Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy – Complete List

Nutrition during pregnancy: What can pregnant women eat?

The nutrition during pregnancy should healthy and balanced So, what does that mean in concrete terms? Quite simply: eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, have a varied diet, choose complex carbohydrates like whole grains, and prefer plant-based foods.

The proper nutrition and thus the supply of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements is very important in early pregnancy, as well as throughout the course of pregnancy, for the healthy development of the baby. Eating right can also positively impact the well-being of the expectant mother.

These are taboos during pregnancy

• Alcohol

• Nicotine

• Caffeinated drinks

• Raw meat / raw sausage

• Offal

• Raw or smoked fish / raw seafood

• Liquid / raw eggs

• Certain cheeses

• Unwashed fruits/vegetables

• Too much sugar

What should pregnant women not eat? - Top 10 forbidden foods

What many people know: Alcohol and nicotine also harm the baby. Therefore, it is essential to abstain from them during pregnancy. However, there is often uncertainty about other foods. What should pregnant women not eat? And above all, why?

What are you not allowed to drink during pregnancy? Do not drink alcohol and also be aware of hidden alcohol

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with numerous risks and is therefore not recommended. Right at the top of the "What is forbidden during pregnancy" list is alcohol. Numerous studies have explored this topic and largely agree that alcohol during pregnancy can have serious negative consequences for the unborn baby. Many dishes contain hidden alcohol, as these foods show:

• Chocolate buns, milk buns, etc.

• Sweets

• Malt beer, malt beverages

• Kefir

• Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that is believed to have originated in China over 2000 years ago. It is made by fermenting sweetened tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Kombucha is known for its potential health benefits, including probiotics and antioxidants.

• Instant soups

• Sauces

• Jams

Good to know: The alcohol content here is minimal, which is why these foods are not a problem for pregnant women.

Taboo during pregnancy: Nicotine

The negative consequences of smoking are well known. For pregnant women, these risks are twice as high because they not only endanger themselves but also their baby. Nevertheless, it is difficult for female smokers to quit smoking from one day to the next. A nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help in this regard. However, NRT is controversial and the research on it is not yet conclusive.

Caffeinated drinks only in moderation

Pregnant women should only consume energy drinks in moderation or preferably not at all. This is due on the one hand to the high sugar content and the numerous additives. On the one hand, energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine. On the other hand, consuming too much caffeine during pregnancy is not good for the mother and the baby. Various studies have shown that excessive caffeine intake can pose a risk of slowed fetal growth and negative effects on birth weight. A better choice for caffeinated beverages includes coffee, cocoa, black or green tea.

The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) states that daily caffeine intake of up to 200 mg/day for the fetus is harmless. For example, a cup of filtered coffee (200 ml) contains about 90 mg of caffeine.

What should pregnant women not eat? Clearly: raw/undercooked meat & sausage

Raw, undercooked meat or a bloody steak should not be on the menu for pregnant women. But raw or undercooked meat is also present in some other foods, where one probably wouldn't expect it at first glance. For example, raw meat is included in numerous types of sausages such as salami.

Whether meat and sausage products are suitable for pregnant women depends on the way they are prepared. If the food is properly heated during preparation, as is the case with cooked sausages, consuming them during pregnancy is not a problem.

This table gives an overview of which meat and sausage products should not be eaten during pregnancy and suggests better alternatives:

One should also avoid offal during pregnancy. Especially liver contains a lot of vitamin A, which in too high a dosage harmful. Liver sausage, on the other hand, is considered safe because liver is only present in very small amounts. The Federal Centre for Health Education, BZgA for short, advises women to completely avoid liver in the first trimester of pregnancy and not to eat more than 125 grams per week afterwards.

You must not eat during pregnancy: Raw/smoked fish & raw seafood

Fish should be consumed in moderation by pregnant women due to the high levels of mercury it may contain. Healthy omega-3 fatty acids definitely should be on the menu. Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for child development. However, raw fish and seafood can contain certain pathogens and bacteria that can cause infections and are not safe for your baby. Therefore, pregnant women should not eat raw or smoked/pickled fish, but instead should always ensure that fish dishes and seafood are thoroughly cooked.

