Hello, hello!

If you’re like me during my five pregnancies, you were fighting off cravings left and right! While they are tempting, there are definitely foods to avoid during pregnancy, and here’s an easy list of pregnancy food no-no’s to keep in mind when you’re expecting.

What Not to Eat when You’re Pregnant

1. Caffeine: Sorry to all those coffee and tea-lovers out there, you’ll have to kick the habit when you’re expecting. Caffeine can actually work as a diuretic and lead to lower birth weight. Because it can be found in teas, coffees, and even chocolate, it’s best to read the labels before consuming anything that might contain caffeine!
2. Unwashed Produce: Unless properly washed and peeled, eating produce can lead to ingesting harmful pesticides, which can cause considerable damage to your fetus! Beware and be hyper-vigilant when it comes to washing before eating.
3. Unpasteurized Dairy Products: These dairy products may contain listeria, so before picking up milk or cheese at the store, check that it’s been properly pasteurized.
4. Seafood high in Mercury: Eating fish high in mercury, like shark or swordfish, can put your baby at risk for developmental delays and brain damage. Check out this site for more info on which fish and seafood to avoid.
5. Raw/Undercooked Eggs: Mmmm I love runny eggs. So it was hard to give them up during my five pregnancies. However, eating raw or under-cooked eggs, or even foods that contain raw eggs like mousse, cakes, and mayo, can lead to salmonella poisoning, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting.
6. Leftovers: Sorry mamas, these foods can yield bacteria growth, even if properly stored in a fridge. The best thing for you and your baby is to eat fresh and well-cooked foods using clean utensils.
7. Raw Vegetable Sprouts: Sure, they’re packed with vitamins and minerals, but raw sprouts can be hiding harmful viruses and bacteria. Wash and cook them properly before consumption.
8. Processed junk food: Eating junk food is not recommended, whether we’re pregnant or not. But if you’re expecting, they should really be avoided as they can
9. Undercooked/raw meat: Avoid uncooked seafood and rare or undercooked beef as they can put you at risk of contamination by bacteria and salmonella. Check my site here for info on safe meats and proteins to eat during pregnancy.
10. Alcohol: Sure, this one seems like a no-brainer. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to more likely premature birth, birth defects, and fetal alcohol syndrome. You might think that one glass of wine is ok, but according to the Surgeon General, there is “no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant.” It’s just not worth the risk, mamas.

I hope this list serves as a healthy reminder to avoid these foods as much as possible. For more pregnancy do’s and don’ts, make sure you talk to your doctor before starting your pregnancy diet! What were your favorite foods that you had to give up during pregnancy? Comment below!