Healthy food choices
Monday, May 26th, 2008I’m pregnant with my first child and have heard so much conflicting advice about what’s safe to eat. I understand the need for more foods with iron and calcium, and what’s a healthy alcohol and caffeine intake, but what should I cut out altogether?
answer:
Yes, pregnancy can be a confusing time when you’re likely to be bombarded with advice from health professionals, well-meaning relatives and even strangers at the supermarket. Your diet is likely to change as you progress through your pregnancy and adjust to the stages of morning sickness, cravings, heartburn and hunger.
You have an increased risk of food poisoning from a bacteria, called listeria, which can be very harmful to unborn babies. It can grow on refrigerated foods that have been previously cooked and processed, so it’s not enough to just follow good hygiene practices. You also need to cut out high-risk food, such as cold processed meats, cold cooked barbecued chicken, pate, raw egg, soft-serve ice-cream, pre-prepared salads, raw and chilled pre-prepared seafood, and soft or semi-soft cheese such as brie, ricotta, fetta and blue vein.




