Once you’ve gotten past the morning sickness, or if you were fortunate enough to never have it, you might think, “Great, now I can eat what I want ,when I want!” Not true.
Despite your cravings, there are some foods pregnant women just shouldn’t eat. Did you think the salad bar was a safe choice? Think again, and keep our list below handy.
Foods to avoid
So long salad bar! Many women try to eat as healthy and nutritious a diet as possible while pregnant, but the reality is that raw vegetables, sprouts and unwashed fruits can contain Listeria. Pre-washed and packaged lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens may be nutritious but unless you’re washing them yourself you never know what has escaped the packager’s washing procedure. Unwashed fruits and vegetables should always be avoided. Wash produce well in warm water to rinse off any potential bacteria.
No more fish Friday! You don’t have to avoid all fish, just certain kinds which the EPA has deemed to have unhealthy levels of mercury. Tuna, shark, mackerel, tilefish and swordfish all have levels of mercury that could be harmful to a growing fetus. Even if you’re only trying to become pregnant, you should avoid these types of fish as mercury can remain in your system for up to a year after eating it. Tuna isn’t quite as bad, but limit your intake to no more than 6 ounces per week. The EPA also suggests no more than 12 ounces of shrimp, salmon, catfish and pollock be consumed per week.