egg

  • Ingredients: 50g millet, 5 red dates, 1 boiled egg
  • Instructions: Cook millet and red dates into porridge, serve with boiled egg
  • Nutrition: Easy to digest, iron supplement, protein supplement

Morning Snack (10:00)

Low-fat Yogurt with Blueberries

  • Ingredients: 200g low-fat yogurt, 20g blueberries
  • Nutrition: Protein, calcium, antioxidants

Lunch (12:30)

Steamed Crucian Carp with Vegetables

  • Main Dish: 150g steamed crucian carp (rich in DHA and quality protein)
  • Side Dish: 200g stir-fried spinach (iron and folic acid supplement)
  • Staple: Half a bowl of brown rice (control carbohydrates)
  • Soup: Winter melon and kelp soup (diuretic and swelling reduction)

Crucian Carp Recipe: Wash crucian carp, add ginger slices and green onion sections, steam on high heat for 6-8 minutes, drizzle with a little steamed fish soy sauce

Afternoon Snack (15:30)

Nuts with Fruit

  • Ingredients: 5 almonds, 2 walnuts, 1 kiwi
  • Nutrition: Healthy fats, Vitamin E, dietary fiber

Dinner (18:30)

Stir-fried Tofu with Greens and Multigrain Rice

  • Main Dish: Mapo Tofu (less spicy version, 200g tofu)
  • Side Dish: 150g garlic broccoli
  • Staple: Half a bowl of multigrain rice (brown rice + quinoa)
  • Soup: Seaweed egg drop soup

Tuesday

Breakfast

Milk Oatmeal with Whole Wheat Bread

  • Ingredients: 200ml milk, 30g oats, 1 slice whole wheat bread
  • Pairing: 1 boiled egg

Morning Snack

Apple Almonds

  • Ingredients: 1 apple, 5 almonds

Lunch

Winter Melon Shrimp Soup with Vegetables

  • Main Dish: Winter melon shrimp soup (100g shrimp, 200g winter melon)
  • Side Dish: Cold cucumber and shredded carrot
  • Staple: Half a bowl of quinoa rice
  • Nutrition: High protein, low calorie, diuretic and swelling reduction

Afternoon Snack

Low-fat Cheese with Strawberries

  • Ingredients: 30g low-fat cheese, 8 strawberries

Dinner

Steamed Egg Custard with Seasonal Vegetables

  • Main Dish: Egg custard (2 eggs)
  • Side Dish: Stir-fried mustard greens, mushrooms
  • Staple: 1 small bowl of corn porridge
  • Nutrition: Easy to digest, high protein

Wednesday

Breakfast

Soy Milk Bun with Egg

  • Ingredients: 250ml homemade soy milk, 1 whole wheat bun, 1 boiled egg

Morning Snack

Grapefruit Nuts

  • Ingredients: 2 segments grapefruit, 2 walnuts

Lunch

Yam Stewed Chicken Soup with Greens

  • Main Dish: Yam stewed chicken soup (80g chicken breast, 100g yam)
  • Side Dish: 150g stir-fried bok choy
  • Staple: 1 small bowl of millet porridge
  • Nutrition: Nourishing and stomach-strengthening, rich in protein

Afternoon Snack

Yogurt Blueberries

  • Ingredients: 200g plain yogurt, 20g blueberries

Dinner

Stir-fried Fish Fillet with Vegetables

  • Main Dish: 150g stir-fried fish fillet (less oil and salt)
  • Side Dish: 150g garlic water spinach
  • Staple: 1 small bowl of pumpkin porridge
  • Soup: Tofu mushroom soup

Thursday

Breakfast

Egg Custard with Milk

  • Ingredients: Egg custard (2 eggs), 200ml warm milk

Morning Snack

Banana Walnuts

  • Ingredients: Half a banana, 2 walnuts

Lunch

Tomato Egg Noodles

  • Main Dish: Tomato egg noodles (2 tomatoes, 1 egg, 80g buckwheat noodles)
  • Side Dish: Cold kelp shreds
  • Soup: Noodle soup
  • Nutrition: Lycopene, protein, dietary fiber

Afternoon Snack

Red Date and Longan Tea

  • Ingredients: 3 red dates, 3 longans
  • Nutrition: Replenishes qi and blood, but control sugar

Dinner

Steamed Egg with Vegetable Salad

  • Main Dish: Steamed egg custard (2 eggs)
  • Side Dish: Vegetable salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber)
  • Staple: 1 small bowl of oatmeal porridge
  • Dressing: Olive oil, lemon juice

