quick clicks

iparenting canada articles

iparenting canada q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Pregnancy Diet Don'ts

Foods to Avoid While You're Expecting

By Dr. Aneema Van Groenou

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before popping them in your mouth. Also, simply avoid sprouts (like alfalfa or wheat sprouts), as these are commonly contaminated with bacteria like E. coli.

Raw meats and eggs are risky during pregnancy because they can carry illness. So stay away from procciutto, runny eggs, shrimp cocktails and ceviche. Meats preserved with nitrites, such as salami, frankfurters, luncheon meats and smoked fish and meat, are also not a good idea.

Herbs may sound harmless, but many have potent effects, and some should be avoided during pregnancy. Stay away from raspberry tea, cohash, slippery elm, ginseng and green tea – these may stimulate contractions. Instead, try fruit, ginger or mint teas.

As you gain weight during pregnancy, it's tempting to continue dieting. Don't do it. Nourishing a healthy, growing baby is your responsibility, and an imbalanced diet is a bad idea. So forget the high carbohydrates/low-fat diet or the high fat/no carbohydrate diet or the liquid diet or the supplements. You need at least three balanced meals a day. And the healthier they are, the healthier your weight will be – long term.

Want to see more?

• Liquid Health: Smart Nutrition for Thirsty Moms
• Is Seafood Safe During Pregnancy?
• Household Hazards During Pregnancy: How to Protect Your Unborn Baby
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.