When I found out I was pregnant, my doctor gave me a list of foods to avoid during my pregnancy. I religiously nuked my deli items, skipped on delicious cheese plates when the waiter could not tell me it was made of pasteurized cheeses, and I cut back significantly on my caffeine.Â
Obviously, there were also clear boundaries around medicines, alcohol (don’t), exercise (clear thumbs up for prenatal yoga). But, nowhere on that list was a mention of the importance of eating organic produce and veggies, and skipping out on unhealthy additives, which I’m sure I unknowingly consumed plenty of, thanks to fat free yogurts, bottled salad dressing, and processed lunch meats.Â
Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder offers this round-up of the “non-food” components to food that pregnant women should also avoid. Here are some things to keep in mind the next time you hit the grocery store.
Pesticides. You ingest it, so does baby. Choose organic produce, and wash it well.
Artificial Colors, Flavors, and Food Additives. Read labels for artificial sweeteners like sucralose, and stay away from any food that has ingredients you can’t even pronounce on the label!
Animal Protein. Especially when you’re pregnant, it can be worthwhile to shell out extra money for organic, grain-fed animal proteins. Factory farmed animal proteins contain high levels of hormones and antibiotics, which can cross the placental barrier into the baby. According to Snyder, “animal proteins create acid in the body, which require minerals to neutralize them. This can rob your baby of vital minerals necessary for growth and development.”
Skip the sweetened drinks. You need to ingest more water as a pregnant woman than you typically do, even when it means running to the bathroom constantly as more pressure is applied to your bladder in the those later months. But, skip the fake sweetened “vitamin waters,” and keep your liquid clean. If you really can’t take the taste of plain water, sprinkle in a few splashes of lime or lemon juice.
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