Now that you’re expecting, some – and maybe most – of what you eat will be driven by your cravings. (Pickles and ice cream, anyone?) And most foods are safe to consume during pregnancy. There are, however, some to avoid. Those include:
Unpasteurized cheese – or any food made from unpasteurized milk. That includes goat cheese (chevre), Brie, feta, Mexican-style cheeses such as queso fresco and blue cheeses such as Roquefort and Gorgonzola. Those soft cheeses with a white exterior coating contain more moisture, which makes it easier for bacteria to grow. There’s a small potential that unpasteurized cheeses may contain Listeria bacteria, which can cause listeriosis – a condition that could lead to flu-like symptoms and even a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Raw or undercooked meat, liver, pâté (even vegetarian pâté), game meats. The reason? There’s a small risk of getting toxoplasmosis, which can cause miscarriage.
Avoid deli meats/cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni, chorizo and prosciutto – unless you’re sure they’ve been cooked thoroughly. Cured meats are not cooked, which makes them more likely to contain toxoplasmosis-causing parasites.
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Cold-smoked seafood, such as salmon, isn’t fully cooked. Hot-smoked seafood, on the other hand, is fully cooked and should be safe for pregnant women.
Fish that could be high in mercury, such as bigeye tuna, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy and swordfish. Mercury may be harmful to your unborn baby.
Raw fish and shellfish, such as sushi, sashimi, ceviche. They may contain harmful bacteria or toxins.
Undercooked eggs. Cook eggs until the whites and yolks are firm. Raw and undercooked eggs may contain harmful bacteria that can lead to salmonella exposure. Note that some Caesar salad dressings and hollandaise sauce you might be served in a restaurant may contain raw eggs.
Unpasteurized juices and fresh-squeezed juices. Pregnant women should drink juice that’s been pasteurized. Fresh-squeezed juice that you might get in a grocery store or at a restaurant may not have been. Make a habit of asking if juice has been pasteurized.
Unwashed fruits and veggies.
Alcohol. You already know about the effects alcohol can have on an unborn baby. The safest approach is to avoid it entirely during pregnancy.
Caffeine. The effect caffeine can have on your unborn baby isn’t clear, so it’s best to avoid or limit it to 200 milligrams (mg) a day during pregnancy. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, and an 8-ounce cup of brewed tea contains about 47 mg. A 12-ounce can of caffeinated soda has about 33 mg. Some studies shows that large amounts of caffeine can be linked to miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and even withdrawal symptoms in infants.
Herbal tea. There isn’t much data on the effect specific herbs can have on a developing fetus, so it’s best to avoid herbal tea.
Raw sprouts, including alfalfa, clover and radish. It’s possible for bacteria to get into seeds before the sprouts begin to grow.
Food in a dented can. That increases your risk of botulism, a foodborne illness.
As for pickles and ice cream – those are fine … in moderation.
