Nutrition tips: What to avoid

You already know the drill: Eat right and exercise more. When you are pregnant, this common sense guidance is even more important. Consume more fruit and vegetables, eat balanced meals, focus on serving sizes. But what should you avoid? The fact is, you and your baby are more prone to foodborne illnesses, like listeriosis, during your pregnancy. That makes your dietary decisions especially important.

Here's a look at what you should avoid during these important nine months:

• Smoked fish, raw fish, and raw shellfish (including sushi containing raw fish and oysters)
• Undercooked meat and poultry
• Hot dogs and deli meat
• Raw or lightly cooked eggs (and foods where they are used as an ingredient)
• Unpasteurized milk, milk products, and juices (often apple cider)
• Unpasteurized and pasteurized soft cheese (like brie, camembert, feta, queso fresco, and blue-veined cheeses)
• Refrigerated pates and meat spreads
• Raw sprouts
• Excessive caffeine (limit your intake to one caffeinated beverage or up to 200 mg per day)

A WORD TO THE WISE FROM OUR PROVIDERS: Good nutrition during pregnancy improves your chances of having a healthy baby. It may even reduce the risk of certain chronic conditions in your child after he or she has grown up. Pay attention to what you eat and drink... it matters!
Danielle Siedschlag