The two micronutrients a pregnancy diet most often misses, and both of them build nervous tissue. Eggs, seafood, seaweed.
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off. Cooking does not remove alcohol. The USDA retention table: about 40% of it is still there after 15 minutes of simmering, 25% after an hour, 5% after two and a half hours, and 75% in a dish that was flamed. The NHS says no level of alcohol is known to be safe in pregnancy. Everything below is simmered rather than splashed in at the end, but the figure is not zero. The call is yours.
Contains an ingredient tradition avoids in pregnancy. A few ingredients — green papaya, pineapple, mugwort, Vietnamese coriander, bitter melon — are traditionally avoided in Vietnamese pregnancies. Only green papaya has a reasonably clear pharmacological basis (the papain in its latex); the rest is custom rather than trial evidence. They are labelled here so you can see them, not removed.
Katsudon
Japan · 40 min
Pad Thai with prawns
Thailand · 30 min
Spaghetti carbonara
Italy · 25 min
Salmon and Courgette Porridge
Vietnam · 45 min
Egg Yolk Porridge
Vietnam · 40 min
Oat Purée with Milk
Vietnam · 15 min
Soft Steamed Egg Custard
Vietnam · 20 min
Banana Oat Porridge
Vietnam · 15 min
Baked Banana Oat Fingers
Vietnam · 35 min
Pumpkin and Milk Soup
Vietnam · 25 min
Milky Mashed Potato
Vietnam · 25 min
Thick Salmon and Carrot Porridge
Vietnam · 45 min
Steamed Vegetable Balls
Vietnam · 30 min
Miso ramen
Japan · 1 hr
French omelette
France · 12 min
Fresh spring rolls
Vietnam · 25 min
Salmon teriyaki
Japan · 25 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Tteokbokki
Korea · 25 min
Tarte aux pommes
France · 1 hr 10 min
Oyakodon
Japan · 25 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Kofta kebab
Middle East · 45 min
Lasagne alla bolognese
Italy · 2 hr 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Gyudon
Japan · 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Okonomiyaki
Japan · 35 min
Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chop
Vietnam · 1 hr
Quiche Lorraine
France · 1 hr 20 min
Pad krapow moo
Thailand · 25 min
Nem ran cha gio
Vietnam · 1 hr
Tandoori chicken
India · 40 min
Ebi tempura
Japan · 40 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Banh Xeo Sizzling Rice Crepe
Vietnam · 50 min
Cotoletta alla milanese
Italy · 40 min
Chicken tikka masala
India · 35 min
Takoyaki
Japan · 45 min
Caramelised Braised Pork with Eggs
Vietnam · 1 hr 30 min
Croque-monsieur
France · 25 min
Joojeh kabab
Middle East · 30 min
Chicken 65
India · 40 min
Tonkatsu
Japan · 40 min
Yangnyeom chikin
Korea · 50 min
Murgh malai tikka
India · 25 min
Blanquette de veau
France · 2 hr
Tagliatelle al ragù alla bolognese
Italy · 2 hr 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Pad see ew moo
Thailand · 30 min
Chicken korma
India · 1 hr
Tsukune
Japan · 40 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Hunkar begendi
Middle East · 1 hr 30 min
Albóndigas al chipotle
Mexico · 1 hr
Nikujaga
Japan · 50 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Khao kha moo
Thailand · 2 hr 30 min
Sukiyaki
Japan · 45 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Maqluba
Middle East · 1 hr 30 min
Hambagu
Japan · 45 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Polpette al sugo
Italy · 1 hr 15 min
Lion's head meatballs
China · 1 hr 20 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Shish taouk
Middle East · 25 min
Chicken nanban
Japan · 45 min
Arrosto di maiale al latte
Italy · 2 hr
Jangjorim
Korea · 1 hr 30 min
Buta no kakuni
Japan · 2 hr 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Hachis Parmentier
France · 1 hr 15 min
Omurice
Japan · 30 min
Milanesa de res
Mexico · 40 min
Yakisoba
Japan · 25 min
Songshu guiyu (squirrel fish)
China · 1 hr
Shuizhu yu
China · 45 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Suan cai yu
China · 45 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Haemul pajeon
Korea · 35 min
Pu pad pong karee
Thailand · 45 min
Baccalà alla vicentina
Italy · 3 hr
Brandade de morue
France · 1 hr 30 min
Quenelles de brochet sauce Nantua
France · 1 hr 30 min
Fish to eat in moderation
Dongtaejeon
Korea · 35 min
Hor mok pla
Thailand · 1 hr
Ebi furai
Japan · 30 min
Kaki furai
Japan · 35 min
Hoy tod
Thailand · 35 min
Saumon en papillote
France · 35 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Gratin dauphinois
France · 1 hr 30 min
Soufflé au fromage
France · 1 hr
Tarte à l'oignon alsacienne
France · 1 hr 15 min
Agedashi dofu
Japan · 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Yam khai dao
Thailand · 25 min
Flamiche aux poireaux
France · 1 hr 15 min
Xi hong shi chao ji dan (tomato and egg stir-fry)
China · 15 min
Gyeranmari
Korea · 20 min
Nopales con huevo
Mexico · 25 min
Chiles rellenos de queso
Mexico · 1 hr
Kimchijeon
Korea · 25 min
Gnocchi alla sorrentina
Italy · 1 hr 10 min
Shakshuka
Middle East · 35 min
Miyeok guk
Korea · 40 min
Suan la tang (hot and sour soup)
China · 40 min
Doenjang jjigae
Korea · 35 min
Poireaux vinaigrette
France · 30 min
Tamagoyaki
Japan · 20 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Sundubu jjigae
Korea · 30 min
Œufs en meurette
France · 50 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Chawanmushi
Japan · 40 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Pad fak thong sai khai
Thailand · 25 min
Tteokguk
Korea · 1 hr
Œufs mimosa
France · 25 min
Piperade
France · 40 min
Wonton noodle soup (yun tun mian)
China · 50 min
Kuku sabzi
Middle East · 45 min
Goya champuru
Japan · 30 min
Contains an ingredient tradition avoids in pregnancy
Crossing the bridge rice noodles (guo qiao mi xian)
China · 2 hr
Chikuzenni
Japan · 1 hr
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Yukgaejang
Korea · 2 hr
Mi Quang Turmeric Noodles
Vietnam · 1 hr 30 min
Miso shiru
Japan · 15 min
West Lake beef soup (xi hu niu rou geng)
China · 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
Kenchinjiru
Japan · 45 min
Brown seaweed — high in iodine if eaten often
Yayla corbasi
Middle East · 40 min
Yudofu
Japan · 25 min
Brown seaweed — high in iodine if eaten often
Mul naengmyeon
Korea · 2 hr 30 min
Vichyssoise
France · 1 hr
Shabu-shabu
Japan · 40 min
Brown seaweed — high in iodine if eaten often
Velouté de champignons
France · 45 min
Yosenabe
Japan · 30 min
Cooked with alcohol — it does not all boil off
These suggestions follow published nutrition guidance from the WHO, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, the NHS, the FDA/EPA and ACOG. They are not medical advice and do not replace a doctor or a dietitian. With an existing condition, a food allergy or a high-risk pregnancy, ask a doctor before changing how you eat.
Only the first 120 are shown. The list is generated from each dish's ingredients; nobody has read every one of them by eye.