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  6. 23 30-Minute Dinners That Are Gestational Diabetes-Friendly

23 30-Minute Dinners That Are Gestational Diabetes-Friendly

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD May 23, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Salmon Rice Bowl
Credit: Ali Redmond

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 for diabetes-friendly and 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 California Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato Fries 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

Salmon Rice Bowl
Credit: Ali Redmond
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Inspired by the viral TikTok trend, this tasty bowl makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner. With a handful of healthy ingredients, like instant brown rice, heart-healthy salmon and lots of crunchy veggies, you'll have a filling and flavorful meal in just 25 minutes. Looking to cut down on carbs? Try swapping in riced cauliflower in place of the brown rice.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette, Red Onion & Avocado

wilted spinach salad with hot vinaigrette
Credit: Jillian Atkinson
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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. Read more about why Harris craves this salad and how she stocks her fridge here.

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Camarones a la Criolla (Shrimp in Creole Sauce)

camarones a la criolla
Credit: Ali Redmond
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Channel the flavors of Puerto Rican cooking by simmering shrimp in a rich tomato sauce laced with cumin, oregano, sofrito and garlic. Known as salsa criolla, this sauce comes together easily and can be used to cook a variety of meats and seafood.

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Winter Greens Bowl

Winter Greens Bowl
Credit: Ali Redmond
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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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Parmesan Eggplant Pasta

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This lightened-up version of the classic eggplant pasta dish swaps out some of the cheese and uses protein-rich lentil pasta.

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Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios

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Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!

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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.

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Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole
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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.

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California Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato Fries

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Inspired by an option at the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger, this turkey burger recipe keeps the carbs in check with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. The side of sweet potato fries bakes while you prep the burgers, so this entire healthy dinner is ready in under 30 minutes.

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Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Pasta

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The combination of slightly smoky grilled eggplant and sweet tomatoes is delightful. The eggplant-tomato mixture served over whole-wheat pasta with fresh basil and a bit of salty cheese makes an easy, healthy weeknight dinner.

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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.

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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.

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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 piling on the sodium. To simplify the prep, look for chopped fresh onion and shredded carrot or a soup starter mix in the produce section.

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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 mg sodium per serving.

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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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Upgrade baked beans from classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a superfast hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option. Ground turkey or even sausage would work nicely in this dish. Just watch the sodium.

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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
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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.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
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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.

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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.

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Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce
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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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    1 of 23 Salmon Rice Bowl
    2 of 23 Grilled Chicken with Farro & Roasted Cauliflower
    3 of 23 Kale & Avocado Salad with Blueberries & Edamame
    4 of 23 Quinoa, Avocado & Chickpea Salad over Mixed Greens
    5 of 23 Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette, Red Onion & Avocado
    6 of 23 Camarones a la Criolla (Shrimp in Creole Sauce)
    7 of 23 Winter Greens Bowl
    8 of 23 Parmesan Eggplant Pasta
    9 of 23 Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios
    10 of 23 Baked Halibut with Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa
    11 of 23 Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole
    12 of 23 California Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato Fries
    13 of 23 Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Pasta
    14 of 23 Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken
    15 of 23 Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
    16 of 23 Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew
    17 of 23 Hearty Tomato Soup with Beans & Greens
    18 of 23 Simple Grilled Salmon & Vegetables
    19 of 23 Baked Beans with Ground Beef
    20 of 23 Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing
    21 of 23 Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
    22 of 23 Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
    23 of 23 Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

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    23 30-Minute Dinners That Are Gestational Diabetes-Friendly
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