What should you not eat when you are pregnant?

• Oysters

• Fisch-Carpaccio

• raw crabs, scampi, shrimp, crayfish

• Gravadlax, smoked salmon

• Caviar

• Matjes, Rollmops

• Smoked eel

• Smoked trout

• Cream herring

• Sashimi, Sushi

• Schillerlocken

Hands off of liquid and raw eggs

During pregnancy, one should not eat raw or liquid eggs, as they can contain salmonella and thus causing a salmonella infection. There is a risk of premature birth. Therefore, eggs, both egg white and yolk, should always be fully cooked, as the pathogens die at high heat. This means that hard-boiled eggs and a fried egg cooked on both sides pose no problem for pregnant women.

Caution is advised with many egg dishes. The following foods are forbidden: liquid and raw eggs, Tiramisu, mayonnaise, and Hollandaise sauce. Pregnant women should avoid these foods.

What should pregnant women not eat? Under no circumstances raw milk cheese and soft cheese

If you are pregnant, you should not eat raw milk and so-called premium milk and products made from them. But pregnant women do not have to completely give up cheese and similar products. The good news: Cheese made from pasteurized milk and hard cheese like Parmesan can be enjoyed without worry. Therefore, pay attention when shopping for the label "made with raw milk". Attention: The rind should be cut off from every cheese, as bacteria can accumulate especially here.

These well-known types of cheese are taboo during pregnancy:

• Allgäu Mountain Cheese

• Allgäu Emmental

• Brie

• Camembert

• Feta (open*)

• Gorgonzola

• Harzer Roller

• Cottage Cheese (open)

• Limburger

• Mascarpone (open)

• Mozzarella (open)

• Ricotta (open)

• Raclette Cheese

• Grated Cheese

• Tilsit

• Allg. pickled cheese (open)

• Allg. Cream Cheese (open)

• Allg. Herb Quark (open)

*open here means open container/open packaging

Note: Pregnant women should always grate grated cheese immediately before consumption and avoid pickled cheese or cream cheese from open containers.

In general, cheese during pregnancy should not be neglected, as it contains a lot of calcium, which is needed for healthy growth and development of bones in children. Allowed during pregnancy are sliced and soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk, preferably without rind. Here are a few examples:

• Butter Cheese

• Brie

• Camembert

• Cheddar

• Edam

• Emmental

• Gouda

• Parmesan

• Tilsit

For more information on raw milk products for pregnant women, visit the State Center for Nutrition.

Which fruits should be avoided during pregnancy?

Fruits should generally be consumed plentifully during pregnancy. The more diverse the selection, the better. This way, both mother and child get everything they need and important micronutrients (vitamins and trace elements). It is also important to consume plenty of vegetables. The DGE (German Nutrition Society) recommends pregnant women, like all other adults, three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit to eat every day.

In principle, pregnant women can eat any kind of fruit and do not have to avoid anything. However, if gestational diabetes is diagnosed, it is advisable to avoid very sugary foods (including very sweet fruits). One important thing to consider is: Wash your fruits and vegetables. Thoroughly wash before consumption. This is to prevent possible infections.

Can you eat honey during pregnancy or not?

You can eat honey during pregnancy without any concerns. While it can be dangerous for babies due to containing a bacterium, adults can neutralize it in their gut flora and enjoy honey in moderation.

What should one eat especially in early pregnancy and why is it important to pay particular attention to micronutrients?

As a rule of thumb: You shouldn't eat throughout the pregnancy raw animal products. The correct preparation is also important to prevent foodborne infections. Good hygiene in the kitchen is the be-all and end-all.

What you should eat instead is a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as salads. But soups are also very suitable. Complex carbohydrates, whole grains such as pasta, rice, or bread complement the meal plan perfectly. Good source of protein for pregnant women are plant-based proteins such as legumes or animal sources like fatty fish are recommended.

During pregnancy, the calorie requirement is only slightly increased, but the micronutrient requirements significantly higher. Therefore, you should pay particular attention to ensuring an adequate intake of folic acid, iodine, and iron.