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Foods to avoid during pregnancy
Read our expert guide on which foods should be avoided during pregnancy to keep your unborn baby safe.
From the moment you know you’re expecting, you’ll want to give your baby the best start in life. Eating a healthy, varied diet is one way to help. But not all foods are good for your developing little one. In fact, some can be harmful.
There are a number of foods to avoid during pregnancy. And some very good reasons why.
Certain foods may carry bacteria that can cause infections such as listeriosis or toxoplasmosis, which can be harmful to your unborn baby. While the risk of catching these may be low, you might want to cut them out of your pregnancy diet, just to be on the safe side.
Hygienic food preparation is another way to keep yourself safe. Simple things like washing fruit and veg before eating them, keeping utensils, work surfaces and your hands clean, and using separate knives and chopping boards for raw meats, all help.
What not to eat when pregnant: foods to be careful with – or avoid completely
Good food groups for pregnancy
During pregnancy, it’s more important than ever to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Your diet will not only influence your own health, but can also affect the short- and long-term health of your baby.
Your diet should follow the advice of the Government’s Eatwell guide, to:
- Eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day
- Base meals on starchy foods (choosing wholegrain varieties where possible)
- Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein foods
- Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (opting for lower fat and lower sugar options where possible)
- Choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat in small amounts
- Eat foods high in fat, salt and sugar less often and in small amounts
- Drink plenty of fluids
There’s no need to balance every meal you eat, as long as you aim for balance throughout your day and across the week.
With so much information out there, it can feel overwhelming to try to remember what you can and can’t eat during pregnancy – especially in those early weeks when your hormones are playing havoc with your taste buds and your digestive system! Try not to worry. Make sure your partner is equally well informed, so that it’s not all on you to plan healthy, pregnancy-safe meals. And remember you can always reach out to your healthcare professional for more information and advice.
Join our BabyClub for lots of great tips, from coping with morning sickness, to eating well, and everything you need to take care of yourself during your pregnancy.
