Post birth recipe: Quinoa + minced beef bowl

This meal provides an amazing source of protein, iron, zinc and contains all nine amino acids needed for the growth and maintenance of cells, making it a highly nutritious dish and great choice especially during pregnancy and for post birth nourishment.

COURGETTE, QUINOA + MINCED BEEF BOWL this meal provides an amazing source of protein, iron, zinc and contains all nine amino acids needed for the growth and maintenance of cells, making it a highly nutritious dish and great choice especially during pregnancy and for post birth nourishment and healing in the fourth trimester. I asked James to cook me in the weeks after having Sebby and it made me feel more energised when I was feeling weak and exhausted!

Your baby during the third trimester draws upon your iron stores in preparation for life outside the womb and as the process of birth itself causes blood loss too, its really important to try to incorporate plenty of iron rich ingredients in your meals where possible and including foods high in vitamin C will increase absorption of iron. Good quality grass fed red meat, spinach, kale, eggs, lentils and dried apricot are good sources of iron and eating these foods with vitamin C rich foods including broccoli, sweet potatoes (with skins on), tomatoes, red peppers, kiwi, orange, frozen peas and strawberries.

INGREDIENTS to feed 2 people

• Organic mince beef 500g

• 2 tbsp cumin, tsp turmeric, tsp paprika, tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 red pepper

• 1 onion

• 3 gloves of garlic

• 1 lemon

• Tin of chopped tomatoes

• Beef stock

• Courgette

• Feta

• Quinoa (I use the merchant pre-made packs for ease!)

METHOD

Chop the pepper, onion and garlic and saute in the pan before adding the beef and browning off on high heat. Now add chopped tomatoes and beef stock, reduce heat and allow to simmer for 15 mins. Now cook the chopped courgette circles and slightly char them in the pan (about 5 mins on each side). Now add the lemon juice to the beef pan, stir in and serve on a bed of quinoa, top with courgettes and top with crumbled feta!