The moment you find out you are having a baby, your life changes forever. But, some changes are more immediate and vital for the baby’s growth within the womb, so he can arrive in this world whole and healthy.
You need to supply all the nourishment he needs. But that does not mean you can eat all that you want because, even though you are supposed to be ‘eating for two,’ you only need 350–500 additional calories every day. Here is a list of foods to stay away from when pregnant, so you and your baby can remain safe from any dietary hazards:
List of Foods Pregnant Women Should Avoid
Fruits and Vegetables
- Papaya
- Grapes
- Cut fruits or vegetables from farmers’ markets of food stores
- Romaine lettuce
- Raw sprouts (clover, radish, alfalfa, etc.)
- Unpasteurized juices
- Eggplant
Dairy and Poultry Products
- Unpasteurized milk
- Soft cheese (brie, feta, camembert)
- Uncooked foods containing unpasteurized milk
- Blue-veined cheese (roquefort, gorgonzola, Danish blue)
- Anything containing raw eggs (cookie dough, salad dressings)
Fish and Seafood
- Shark
- King mackerel
- Tilefish
- Refrigerated/pickled fish
- Raw shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels)
- Striped bass
- Crevalle jack
- Marlin
- Chilean sea bass
- Amberjack
- Golden snapper
- Locally caught fishes
- Swordfish
- Bluefish
- Orange roughy
- Bigeye tuna
Meat and Meat Products
- Deli meat/lunch meat
- Any raw meat
- Organ meat (e.g., liver)
Other Food Items You Can’t Eat
- Sushi
- Queso
- Store-made salads with dressings
- Hotdogs
- Pâté
- Caesar dressings containing raw eggs (packaged ones should be safe)
3 Tips for Eating Safely During Pregnancy
- Raw/unpasteurized milk, products made from such milk, and unpasteurized juice often have various bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and coli. Check the label of any milk product or juice to ensure they are pasteurized.
- Salads made at food stores usually have dressings containing raw eggs, and since the above-mentioned bacteria may contaminate raw eggs, these salads are not safe. However, you can make your salads at home, using a homemade or even packaged dressing that does not contain raw eggs.
- Junk foods, like fries, sugary treats, and fatty foods, should strictly be avoided as these are high in calories, increasing your risk of developing several complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and having an overweight baby.
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