Friday

Breakfast

Whole Wheat Sandwich with Milk

  • Ingredients: 1 slice whole wheat bread, 1 fried egg, lettuce, low-fat cheese
  • Pairing: 200ml warm milk

Morning Snack

Kiwi Almonds

  • Ingredients: 1 kiwi, 5 almonds

Lunch

Winter Melon and Ribs Soup with Vegetables

  • Main Dish: Winter melon and ribs soup (80g ribs, 200g winter melon)
  • Side Dish: 150g stir-fried pea shoots
  • Staple: Half a bowl of brown rice
  • Nutrition: High calcium, high protein, diuretic

Afternoon Snack

Fruit Platter

  • Ingredients: Apple, dragon fruit, grapefruit (small amount)

Dinner

Stir-fried Tofu with Greens and Soup

  • Main Dish: Home-style tofu (150g tofu, green and red peppers)
  • Side Dish: 150g stir-fried rape
  • Staple: 1 small bowl of millet porridge
  • Soup: Loofah egg drop soup

Pre-delivery Fortified Recipes (After 36 Weeks)

Iron and Blood Supplement Combo

Red Date Pork Liver Soup

  • Ingredients: 80g pork liver, 5 red dates, 100g spinach, shredded ginger
  • Instructions: Slice pork liver and blanch, cook soup with red dates and spinach
  • Nutrition: Efficient iron supplement, prevents delivery anemia

Angelica Egg Soup

  • Ingredients: 3g Angelica sinensis, 2 eggs, 3 red dates
  • Instructions: Boil Angelica water, break in eggs, add red dates
  • Nutrition: Replenishes blood, reserves for delivery

Stamina Enhancement Combo

Ginseng Chicken Soup

  • Ingredients: Half a chicken, 5g ginseng slices, 5 red dates, 10 goji berries
  • Instructions: Stew ingredients for 1.5 hours
  • Nutrition: Enhances stamina, improves immunity

Beef Stew with Radish

  • Ingredients: 100g beef, 200g white radish, 100g carrot
  • Instructions: Stew beef until half tender, add radish and stew
  • Nutrition: High protein, enhances stamina

Pre-delivery Nutrition Supplement Focus

Key Nutrients for 36-40 Weeks

Iron Fortification

  • Daily Need: 27 mg
  • Food Sources: Red meat, animal liver, spinach, black fungus
  • Promote Absorption: Eat with Vitamin C

Vitamin K

  • Daily Need: 90 mcg
  • Function: Prevents neonatal bleeding
  • Food Sources: Green leafy vegetables, vegetable oils, fermented foods

Vitamin B1

  • Daily Need: 1.4 mg
  • Function: Energy metabolism, prevents postpartum fatigue
  • Food Sources: Whole grains, lean meat, beans

Zinc

  • Daily Need: 15 mg
  • Function: Promotes wound healing, immune function
  • Food Sources: Lean meat, seafood, nuts

Pre-delivery Dietary Taboos

Foods to Avoid

  • Gas-producing Foods: Beans, onions, cauliflower
  • High Sugar Foods: Desserts, sugary drinks
  • High Salt Foods: Pickled foods, processed foods
  • Stimulating Foods: Spicy, fried foods

Foods to Control

  • Caffeine: No more than 200 mg per day
  • Liquid Intake: Reduce water intake 2 hours before bed
  • Carbohydrates: Control refined sugar intake
  • Fat Intake: Choose healthy fats

Special Situation Adjustments

Low Amniotic Fluid

  • Drink more soups: Winter melon soup, loofah soup, silver ear soup
  • Supplement water: 2000-2500 ml water per day
  • Choose diuretic foods: Winter melon, watermelon, celery

Fetus Too Large

  • Control total calorie intake
  • Reduce refined carbohydrates
  • Increase protein and vegetable proportion
  • Moderate exercise combined with diet control

Severe Edema

  • Limit salt intake, <6g per day
  • Eat more diuretic foods: Winter melon, barley, red beans
  • Elevate lower limbs to rest
  • Moderate intake of quality protein

Friendly Reminder: Third trimester diet needs individual adjustment. If there are complications such as gestational diabetes or hypertension, please strictly follow the diet management guidance of doctors and nutritionists. It is recommended to eat easy-to-digest foods one week before delivery to prepare for delivery.