What not to eat when you are pregnant
From Mommyplace.com WiKI Page
Here is a list of things you should not eat or drink when you are pregnant:
1) Soft cheeses (Brie, feta, etc)- These are ok if they are pasteurized and most that I've found are. You should check the label, but most cheeses in the US are pasteurized. There is a blue cheese from Trader Joes that says made with raw milk that I avoided. The other one that is commonly sites is Cotija cheese that you may find in a Mexican restaurant.
2) Diet drinks
3) Caffeine (at least try to consume very little)- Current guidance is up to 300 mg a day is ok so one soft drink (50 mg) or even a cup of coffee is well w/in limits. But, don't let drinking these replace drinks that are better for you.
4) Raw fish or meats (no sushi)
5) Runny eggs
6) Deli meat (unless you microwave it or grill it first)
7) Fish such as shark, swordfish, and others that have high levels of methyl mercury. Talk to your Ob/Gyn for a longer list.
8) Anything that appears or smells even slightly rotten. For example, yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, etc.
What about peanut butter?
Some Moms will tell you that you should not consume peanut butter or other peanut products when you are pregnant because it increases the chances of your child being allergic to peanuts. During my pregnancy, my Ob/Gyn told me that eating peanut butter could result in a peanut allergy child was a complete myth. So, I ate it regularly (I love PB&J). Guess what? My child is allergic to peanuts. Nobody else in our family is allergic to peanuts or any other foods for that matter. I wish in hindsight I had not eaten PB&J and my son's allergist has instructed me not to eat peanut products should I become pregnant again. So, if you can avoid it and find your protein in other sources, I recommend it.
What about alcohol?
Many women will tell you that they had a very occasional glass of wine when they were pregant. Or sips of their husband's beer. My perspective is why do it? 40 weeks without alcohol is do-able.
Other healthy practices
Use your Clorox wipes religiously. Wipe down your counters and cutting boards constantly. Particularly after exposing them to things such as raw chicken or meats.
Wash your hands all the time.
Wash your fruits and vegetables dilligently.
Avoid restaurants that might not have a clean kitchen or that might not practice a high degree of cleanliness.
Don't be embarassed if you have to turn food down. When I was pregnant, I was in Monterey, Mexico for an all day meeting. The Mexican business partner that I was meeting with ordered in sandwiches with deli meat and mayonaise. I politely told them that I was pregnant, could not eat deli meats, and said I hoped they would not mind if I ate my meal replacement bar instead. They were very understanding and not offended.
Carry meal replacement bars wherever you go in case you find yourself in a similar situation to the business meeting I detailed above.
