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Home › Articles › Eating For Two › Dietary Cautions

Dietary Cautions

7 Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

By Donna Smith

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Pates are "another potential source of harmful bacteria," Dr. Carson says. She suggests canned or "shelf-stable" pates as an alternative.

Brennan suggests opting for a bean-based spread, like hummus, instead.

More Food Cautions

The list is long of foods to avoid while pregnant. In addition to the ones listed above, the experts have some of their own to add.

Dr. Carson advises expecting mothers to avoid raw or unpasterurized milk and unpasteurized or untreated fruit or vegetable juice. "These products should carry a warning label," she says. "Again, potential for consuming harmful bacteria."

And be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables. "Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables may be contaminated with bacteria and viruses," Brennan says. "Be sure to wash all fruits and vegetables well before consuming."

Dr. Pearsall would add caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol to the list. But he reminds moms-to-be to remember these foods are not all or none. "How they affect you and your baby depend on the source, the harvesting, storage, washing, preparation, etc.," he says.

Making dietary changes is a small price to pay for a healthy baby. And while it's important now, the way you eat will continue to be important down the road – for you and your children. "Remember that the eating habits that you have, most likely will be passed to your children, so be a healthy role model by following healthy eating patterns and making balanced food choices daily," Brennan says.

More Nutritional Tips
  • "Limit empty calorie foods, like sugars and fats, and go for nutrient-dense foods, like colorful fruits and vegetables (for vitamin A and folate), while including low-fat protein sources, like skim milk (for the calcium), lean beef, pork or lamb (for the iron)," says Dr. Jo Ann S. Carson. "And you need not shun white bread – it is a good source of highly available folate, a B vitamin, especially important early in pregnancy."
  • "Create a consistent pattern of eating scheduled healthy meals and snacks throughout the day to ensure nutrition needs are met and to aide in weight loss after delivery," says Lanah Jo Brennan.
  • Make your meals well balanced, says Dr. Eldridge Pearsall. "A healthy diet has most if not all of the nutrients that are found in your supplements," he says. "A supplement is just that; it supplements the diet, not replaces it."
  • Eat as much live food as possible, says David Tippie, director and co-founder of the Anti-Aging Clinic Association Inc. in Lauderhill, Fla. "Mother Nature's electrons will boost your energy as well as help your fetus to be as healthy as possible."

Eat This Instead

Christina Pirello, host of the television series Christina Cooks, and the author of Cooking the Whole Foods Way (H.P. Books, 1997) and Cook Your Way to the Life You Want (H.P. Books, 1999), suggests these alternatives if you are craving a food on the "no-no" list:

  • Instead of Bologna: Substitute soy bologna to avoid the additives that are in lunchmeats or to be even more pure, baked tofu for protein and a smoky taste.
  • Instead of Blue Cheese: Try soy-based, non-dairy feta cheese. You will get the flavor you crave without saturated fats and mold.
  • Instead of Pate: There are tons of prepared vegetable pates on the market to satisfy this craving and avoid the saturated fats and additives in pate.
  • Instead of Swordfish: Skip this entirely and go for a white meat fish like haddock to get that "meaty" texture you may crave, but to remain safe.
  • Instead of Smoked Salmon: Go with fresh salmon or canned salmon.
  • Instead of Homemade Caesar Dressing (with raw egg): A vegan version made with tofu is just as creamy and yummy and you are not risking salmonella.
  • Instead of Sushi: Go with vegetarian sushi and skip the raw fish. Avocado rolls and cucumber rolls are fresh, delicious and safe.
  • Instead of Sprouts: Try organic sprouts and give them a quick rinse before using to make sure you are safe.


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Dietary Cautions While Pregnant by Tiffany on 07/01/2009 01:32AM

OMG. Thank you so much for this article. I had no idea that homemade caesar dressing was bad while pregnant. I've been craving salt and caesar salad, and have been making my dressing recipe. Will stop and eat it with another dressing going forward. Hopefully this craving will pass soon. Appreciate the advice. Great website!!! I'm due in November!!

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