Foods to Avoid Eating While You’re Pregnant

Congratulations you’re pregnant! You are probably so overwhelmed with emotions and questions that you don’t know where to start. There are so many do’s and don’ts of pregnancy. One place to start is learning what foods are not safe to eat. You will want to start healthy eating habits right away, and avoid unsafe foods that could potentially harm your baby. To help, I have put together a list of foods to avoid while you are pregnant.

I am not a health professional, and any health advice I give on nutrition and weight loss, make sure you check with your doctor. I am a soon to be mother who has done lot’s of research.

Alcohol

I probably don’t need to mention this one, as you probably already know drinking alcohol while pregnant is not safe for the baby. Any amount of alcohol is dangerous to the baby and should be avoided immediately after finding out you are pregnant.

Raw and Undercooked Meat or Fish

Raw or uncooked meat could have Toxoplasma, E. Coli, Listeria, or Salmonella. You will want to make sure any meat you eat is cooked fully and your steak well done. This includes Fish and Sushi.

Raw Shellfish

Cooking shellfish can help prevent some infections, but it will not prevent alge related infections related to red tide. According to the American Pregnancy Association, raw shellfish pose a concern for everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy. Shellfish include:

• Oysters
• Clams
• Mussels

Soft Cheese

Soft cheeses could contain Listeria because it’s made usually out of unpasteurized milk. If it says on the label that is is made with pasteurized milk then it is generally safe to eat.

Here is a list of some soft cheese you should avoid

• Brie
• Feta
• Gorgonzola
• Bleu Cheese
• Queso Fresco
• Queso Blanco
• Goat Cheese

High Mercury Fish

High levels of mercury have been linked to brain damage and developmental delays. While there are many fish that are safe to consume while pregnancy, you should avoid high mercury fish such as:

• King mackerel
• Shark
• Swordfish
• bigeye tuna, marlin
• Tile fish
• Marlin

Smoked Seafood

Refrigerated, smoked seafood should be avoided because it could be contaminated with listeria. However, it is safe to eat if you cooke the meat. Smoked seafood is often labeled as:

• lox
• nova style
• kippered
• jerky

Deli Meat

Deli meats should be avoided immediately because they have been known to be contaminated with Listeria, which is known as the prime suspect for causing miscarriages. According to the American Pregnancy Association, “Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby, which could lead to infection or blood poisoning and may be life-threatening.”

If you cannot resist the urge to eat deli meats, make certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming.

Raw Eggs

Eating raw eggs can increase your risk of being exposed to Salmonella. You have to be careful because there are quite a few common foods that contain raw eggs that you may not be aware of the following if they are homemade or made from scratch in a restaurant:

Some items you may want to consider avoiding are:

• Caesar
• Salad Dressing
• Mayo,
• Ice cream or custards
• Hollandaise

If these items are store bought, they are made from pasteurized eggs and are safe to eat.

Unwashed Fruits and Veggies

You will want to make sure you wash all of your fruits and veggies before eating them to avoid exposing your baby to Toxoplasmosis. Also, you do not know who or what has touched your produce.

Raw Sprouts

Raw sprouts could contain bacteria such as E. Coli or Salmonella, or Listeria.

All sprouts should be avoided, including:

• Alfalfa
• Clover
• Raddish
• Mung Bean

Fresh-squeezed Juice

Fresh squeeze juices are not pasteurized and could contain harmful bacteria. Avoid fresh-squeezed juice in restaurants, juice bars, or farm stands. Some grocery stores sell unpasteurized juices in the refrigerator section. Make sure you read the label to determine if the juice has been pastured or not.  

Caffeine

There is some controversy around caffeine consumption for pregnant women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, it’s safe to drink 200 MG of caffeine a day, which is equivalent to one 12 oz cup of coffee.

However, caffeine is found in much more than just coffee. It can be found in:

• Tea
• Soda
• Chocolate
• Energy drinks
• and some over-the-counter medications 

I hope this list of foods to avoid while pregnant helps you keep you and your little bundle of joy safe. Comment below any other foods you were advised to avoid. You can check out my other pregnancy related posts by clicking here.