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I had such a love/hate relationship with my smart phone during
my pregnancy. The temptation to verify the safety of every morsel
of food before I put it in my mouth was real. The reality is that
there really aren’t that many foods you need to avoid, but for
someone like me who literally lives on sushi and turkey and brie
sandwiches, the “Do Not Eat” list made me rethink my entire diet.
If you learn the general rules of what not to eat during pregnancy
it won’t feel as though you need to carry a cheat sheet around
with you. On the other hand, it’s ok if you need a reminder and if
you do, there’s an app for that! Just a quick visit to your app store,
you’ll find a number of options to help guide you through the do’s
and don’ts of pregnancy eating. Here are most of the foods you’ll
need to say goodbye to for nine months. For a complete list of
must-avoid foods, confer with your doctor or midwife.
•
Raw animal of any kind
:
Including meat, poultry, shellfish and
fish. You’ll want to ask for your burgers and steak well-done
and avoid undercooked chicken or fish. With any uncooked
meats, there’s a risk of toxic bacteria, such as salmonella,
toxoplasmosis and coliform.
•
Deli meats
:
These are off the list due to the risk of listeria
contamination. I didn’t know anything about listeria until I
became pregnant. Since listeria has the potential to cross
the placenta and cause miscarriage, you don’t want to mess
around with deli meats. This was a hard one for me, as it
What are the major food
no-nos during pregnancy?
basically meant no sandwiches for nine months, at least not
the kind of Italian heroes I was used to, loaded with salami and
provolone. I trained myself to eat grilled vegetable sandwiches
instead and I also ate a lot of grilled cheese and boat-loads of
avocado toast.
•
Raw eggs
:
If you’re thinking raw cookie batter would be
the perfect pregnancy food, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Raw eggs are a definite no-no. Again, there’s the possibility
of salmonella exposure. But cookie dough isn’t the only raw
egg culprit; also cross off homemade Caesar salad dressing,
homemade ice cream, mayonnaise and hollandaise sauce.
Shop-bought dressings and ice creams are made with
pasteurised eggs, so are considered safe. As always, ask your
doctor to be sure if in doubt.
•
Soft Cheeses
:
Will have to take a back seat during pregnancy.
This includes blue cheese, brie, Roquefort, feta and Gorgonzola.
The rule of thumb is that unless it’s clearly stated they are made
from pasteurised milk, soft cheeses are to be avoided.
•
Unwashed vegetables
:
Could present a possible hazard thanks
to something called toxoplasmosis, which is a disease caused
by parasites. If you don’t have immunity to this disease, there’s
potential for it to affect the baby and cause birth defects. The
parasites that carry this disease are also commonly found in
cat faeces, which is why pregnant women are advised not to
change cat litter.
•
More to avoid
:
Random foods you may not realise are risky are:
pâté, smoked fish and raw (alfalfa, clover and radish) sprouts.
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