What can you eat when pregnant at Christmas?

Smoked salmon and other smoked fish are fine to eat as long as they are cooked thoroughly. Salmon is an oily fish, and a good source of some important nutrients for you and your growing baby.

Aim for a total of two portions of fish per week (avoiding shark, marlin and swordfish and limiting tuna). At least one of your weekly fish portions should be oily, with no more than two oily fish portions per week in total.

Cooked shellfish, including cold pre-cooked prawns, are safe to eat during pregnancy; so if your traditions are anything like in my family, you can still enjoy a festive prawn cocktail starter before your main course!

Fancy some smoked salmon with poached/scrambled eggs to kick off your Christmas day? As already mentioned, smoked salmon is fine to eat as long as it is cooked thoroughly.

Hen eggs that are British Lion stamped on their shell are ok to eat raw or partially cooked, as they are unlikely to contain salmonella; so you can still enjoy a runny yolk in your poached egg!(Other types of eggs should all be thoroughly cooked.)

Cured meats like Parma ham, salami, chorizo, pepperoni etc. are not cooked, and therefore should be avoided during pregnancy. Any meat should be thoroughly cooked before consuming.

Sadly, all types of pâté, including vegetarian pâté are off the cards, as they may contain listeria. Additionally, many meat pâtés contain liver, which should also be avoided due to the high Vitamin A content.

Whatever meat you’re eating for Christmas lunch, make sure it’s thoroughly cooked for the full length of time at the temperature required. Vegetables and salad ingredients should be washed carefully to remove any soil, so as not to make you unwell.

If it’s a buffet style lunch you’ll be tucking into, make sure to adhere to all of the previous advice when you’re selecting what to eat. Avoid any dishes that have been made with raw eggs that aren’t British Lion stamped.

Marzipan is sometimes made with raw egg yolk, so if someone offers you a slice of homemade Christmas cake, you may want to check where they got their marzipan from. Many shop-bought varieties are actually vegan, but if it’s a more artisan or homemade variety, see if you can find out whether the eggs were British Lion stamped.

If you’re partial to a celebratory drink over the festive season, note that the NHS advises the safest approach is to not drink alcohol during pregnancy.

All those rich foods at Christmas can play havoc with heartburn when you’re pregnant, so try not to overdo it. Eat little and often through the day, rather than indulging in large portions.