How to Eat Forbidden Foods During Pregnancy

When you're eating for two, some of your favorite dishes are off-limits. Alcohol, caffeine, sushi, brie cheese, junk food, certain fishes--even deli meat--are all associated with some risk. But thanks to hormones and a super-sized appetite, you might crave them more than ever. Indulging every now and then can be okay--sometimes. Here's how to enjoy some taboo foods.

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk to your obstetrician about which foods are truly forbidden, and which you can eat on occasion or rarely. Sometimes the answer varies according to your trimester. For example, coffee is thought to be more harmful in the first trimester than in the second two. Women with high-risk pregnancies, obesity and gestational diabetes have a different set of rules than women without these issues.

    • 2

      Write down which foods you can never eat while pregnant and keep them in your wallet. Double check with your doctor to make sure your list is all-inclusive. Keep the list with you at all times, so if you're in a restaurant and aren't sure about an item on the menu, you can check on the spot.

    • 3

      Understand why foods are off-limits. This helps you determine when it's OK to occasionally break a rule. Sushi is on the banned list because it's made from raw fish, and a fetus doesn't yet have the immune defenses to fight off bacteria that otherwise would be cooked into oblivion. But some sushi is made from cooked fish and is therefore OK to indulge in--as long as it's prepared in a reputable restaurant where sushi chefs use different knives for cooked and uncooked fishes.

    • 4

      Consider how other cultures view the risky food. Pregnant women drink wine in Europe, for example. A glass at the very end of your pregnancy is unlikely to be harmful whether you drink it in France or in the U.S.

    • 5

      Differentiate between foods that could actually harm your unborn child and foods that take the place of healthy, vitamin-rich foods. A big, greasy hamburger with french fries won't hurt your baby but it means you'll be passing on healthy garden greens that can make your baby healthier. So eat salad most of the time, but don't deny yourself the very occasional junk food meal.

    • 6

      Take a teeny bite, then spit it out without swallowing and gargle hot water. If it's your taste buds and not your appetite that is screaming for brie, contact with your tongue is all you need.

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