Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy To Keep You and Baby Safe

prenatal health
Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy To Keep You and Baby Safe

Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy

It is vital that you know what foods to avoid during pregnancy for the safety of you and baby. While Listeria is uncommon, you should still empower yourself with the knowledge of certain foods that you should not eat when pregnant.

The best foods to eat are freshly cooked or freshly prepared.

Foods to Avoid

1. Mercury fish

a. Shark

b. Swordfish

c. King mackerel

d. Tuna (especially albacore tuna)

2. Under-cooked or Raw Fish

a. Shellfish

3. Under-cooked, Raw and Processed Meat

You should avoid processed meat for many health reasons. But during pregnancy, these meats pose additional problems.

4. Raw Eggs

Foods that commonly contain raw eggs include:

a. Lightly scrambled eggs

b. Poached eggs

c. Salad dressings

d. Homemade ice cream

e. Cake icings

f. Hollandaise sauce

h. Homemade mayonnaise

5. Unwashed Produce

a. Salads

b. Fruits

c. Vegetables

6. Unpasteurized milk, cheese and fruit juice

7. Alcohol

Other Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy

1. Sprouts

2. Soybeans

3. Pate

4. Ham and processed meats.

5. Liver

6. Soft-serve ice-cream.

7. Soft cheese, such as brie, Camembert, fetta, cottage and ricotta.

8. Pre-cooked diced chicken, the type you buy at delicatessens and sandwich shops.

9. Cold, smoked and raw seafood, especially oysters.

10. Self-service salad bars or packages salads, such as coleslaw and pasta salad.

11. Unpasteurized milk.

12. Raw or partially cooked eggs

13. Energy drinks.

14. Some types of fish high in mercury.