Foods and beverages to avoid during pregnancy

There are certain foods that should be avoided in pregnancy or eaten with extreme care during the most important time of your life. Try to have some really healthy fast foodsfor pregnant women to avoid junk.

Fish

DON’T EAT

• Raw or undercooked fish or shellfish (such as oysters and clams)
• Fish with high levels of mercury, including shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish (golden or white snapper)
• Refrigerated smoked or pickled fish that’s unpasteurized, unless heated until steaming
• More than 6 ounces (1 serving) a week of canned “solid white” or albacore tuna

DO

• Cook fish to 145° Fahrenheit or until opaque in the center.
• Eat up to 12 ounces (two servings) a week of low-mercury fish, such as salmon, shrimp, pollack, or trout.

Meat & poultry

DON’T EAT

• Raw or undercooked meat or poultry
• Refrigerated meat of any kind (ham, turkey, roast beef, hot dogs, bologna, prosciutto, pâté, etc.) unless heated until steaming (165° F)
• Dry, uncooked sausages, such as salami and pepperoni, unless heated until steaming hot

DO

• Use a food thermometer. Cook beef, veal, and lamb to 145° F. Cook pork and all ground meats to 160° F. Cook poultry to 165° F.

Eggs

DON’T EAT

• Runny or undercooked eggs
• Raw cookie dough or cake batter that contains raw eggs
• Homemade desserts or sauces that contain raw eggs (such as eggnog, ice cream, custard, chocolate mousse, hollandaise sauce, béarnaise sauce, mayonnaise, and Caesar salad dressing)

DO

• Cook eggs until yolks are firm; cook other dishes containing eggs to 160° F.
• Use a pasteurized egg product when making food that calls for uncooked eggs.

Cheese

DON’T EAT

• Unpasteurized soft cheese (such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheese, queso fresco, queso blanco, and queso panela)

DO

• Check the label when buying soft cheese to make sure it’s made with pasteurized milk.

Other foods

DON’T EAT

• Prepared salads from the deli (especially if they contain eggs, chicken, ham, or seafood)
• Buffet or picnic food that’s been sitting out for two or more hours (one hour on a hot day)
• Stuffing cooked inside a bird, unless heated to 165° F
• Raw sprouts or any unwashed produce, especially lettuce and cabbage

DO

• Reheat previously cooked leftovers until steaming hot (165° F).
• Keep cold buffet food on ice and hot buffet food steaming hot.
• Peel fruits and vegetables or wash them well.

Beverages

DON’T DRINK

• Alcoholic beverages
• Unpasteurized (raw) milk
• Unpasteurized or “fresh squeezed” juice
• More than 200 mg of caffeine per day (12 ounces of coffee)

DO

• Watch out for caffeine in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and coffee ice cream.
• Wash fruit thoroughly before squeezing it for fresh juice.

Source: Babycenter