Sponsored Content

Doctors’ Orders: Eating for two at Smoked

This local OB/GYN has nutrient-packed meal recommendations to support moms-to-be and their growing babies.

Sponsored by
Dishes from Smoked, including the beet salad

This latest installment of Doctors’ Orders features menu choices that are rich in essential nutrients for budding families.

Photo via @smokedsc

Navigating pregnancy nutrition can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be bland. OB/GYN Alvin Strasburger, III, MD at Lexington Women’s Care White Knoll has recommendations to keep you and your baby happy and healthy.

When dining at Smoked, he recommends building a pregnancy-friendly plate full of nutrients that support early fetal development and maternal wellness. First up: the Jumbo Lump Crabcake.

“It’s not only high in protein and low in mercury, but also a natural source of B12 and selenium, key for nerve function and immune health,” Dr. Strasburger said. “The corn salsa alongside adds a fiber boost.”

For the main course, he suggests the roasted beet salad with grilled salmon. It’s a flavorful way to get omega-3s (which are crucial for the baby’s brain and eye development). The beets, arugula, and goat cheese round out the meal with antioxidants, folate, and calcium.

Dr. Strasburger’s go-to advice: Choose variety, balance your plate, and always check fish mercury levels when ordering seafood.

Wondering why beets are a superfood for you and the little one?

See 10 benefits (and a recipe)

More from COLAtoday
ColaJazz Foundation and the Koger Center announce seven intimate jazz performances running from February through December.
If you’re trying to reach new running goals, consider signing up for one of these upcoming races or find ways to get more steps in around Columbia
For every Bradford Pear you remove from your property, Clemson and the Forestry Commission will give you a free replacement, but only while supplies last.
Get your calendars out and start booking your reservations at these Midlands eateries offering special dishes, menus, and deals for a limited time during Restaurant Week South Carolina.
We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Dining in Columbia is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Block parties, early ball drops, free games — whatever your vibe, there’s a Columbia-area New Year’s Eve for you.
South Carolina is reshaping its offense with coordinator Kendal Briles and longtime assistants Stan Drayton and Randy Clements joining Shane Beamer’s staff.
Columbia Food & Wine Festival returns with new Tastemakers memberships and a USC hospitality scholarship added to its five-day lineup.