Recipe: Protein-Packed Salad for Expecting Moms

About 300 extra calories are needed every day to maintain a healthy pregnancy. These calories should come from a balanced diet of protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Overlake Certified Clinical Dietitian Sumathi Sridhar shares her favorite, protein-packed recipe for expecting moms.

Green Gram Salad 

By: Sumathi Sridhar, Certified Clinical Dietitian

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups green gram (also known as mung beans) or sprouted green gram.
• ½ cup onion.
• 1 ½ cup cucumber.
• 1 ½ cup tomato.
• 1 cup lettuce.
• Salt as needed.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons roasted chia seeds.
• 1 to 2 tablespoons flax seeds.
• 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice.
• Salt to taste.
• Black pepper or red chili flakes, if desired.

Instructions

1. Chop onion, tomato and cucumber. Shred lettuce. Add items into a mixing bowl.
2. Add green gram (sprouted or soaked) to the chopped vegetables. If using dry green gram, soak in 2 cups of lukewarm water for at least 8 hours. Then, rinse and discard the water and use the soaked green gram. Sprouted green gram should be available in stores or can be made at home.
3. Add salt and lemon juice.
4. Toss all the ingredients together.
5. Add roasted peanuts, chia seeds and flax seeds.
6. Crushed black pepper or red chili flakes can be added for taste if desired.

Serves 2; Calories 240 kcals; 15 gm protein; Sodium 150 mg

For additional pregnancy health tips, consider signing up for one of Overlake's free Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby classes. Visit overlakehospital.org/classes to view upcoming dates/times.