The Pregnancy Diet

Foods to Avoid

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• Foods to Indulge in During Pregnancy
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Alcohol

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a serious risk for your child.  This is a good time to stop drinking beer and margaritas. Try substituting frozen virgin drinks when the urge strikes.

Chicken

Undercooked chicken is a salmonella danger.  To test your chicken, pierce the outside and make sure that the juice runs clear. When you cook your chicken- make sure to wash your hands between working with other foods.

Coffee

A delicious as those coffee drinks may be, you may consider cutting back for nine months.  Caffeine has been tied to miscarriage. You can switch over to decaf if you drink coffee for the taste.  If you drink coffee to wake up or avoid caffeine headaches, cut back as much as you can  - under one cup is best.

Eggs

Eggs are a salmonella danger.  Make sure that any eggs are fully cooked before eating.  This is not a good time for an authentic Caesar salad! You should also watch out for he tres leche batter and cookie dough - cook the desserts first, no matter how tempting it may be to lick that beater.

Garden Fresh Veggies

If you have a cat that lives outdoors, or stray cats in your area - chances are that your garden has been used as a litterbox once or twice.  When you eat vegetables from your garden, you may be at risk for toxoplasmosis.  Make sure to wash any fresh veggies thoroughly before using whether you will be cooking them or not.  Wash your hands well after picking and cleaning vegetables as well.

Leftovers

Reheating leftovers once is ok, multiple reheatings can be risky because bacteria is given a chance to grow and thrive.  If you have leftover leftovers, toss them!

Soft Cheese

Soft cheeses are a danger for listeriosis. While this is not common, most pregnant women choose to avoid these cheeses during pregnancy. The following cheeses are considered risky for pregnant women - queso blanco, queso fresco, queso de hoja, queso de crema and asadero. if you do use a soft cheese in a sauce, heat it to boiling before using.