Pregnancy & Baby — Nutrition
Published June 17, 2021 — Updated June 17, 2021
If your diet is healthy and balanced when planning a pregnancy, you will have the nutrients needed to support optimal health.
Recommended
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits.
- Choose protein foods.
- Choose whole-grain foods.
- Make water your drink of choice.
Precautions
If you are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant, avoid the following foods:
- Foods that could cause listeriosis:
- Raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and fish.
- Non-dry-cured deli meats.
- Raw or unpasteurized dairy products.
- Unpasteurized fruit juices.
- Fish that are high in mercury, such as fresh or frozen tuna.
- Excess caffeine: women of childbearing age should have no more than about two cups of coffee per day, and men no more than three cups.
- Liver and liver products (they contain high amounts of vitamin A).
- Discuss the safety of herbal teas, artificial sweeteners, and natural health products with your health care provider.
Avoid canned foods to reduce exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in the lining of most cans. Fresh and frozen foods, and foods packaged in glass containers, are safer options.
