Dietitian Reviews Viral Tik Tok Recipes! Are They Safe For Pregnancy & Postpartum?

1. Viral Salmon Bowl

The basic recipe of Viral Salmon Bowl consists of:

Part A

• 1 Baked salmon, mashed
• 1 bowl of cooked rice
• Kewpie mayonnaise 
• Sriracha sauce or chilli sauce 
• Soy sauce

Part B

• Baked Seaweed
• Avocado, sliced (Optional)
• Kimchi (Optional)
• Cucumbers, chopped ( Optional)

This particular salmon bowl has been going viral on Tik Tok. Many people love it because it’s such an easy recipe to plate together, especially in an Asian household. It is a great way to use leftover cooked salmon and rice that you may have prepared the day before. What is shown on Tik Tok is that both the salmon and rice are reheated in the microwave.  Subsequently, you can season the salmon bow with mayonnaise, sriracha sauce or chilli sauce as well as soy sauce. Mix all of this in the bowl until even and enjoy it with baked seaweed. Other optional ingredients you can use to enhance your dish is by adding avocado slices, kimchi or even chopped cucumbers. Avocado helps to build the richness, kimchi gives a more sour kick while cucumbers make it taste fresher and more enjoyable. 

Overall, this dish is definitely a great option for mummies to prepare as it’s fast and pretty nutritious. Firstly, salmon is a great source of protein as well as omega 3-DHA and Vitamin D which helps to support brain development in babies and the immune system respectively. Besides that, the addition of monounsaturated fat and soluble fibre from avocado can help to provide healthier fats compared to mayonnaise as well as more fibre in the meal which will help to reduce constipation in mummies who may experience them during pregnancy and postpartum. Cucumbers are also a great way to add more vegetables to this dish to make it more balanced. The only thing that pregnant mummies may have to be careful of is kimchi as there are live bacteria in them and may place mummies at risk of food poisoning. For the safety of pregnant mummies, either avoid kimchi or only have cooked kimchi. 

2. Tako Tuna

Part A

• Rice
• Sushi Vinegar
• Sesame Oil
• Soy sauce
• Tuna

Part B

• Mayo
• Takoyaki Sauce
• Takoyaki Flakes
• Spring Onions

We all know that many mummies avoid sashimi and sushi for 9 months during pregnancy because the consumption of raw fish would put mummies at higher risk of food poisoning. Thus, it is not safe for mummies and foetuses. So, If you are missing your Japanese flavour platelets, this recipe is definitely worth a try to curb those cravings! So first is to mix a portion of freshly cooked rice with some sushi vinegar, sesame oil and soy sauce. Add a can of tuna and mix all of it evenly in a bowl. Once mixed evenly, roll the mixture into small bite-sized balls and plate them with some mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce and takoyaki flakes. Sprinkle some spring onions and bon appetit! 

It’s definitely not the same thing as what sushi tastes like but it’s definitely going to help satisfy those cravings from time to time. A way you can make it healthier is to have this with a bowl of salad with edamame. This viral recipe is considered safe for mummies, since all these foods are cooked and heat treated. Consuming it within 2 hours after preparing is generally safe for mummies. Another pro tip that mummies should take note of is to choose light tuna cans instead of regular ones. “Light” tuna cans are tuna of skipjack or yellowfin species that are smaller and have lower mercury levels yet are rich in Omega 3-DHA. This helps to keep the heavy metals exposure at a minimum but still enjoy the benefits of Omega 3-DHA from tuna. As with any seasoning sauce, do use it sparingly especially when mummies may have water retention during pregnancy or postpartum as seasonings like these are commonly high in sodium which may aggravate the problem with water retention when consumed excessively.

3. Milo Mochi

Part A

• ⅓ cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp milo

Part B

• 60g glutinous rice flour
• 30g sugar
• 100ml water

To make your filling, mix whipping cream, sugar and Milo together in a bowl until even. Once even and stiff peaks have formed, scoop it out onto a plate in small bite sizes. Place them in the freezer to let them set. Next, grab glutinous rice flour, sugar and water. Whisk all these ingredients in the bowl until even. You can mix it over low heat on the pan or place them in the microwave for several intervals. On Tik Tok, it’s commonly heated in a microwave for 1 minute and stirred. Repeat this three times. After that, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Repeat this two times. Once done, you can dust with cornstarch and split the mochi evenly. Next, grab your filling in the freezer and wrap it with the mochi. Roll the mochi in Milo powder and enjoy! 

In general, Milo is a nostalgic flavour that brings us back to our childhood memories. Who doesn’t like the taste of Milo? Even more, who doesn’t like mochi? This mochi recipe has the potential to become a very good snack idea mummies can prepare ahead of time and enjoy in between meals or just something to satisfy a sweet craving from time to time. One way you can make it more nutritious is to replace whipping cream with avocado or blended soft silken tofu. Avocado is a healthier form of fat, high in soluble fibre and rich in folate. All of which are great for pregnant mummies! If you want something of lower fat, blended silken tofu can be a great option! You can add some protein powder if you want it to be a high protein snack to enjoy in between meals. Either way you do it, these are two viable options you can explore and try out! 

We hope this review gives you ideas on how to spice up your pregnancy and maternity food! After all, having variety in our diet makes it that much more enjoyable!

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