Filipino Food for Pregnancy: Laing
Another healthy Filipino food for pregnancy is laing, a dish that uses coconut milk and gabi. This recipe is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, which is one of the essentials for pregnant women.
Iron helps the body produce more blood, so that it can supply oxygen to the baby. This also prevents iron deficiency anemia, which causes premature birth, low birth weight for the baby, and postpartum depression in mothers. Hence, during pregnancy, 30 mg of elemental iron is recommended to be consumed daily.
INGREDIENTS: 100g dried taro (gabi) leaves 2 Slices pork, cut into ¼ inch-thick strips 1 to 2 Tbsp shrimp paste, to taste 2 Cloves garlic, chopped 3 Cups coconut milk 2 Cups coconut cream or coconut cream 1 small piece ginger, cut into strips 4 pieces of green finger chili, chopped Optional: 3 Pieces red chili pepper, sliced thinly | PROCEDURE - Place pork belly strips, submerged in water, in a pan over medium heat.
- Cook until water evaporates.
- Mix shrimp paste, garlic, coconut milk and ginger in the pan. Stir for around 2 minutes.
- Add the taro (gabi) leaves to the coconut milk. And avoid stirring the leaves. Let this boil until the leaves have absorbed all the liquid.
- After about 10 minutes, add in the coconut cream and the chilies. Again, leave to boil, until the gabi has soaked up all the liquid and the flavor.
- Add more chillies, if desired. Serve warm with rice.
|
Key Takeaways
A pregnant woman must be mindful of what she eats, consuming adequate calories and nutritious dishes that can aid in her pregnancy.
The right amount of nutrients should always be considered in every meal. Filipino cuisine presents a variety of healthy dishes, allowing one to enjoy good, flavorful food even when on a stricter diet and eating for two. Explore and experiment with different Filipino food for pregnancy.
Learn more about Prenatal Care here.