When you’re pregnant and more aware of what you’re eating an invitation to a ‘bring a plate’ party may seem like a bad idea. What will you be able to eat, especially if you’re the only pregnant person there? The best option is make sure you’re catered for and if anyone asks given them some ideas!

Here are some suggestions of easy and nutritious foods which will be popular with everyone, won’t take ages to prepare, will travel well, be safe and interesting to eat and make you look good!

Savoury

•  Try pumpernickel bread as a substitute to bread – it’s high in fibre and offers greater satiety. Top with your favourite crostini toppings like slices of mozzarella cheese, vine ripened tomatoes and basil leaves.
• Canned baby beetroots can be transformed into a nutritious and colourful dip. Blend drained beetroots with cumin, olive oil, garlic and coriander and serve with veggie sticks (carrots, cucumber, peppers and celery) and an assortment of wholegrain crackers. Alternatively make your own hummus by blending canned chickpeas, sesame seeds, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. 
• Prepare pizzas using pita bread as the base and an assortment of safe toppings.
• Buy mini bagels or blinis (mini pikelets) and top with cream cheese, capers and a squeeze of lemon juice, or try blending cream cheese with canned salmon.
• Use falafel mix (you’ll find this in the chiller at New World) to make mini falafels and serve with sweet chilli sauce or a yoghurt dipping sauce (unsweetened yoghurt, finely diced cucumber and fresh mint).
• Bake baby potatoes in the oven until tender. Cut a cross in the top and spoon in a mixture of sour cream and chives or tuna, sweetcorn and mayonnaise.
• Make asparagus rolls with fresh steamed asparagus and a dollop of mayonnaise (from a jar) wrapped in wholemeal sandwich bread.

Sweet

• Make up a platter with dry roast almonds (whole almonds lightly sprinkled with rock salt and oil roasted in the oven), dried apricots and fresh dates.
• Fresh strawberries piled high in a bowl and lightly sprinkled with icing sugar are quick and easy.
• Alternatively chocolate dip strawberries and pieces of pineapple -try white chocolate for a change. 
• Assemble a fruit platter with slices of seasonal fruit. 
• Baby meringues topped a mixture of yoghurt and cream and berries make a great dessert. If your favourite berries aren’t in season use frozen.
• Panforte (pronounced pan-for-tay) is a rich fruit and chocolate cake from Italy. Only a small slice is needed for the perfect after lunch sweet morsel.

Drinks

Tropical juices are delicious on their own or mixed with soda or lemonade to make them into a long drink. Tomato juice is great for making Virgin Mary’s and is high in lycopene, a valuable antioxidant. Sparkling juices like grape, grapefruit, lemon or mandarin are a good option, plus ginger beer is refreshing served ice cold on a hot day.

Refreshing lemon, lime and bitters can be bought prepared - or you can make it yourself with a couple of drops of Angostura bitters, a splash of lime cordial and fill the glass with lemonade. Soda with a twist of lemon, lime or kiwi is popular too.

So eat, drink, slap on the sunscreen and enjoy the festive ‘bring a plate’ season.

So don’t despair at the thought of bringing a plate but put on your comfy party shoes and enjoy the event.

Endorsed by our New World Nutritionist  ||   Proudly Partnering with Parents Centre

Thinking about antenatal classes? Parents Centre run excellent Childbirth Education Classes throughout New Zealand. Contact your local centre or go to www.parentscentre.org.nz for details.

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