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Photo: Ali Redmond

Salmon Rice Bowl

These gestational diabetes recipes are so easy to make, you could whip them up in just 30 minutes or less. Each dinner fits our parameters fordiabetes-friendlyand healthy pregnancy recipes, so you’ll know they’re free of ingredients you should be avoiding during your pregnancy and full of the nutrients you need for a healthy meal. Every serving is a good source of calcium, iron or folic acid, which are key nutrients for pregnant folks. Plus, recipes like our Salmon Rice Bowl and Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower focus on complex carbs, like whole grains, and stick to lower levels of saturated fat and sodium for a meal that will help you keep your blood sugar levels stable.

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Salmon Rice Bowl

View Recipe

Ali Redmond

02of 21Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted CauliflowerView RecipeYou can find farro in most grocery stores, near the rice. If you can’t find farro, you can use wheat berries or brown rice instead; cook according to package directions.

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Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower

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You can find farro in most grocery stores, near the rice. If you can’t find farro, you can use wheat berries or brown rice instead; cook according to package directions.

03of 21Kale & Avocado Salad with Blueberries & EdamameView RecipeBursting with nutrient-rich produce, this California-inspired salad is a delicious and satisfying way to get your vitamins. We love the unique combination of blueberries, edamame and goat cheese.

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Kale & Avocado Salad with Blueberries & Edamame

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Bursting with nutrient-rich produce, this California-inspired salad is a delicious and satisfying way to get your vitamins. We love the unique combination of blueberries, edamame and goat cheese.

04of 21Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed GreensView RecipeProtein-rich quinoa and chickpeas add staying power to this zesty and healthy salad recipe.

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Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens

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Protein-rich quinoa and chickpeas add staying power to this zesty and healthy salad recipe.

05of 21Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette, Red Onion & AvocadoView RecipeJillian AtkinsonJessica B. Harris loves green salads, especially those that she can throw together quickly from whatever she has on hand in her fridge. After crisping bacon, she uses the fat in the pan to make a flavorful hot vinaigrette that she pours over the greens, onion and creamy avocado. The result is a beautiful, semi-wilted, warm spinach salad.

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Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette, Red Onion & Avocado

Jillian Atkinson

wilted spinach salad with hot vinaigrette

Jessica B. Harris loves green salads, especially those that she can throw together quickly from whatever she has on hand in her fridge. After crisping bacon, she uses the fat in the pan to make a flavorful hot vinaigrette that she pours over the greens, onion and creamy avocado. The result is a beautiful, semi-wilted, warm spinach salad.

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Camarones a la Criolla (Shrimp in Creole Sauce)

camarones a la criolla

07of 21Winter Greens BowlView RecipeAli RedmondThis one-pan meal packs in lots of plant-based protein and flavor thanks to beans and quinoa, while a creamy lemon-garlic dressing completes the dish.

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Winter Greens Bowl

Winter Greens Bowl

This one-pan meal packs in lots of plant-based protein and flavor thanks to beans and quinoa, while a creamy lemon-garlic dressing completes the dish.

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Chicken, Spinach & Feta Wraps

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco

a recipe photo of the Chicken, Spinach & Feta Wrap

09of 21Baked Halibut with Brussels Sprouts & QuinoaView RecipeFish plus two sides? It seems fancy but this healthy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes.

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Baked Halibut with Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa

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Fish plus two sides? It seems fancy but this healthy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes.

10of 21Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & EscaroleView RecipeThis easy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare, meaning that seared steak can be a weeknight meal. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too.

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Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

This easy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare, meaning that seared steak can be a weeknight meal. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too.

11of 21Mushroom-Swiss Turkey BurgerView RecipeIn this gluten-free turkey burger recipe, lean ground turkey stands in for ground beef, and portobello mushrooms produce a juicy, flavorful alternative to the traditional bun. Melted Swiss cheese, sliced tomato and arugula top off this delicious dinner that is diabetes-friendly!

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Mushroom-Swiss Turkey Burger

Mushroom-Swiss Turkey Burgers

In this gluten-free turkey burger recipe, lean ground turkey stands in for ground beef, and portobello mushrooms produce a juicy, flavorful alternative to the traditional bun. Melted Swiss cheese, sliced tomato and arugula top off this delicious dinner that is diabetes-friendly!

12of 21Chopped Cobb Salad with ChickenView RecipeThis healthy chopped salad is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. You can reserve the remaining hard-boiled egg half for a snack.

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Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken

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This healthy chopped salad is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. You can reserve the remaining hard-boiled egg half for a snack.

13of 21Tex-Mex Pasta SaladView RecipeA light and creamy green-salsa dressing highlights this easy pasta salad with Southwestern flavors.

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Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

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A light and creamy green-salsa dressing highlights this easy pasta salad with Southwestern flavors.

14of 21Hearty Chickpea & Spinach StewView RecipeThis satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without adding too much sodium in this healthy recipe for weight loss.

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Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

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This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without adding too much sodium in this healthy recipe for weight loss.

15of 21Hearty Tomato Soup with Beans & GreensView RecipeGarlicky kale and creamy white beans elevate simple canned tomato soup into a 10-minute lunch or dinner that really satisfies. Use a soup with tomato pieces for a heartier texture. Look for a brand that’s low- or reduced-sodium, with no more than 450 milligrams sodium per serving.

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Hearty Tomato Soup with Beans & Greens

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Garlicky kale and creamy white beans elevate simple canned tomato soup into a 10-minute lunch or dinner that really satisfies. Use a soup with tomato pieces for a heartier texture. Look for a brand that’s low- or reduced-sodium, with no more than 450 milligrams sodium per serving.

16of 21Simple Grilled Salmon & VegetablesView RecipeGrilled salmon and veggies make for a colorful and balanced seafood dinner that’s ready in just minutes. The grill turns the salmon flaky and moist while tenderizing the crispy pepper and onion pieces. Round out the meal with brown rice or quinoa.

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Simple Grilled Salmon & Vegetables

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Grilled salmon and veggies make for a colorful and balanced seafood dinner that’s ready in just minutes. The grill turns the salmon flaky and moist while tenderizing the crispy pepper and onion pieces. Round out the meal with brown rice or quinoa.

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Baked Beans with Ground Beef

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18of 21Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini DressingView RecipeFor this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp.

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Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

a blue bowl full of chicken and vegetables and a smaller bowl with dressing

For this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp.

19of 21Veggie & Hummus SandwichView RecipeThis mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

20of 21Green Goddess Salad with ChickpeasView RecipeIn this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

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In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

21of 21Spaghetti with Quick Meat SauceView RecipeInstead of opening a jar of sauce, try this easy spaghetti with meat sauce on a weeknight. Serve with steamed broccoli and garlic bread. The recipe makes enough for 8 servings. If you’re serving only four for dinner, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti and freeze the leftover sauce.

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Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Instead of opening a jar of sauce, try this easy spaghetti with meat sauce on a weeknight. Serve with steamed broccoli and garlic bread. The recipe makes enough for 8 servings. If you’re serving only four for dinner, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti and freeze the leftover sauce.

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