What you should not eat during
your pregnancy
Last week I already told you which nutrients are important when you have a sandwich in the oven. All very nice, but we also know that there are certain things you absolutely MUST NOT have during your pregnancy. And unfortunately, it's not that glass of Chardonnay. My best friend couldn't wait to have steak tartare again after giving birth. Or what about that cheese platter? And that delicious tender steak medium-rare suddenly becomes a well-done shoe sole? Oh dear, oh dear, it's going to be nine long months when the time comes. Okay, first let's find that expectant dad.
To create some clarity (because everyone always just shouts something); you should avoid this for the next nine months for the health of you and your baby.
1. Predatory fish
Because predatory fish eat many other fish, they contain a lot of mercury. And mercury is anything but healthy for your unborn child. It can damage your baby's nervous system and brain. So no eel, swordfish, mackerel, and fresh tuna in your basket for the time being.
2. Raw milk and cheese
Listeria is a bacterium that lives in raw products. The bacterium is harmful to your baby. Want to know if a product contains raw milk? Then study the packaging carefully. If it says ‘au lait cru’ on the packaging (which literally means ‘raw milk’), then forget it. Especially with soft (French) cheeses, it's good to check the label. Pasteurized cheeses are allowed, and hard cheeses never contain listeria.
3. Raw meat and raw fish, shellfish, and eggs
Raw meat, raw fish, and eggs (so also your poached egg) are not recommended during your pregnancy. They can contain salmonella and toxoplasma, which are dangerous for your baby. So make sure your piece of meat or fish is always well-cooked. Smoked meat or smoked fish are still partly raw, so that smoked salmon also needs to be on the forbidden list.
4. Unwashed vegetables
Make sure to wash your vegetables very well before eating them. It can happen that there is toxoplasma, a parasite, present that can cause an infectious disease. And you can then pass that on to your baby, and you don't want that.
5. Caffeine
Try to take it easy with caffeine during your pregnancy. Limit it to one cup per day.
6. Vacuum-packed fish or meat
Leave vacuum-packed fish (like smoked salmon) alone. That can also contain the listeria bacterium. Only by heating the product thoroughly can you prevent the risk of contamination.
7. Herbs
Fennel, anise, and borage are herbs that you should not eat during your pregnancy. Sage, anise, cinnamon, and basil in moderation.
8. Liver products
Liver products like pâté contain a lot of vitamin A. Too much of this can cause abnormalities in your baby's liver. It is recommended not to consume more than one serving per day.
